Monday’s ad is for Drewrys, from 1950. This is from a series of billboard ads from around the same time I stumbled upon, though I’m sure the originals in color are more spectacular. In this ad for Drewrys Beer and Ale, they’re advertising their Canadian association using a Mountie, although most of the beer was brewing in Indiana.
Sunday’s ad is for Haffenreffer & Co., Inc., from 1946. This is from a series of billboard ads from around the same time I stumbled upon, though I’m sure the originals in color are more spectacular. In this ad for Pickwick Ale and Pickwick Ale Light, they’re advertising like that scene in The Blues Brothers, when they play in a redneck bar. When one of the Blues Brothers asks what kind of music they play here, a waitress replies “we got both kinds: country AND western.” Same deal with the choices presented here, your “pick” is between regular adjunct ale or light adjunct ale, which according to the label is “lighter than regular Pickwick.”
Saturday’s ad is for Hyde Park Beer, from 1946. This is from a series of billboard ads from around the same time I stumbled upon, though I’m sure the originals in color are more spectacular. In this Hyde Park Beer ad, they’re advertising Hyde Park Beer as “always mighty good!,” a phrase you don’t hear any more.
Friday’s ad is for Gretz Beer, from 1951. This is from a series of billboard ads from the same year I stumbled upon, though I’m sure the originals in color are more spectacular. In this Gretz ad, they’re advertising it as “a better beer naturally.” I wonder what they meant by that? There;s a clue in this wonderful sentiment that ends the ad. “Made the old-fashioned way — slowly — naturally.” I guess every other brewery was making their beer a completely different, and unnatural, way. Oh, and fast, too.
Thursday’s ad is for Acme Beer, from 1951. This is from a series of billboard ads from the same year I stumbled upon, though I’m sure the originals in color are more spectacular. In this Acme ad for their Gold Label beer, they’re advertising it as a “new lighter, drier beer.” The cartoon faces are amazing, especially that wink.
Wednesday’s ad is for Hamm’s, from 1951. This is from a series of billboard ads from the same year I stumbled upon, though I’m sure the originals in color are more spectacular. In this Hamm’s ad, using their iconic tagline “From the land of sky blue waters,” imagine it ginormous, with a bottle of beer being poured into a pilsner glass, with a picturesque outdoor background.
Tuesday’s ad is for the Continental Can Company, from 1935, the year beer cans debuted. I love the innocent photo, and that tagline: “Say! This Is How Beer Ought To Taste!” And the can itself is priceless in its generic-ness, not to mention “Cap Sealed” and “Opens Like a Bottle.” So modern, at least for 1935.
Monday’s ad is for Rheingold Extra Dry Lager Beer, from 1964. How about the head on that mug? One down, one to go. And only a few more peanuts left. It really is “as good to your taste as it is to your thirst.” But buried in the text is a baseball reference, too. “There’s no better way to work up a thirst than cheering our Mets. No better way to quench it than with Rheingold Extra Dry.” The World Series starts tomorrow. There may be peanut, but there will definitely be beer.
For our 93rd Session, our host is Brian Devine, who writes The Roaming Pint, along with Maria Scarpello, and the pair “have been traveling around in their 29-foot RV, named Stanley, since August 2010 seeking out all kinds of great beer destinations.” For their topic, they’ve understandably chosen Beer Travel.
Since travel is such an important part of our lives I wanted our topic to focus on beer travel. In Session #29, Beer by Bart asked writers to tell them about their favorite beer trips to which they got some great responses of personal favorites and general tips for certain cities.
So as not to tread over old ground my question is going to focus on the “why” more than the “what”. So I ask you fellow bloggers and beer lovers, why is it important for us to visit the place the where our beers are made? Why does drinking from source always seem like a better and more valuable experience? Is it simply a matter of getting the beer at it’s freshest or is it more akin to pilgrimage to pay respect and understand the circumstances of the beer better?
Not “Stanley,” but certainly a worthy steed for beer travel.
So put on your walking shoes or those boots that are made for walking, whichever you prefer with your beer. According to Brian, participation in November’s Session simply requires that you “write a response to one or more of the questions above and then post a link to the article” in the Roaming Pints’ comments section by November 6th.
Sunday’s ad is for Reading Premium Beer, my hometown beer, from 1969. It’s an interesting package they’re selling, 16 oz. pint size bottles in a six pack, but notice they refer to them as “glass cans.” In the 1950s they adopted my favorite ad slogan of all-time: “The Friendly Beer for Modern People.” In this ad, they extend that by referring to their beer as “The Friendmaker.”
