Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Historic Beer Birthday: Henry Rahr Jr.

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Today is the birthday of Karl Heinrich Rahr, anglicized as Henry Rahr Jr. (December 6, 1865-September 24, 1909). He was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the son of Henry Rahr, who founded the East River Brewery in Green Bay. When his sons were old enough, he brought them into the business, and in 1891, when Henry Sr. died, Henry Jr. became president and his brother Frederick also worked for the brewery. They re-named it Henry Rahr’s Sons Brewing Co., but later shortened it to Rahr Brewing Co. It survived prohibition, finally closing in 1966.

This obituary is from the American Brewers Review from 1909:

And this lengthier obituary is from the Green Bay Press-Gazette on September 24, 1909:

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This short history of the brewery is from The Neville Public Museum:

One hundred fifty years ago, Henry Rahr established a brew house on the corner of Main Street and N. Irwin Avenue in Green Bay known as the East River Brewery. It would become the largest and most well-known historic brewery in Green Bay. Following the death of Henry Rahr in 1891 the business was passed to his sons Henry Jr. and Frederick and became Henry Rahr & Sons Co. Prior to Prohibition (pre 1920) Rahr’s was producing 60,000 barrels of beer per year. After Prohibition was repealed in 1933, the brewery was back in business and began pumping out “Standard,” “Special,” “Belgian” and “Old Imperial Pale Beer.” In 1966 the company was sold to Oshkosh Brewing Co. Exactly 100 years after opening, Rahr’s Brewery was shut down. The brewery buildings were demolished, leaving no trace behind except for Rahr’s merchandise, barrels, and bottles.

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And this brewery history is from “Breweries of Wisconsin,” by Jerold W. Apps and Jerry Apps:

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Beer Birthday: Natalie Cilurzo

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Today is the 57th birthday of Natalie Cilurzo, co-founder of Russian River Brewing, and the woman who makes everything run smoothly at both the brewpub and the new production brewery. You’d be hard-pressed to find a nicer person in the beer world, and though she spent many years working with wine, the brewing industry is all the richer now that she’s left that all behind her. Join me in wishing Natalie a very happy birthday.

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Natalie after giving a toast for Zwanze Day in 2018.
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Natalie and Vinnie at the new production brewery shortly before in opened in 2018.
Best man Vinnie Cilurzo, Dave Keene, Jennifer Smith and maid of honor Natalie at Dan & Jen’s wedding during GABF 2010.
Jen Garris, from Pi Bar, Dave Keene’s wife Jen Smith, and Natalie at the Toronado 25th Anniversary Blending Dinner.
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Natalie with Vinnie at his 40th birthday party a few years ago.
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Four out of Five, the Cilurzos and a Stan. From Left: Natalie, Stan Hieronymus, Vinnie’s mother and father, and Vinnie Cilurzo at the World Beer Cup gala dinner in 2008.
Me, Natalie Cilurzo and Sean Paxton (and his daughter Olivia)
Me, Natalie and Sean Paxton (and his daughter Olivia) at the Pliny the Younger release in 2011. (photo by Mario Rubio.)
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Natalie several years ago for the 8th annual All Hopped Up for the Cure.


Beer In Ads #5133: Enjoy The Bright Taste In Bock

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Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have 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 Genesee Bock Beer, which was published on December 5, 1981. This ad was for Genesee Brewing Co. of Rochester, New York, which was originally founded in 1878. This ad ran in The Berwick Enterprise, from Berwick, Pennsylvania.

Historic Beer Birthday: Jacob Leinenkugel Jr.

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Today is the birthday of Jacob Leinenkugel Jr. (December 5, 1893-February 12, 1935). He is the son of Jacob Leinenkugel, who in 1867, along with John Miller, co-founded the Spring Brewery in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. In 1884, Jacob bought out Miller and the name was changed to the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co. Miller Brewing Co. bought the brewery in 1988, but it continues to be managed by the Leinenkugel family.

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Jacob Leinenkugel and his family, though I’m not sure which son is junior.

Here’s a short biography from Find-a-Grave:

Jacob Mathias Leinenkugel, son of Mathias Jacob Leinenkugel and Kathryn M Watzl was born 5 Dec 1893 in Chippewa Falls, Chippewa Co, Wis. His birth was recorded in Vol H page 219 of the Chippewa County Court House records.

Jacob was son of THE Jacob Leinenkugel of the brewery family.

He was the second of three children of Mathias and Kathryn. He became an attorney. He also served during WWI in the US Army.

Jacob went to Arizona due to health reasons and died in Tucson, Pima, Arizona at age 41 on 12 Feb 1935.

Jacob and Ethel had 2 sons: John William Leinenkugel and James Mathias Leinenkugel.

It appears that junior wasn’t too involved in brewery operations, though he may have done legal work for the business. Late in his short life, his health turned poor, and he and his family moved to Arizona for the climate, but he died not too long after the move, when he was only 41.

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Historic Beer Birthday: Henry Bartholomay

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Today is the birthday of Henry Bartholomay (1829-September 3, 1906). He was born in Frankfurt, Germany, into a brewing family. In 1850 he came to America and two years later, in 1852, he opened the Phillip Will and Henry Bartholomay Brewery in Rochester, New York. Five years later he bought out his partner, and in 1857 it became known as the Henry Bartholomay Brewery, and later was called the Bartholomay Brewing Co. The brewery survived prohibition by making ice cream, but closed a year after reopening after it was repealed, in 1934.

This biography is from the “Rochester and the Post Express; A history of the City of Rochester from the earliest times; the pioneers and their predecessors, frontier life in the Genesee country, biographical sketches; with a record of the Post Express,” compiled by John Devoy, and published in 1895:

Henry Bartholomay, founder of the Bartholomay Brewery company, and perhaps the best known brewer in America, was born at Frankfort, Germany, December 5, 1829, and received his education at Heidelberg. His ancestors were brewers and he engaged in the brewing business at an early age, and was manager of several breweries before he attained his majority. In 1850 he came to this city and in company with the late Philip Will began brewing lager beer. The first beer from their brewery was sold December 7, 1852. The product of the plant that year was 300 barrels; it is now 600,000 barrels. The partnership between Messrs. Bartholomay and Will continued for several years, and on its termination Mr. Bartholomay organized the Bartholomay Brewery company, which is now universally known as one of the most successful in the world. The brewery is of itself a monument to its founder; situated on the east bank of the Genesee River at the angle formed by the junction of St. Paul street and Vincent place, it is the largest in Rochester, and has no superior in equipment in any part of the world. Mr. Bartholomay has every reason to be satisfied with the result of his enterprise and industry. His success in business has been most marked and he enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens.

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And this obituary is from the “Western Brewer and Journal of the Barley Malt and Hop Trades” for 1906:

And here’s another short obituary from the American Brewer:

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This history of the Bartholomay Brewing Co. is from “A History of the Brewery and Liquor Industry of Rochester, N.Y.,” published in 1907:

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This image and the next two are from the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago.
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And this history of the brewery was published in “100 Years of Brewing.”

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Beer In Ads #5132: Arriving For Christmas! Gem Bock Beer

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Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have 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 Gem Bock Beer, which was published