Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Beer Birthday: Phil Farrell

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Today is the 60th birthday — The Big 6-O — of Phil Farrell. Phil these days is a Terrestrial Biological Beer Processor at StillFire Brewing in Suwanee, Georgia. When I first met Phil, he was flying for Delta Airlines, and before that had been an Air Force Aviator with a homebrewing problem. “Phil won over 500 awards including Mid-South Home Brewer of the Year (twice) and is the only home brewer to win a gold medal at the U.S. Open Beer Championship beating all the pros in his category.” In 2011, he won Beer Drinker of the Year at Wynkoop in Denver, Colorado, when they were still running the annual contest. He was also famous is certain beery circles as the Chicken Man, and took hundreds (maybe more?) photos of beer people with his rubber chicken. In 2007, I did an article for the then-new Beer Advocate magazine about beer geeks, wherein I profiled several beer geeks from around the country, and Phil’s story was included in that story:

Given the chicken in the word geek’s origins, it’s fitting that one homebrewer has combined his love of brewing with a rubber chicken. Former jet pilot Phil Farrell, a retired Lt. Colonel in the Air Force, began homebrewing over ten years ago. Living in north Georgia, he became active in a local homebrew club named the Chicken City Ale Raisers, because their home, Gainesville, Georgia, is the “Poultry Capital of the World.” The group was looking for an edge in competitions and, as a joke, Farrell picked up a rubber chicken to use as a mascot. They started winning and, looking for more magic, the chicken started coming along to festivals. As a goof, he started taking photos of the rubber chicken with brewing luminaries. At first it was slow going, but once Charlie Papazian had his picture taken, things started to take off. Today, nobody squawks and Farrell has about 2,000 photos of beer people with the rubber chicken, enough to fill ten photo albums. And it’s still magic, last year Farrell was named the Mid-South Home Brewer of the Year for second time. And given craft beer’s recent growth, perhaps we all owe the rubber chicken a debt of gratitude?

Phil is also frequently a steward at GABF and the World Beer Cup, and also is a judge in his own right. He also attends many national beer events and is a fun guy to talk, and drink, beer with. Join me in wishing Phil a very happy birthday.

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Phil at the Hard Liver Barleywine Festival in 2005.
Phil, with the original chicken, now bronzed
Phil after his rubber chicken was bronzed, in 2010.
Phil Farrell, 2011 Beerdrinker of the Year
Phil in 2011, when he won Beer Drinker of the Year at Wynkoop.
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Beer In Ads #4911: Acme Bock Is Back Tomorrow

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Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads. Bock, of course, originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer became known as ‘Bock.’ A goat often appears on bottle labels.” And presumably because they were special releases, many breweries went all out promoting them with beautiful artwork on posters and other advertising.

Sunday’s ad is for Acme Bock Beer and was published March 16, 1950. The brewery was the Acme Brewing Co. of San Francisco, California, which was originally founded in 1907, though they also opened a location in the Los Angeles area. Today the brand is opened by North Coast Brewing. This ad ran in the News Pilot of San Pedro, California, announcing the release of Acme bock beer the following day.

Märzen Madness 2025

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I may not be biggest fan of academia’s version of indentured servitude, otherwise known as college basketball, but I do still enjoy the games of March Madness every year. The tournament is usually a fun diversion for a few weeks each year, so for the fourteenth straight year, I’ve set up a fantasy game, similar to fantasy football or baseball. It’s a bracket game through Yahoo which I call “Märzen Madness.” It doesn’t look like there’s a limit to the number of people who can play, so sign up and make your picks beginning right now, with the first games taking place on March 18, which only gives you roughly two days to complete your bracket. So don’t delay, sign up right away and fill out your bracket.

To join Märzen Madness and play the Yahoo! Sports Tournament Pick’em game, just follow the link below. You’ll also need a Yahoo ID (which is free if you don’t already have one).

To accept the invitation and play Märzen Madness this year, just follow this invitation link.

Good Luck Everybody!

Beer In Ads #4910: Acme Bock Beer

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Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads. Bock, of course, originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer became known as ‘Bock.’ A goat often appears on bottle labels.” And presumably because they were special releases, many breweries went all out promoting them with beautiful artwork on posters and other advertising.

Saturday’s ad is for Acme Bock Beer and was published March 15, 1934. The brewery was the Acme Brewing Co. of San Francisco, California, which was originally founded in 1907, though they also opened a location in the Los Angeles area. Today the brand is opened by North Coast Brewing. This ad ran in the Oregonian of Portland, Oregon, for the first release of bock beer since Prohibition was repealed the previous year.

Beer In Ads #4909: It’s The Smile Of Springtime!

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Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads. Bock, of course, originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer became known as ‘Bock.’ A goat often appears on bottle labels.” And presumably because they were special releases, many breweries went all out promoting them with beautiful artwork on posters and other advertising.

Friday’s ad is for Acme Bock Beer and was published March 14, 1940. The brewery was the Acme Brewing Co. of San Francisco, California, which was originally founded in 1907, though they also opened a location in the Los Angeles area. Today the brand is opened by North Coast Brewing. This ad ran in the Palo Verde Valley Times of Blythe, California, two days before the release of that year’s seasonal bock.

Beer In Ads #4908: It’s My Kind Of Bock

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Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads. Bock, of course, originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer became known as ‘Bock.’ A goat often appears on bottle labels.” And presumably because they were special releases, many breweries went all out promoting them with beautiful artwork on posters and other advertising.

Thursday’s ad is for Frankenmuth Nut Brown Bock Beer and was published March 13, 1952. The brewery was the Frankenmuth Brewing Co. of Frankenmuth, Michigan, which was originally founded in 1862 by Martin Heubisch and Wilhelm Knaust. It has closed and re-opened a couple of times, and is still around today as a craft brewery known as the Frankenmuth Brewery. It’s interesting that they referred to their bock as a “nut brown bock beer,” which is a new one on me. But at least it was a favorite of local bartender Bert Wells, who exclaimed “It’s My Kind of Bock!”

Beer In Ads #4907: The Bockiest Bock Beer In Town

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Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads. Bock, of course, originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer became known as ‘Bock.’ A goat often appears on bottle labels.” And presumably because they were special releases, many breweries went all out promoting them with beautiful artwork on posters and other advertising.

Wednesday’s ad is for Bruck’s Bock Beer and was published March 12, 1941. The brewery was the Bruckmann Brewing Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio, which was originally founded in 1856 by brothers Johann and Frederick Bruckmann as the Cumminsville Brewery. After Prohibition they bought out the Ohio Union Brewing Co.and operated it as a second brewing facility until 1949, and both were renamed the Bruckmann Co. after 1919. This ad for Bruck’s Bock Beer is by their Michigan distributor. I love that it’s “The Bockiest Bock Beer in Town.”

Beer In Ads #4906: Braumeister Bock Beer

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Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads. Bock, of course, originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer became known as ‘Bock.’ A goat often appears on bottle labels.” And presumably because they were special releases, many breweries went all out promoting them with beautiful artwork on posters and other advertising.

Tuesday’s ad is for Braumeister Bock Beer and was published March 11, 1951. The brewery was the Independent Milwaukee Brewery of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which was founded in 1901 by five partners: Henry N. Bills, William Gutknecht, Charles Evers, Emil Czarnecki, and William Jung. It’s flagship brand was Braumeister. The survived Prohibition and lasted until 1962, when the G. Heileman Brewing Co. of nearby Lacrosse bought the brewery and closed it down the following year. But in 1951, they claimed to have Milwaukee’s most famous brewmaster for brewing Prize Bock Beer.”

Beer In Ads #4905: The Convert

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Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads. Bock, of course, originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer became known as ‘Bock.’ A goat often appears on bottle labels.” And presumably because they were special releases, many breweries went all out promoting them with beautiful artwork on posters and other advertising.

Monday’s ad doesn’t explicitly indicate it’s for Bock Beer, but it seems pretty clear from the imagery that it is. One goat is downing a mug of beer while another looks on and appears to be drooling in anticipation. Behind them is a sinister looking bartender drawing another glass of beer. He looks like he’s up to no good. The chromolithograph was created in 1888 by Wilson, Wagner & Co., Lithographers, of Chicago, Illinois.

Beer In Ads #4904: It’s Here! The Genuine Bock Beer!

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Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads. Bock, of course, originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer became known as ‘Bock.’ A goat often appears on bottle labels.” And presumably because they were special releases, many breweries went all out promoting them with beautiful artwork on posters and other advertising.

Sunday’s ad if for Rheingold Genuine Bock Beer and was published March 9, 1959. The ad was created for Liebmann Breweries, founded in 1837. The lithograph was created in 1880.  The ad is signed but I’ll be damned if I can read the signature. Best I can make out is something like … well, no, I looked again and I can’t make heads or tales of it. I do love the stenciling on the keg and the goat peeking out from behind it, but especially the letter from Dr. Ringelmann, Secretary of State, about the Original Gravity.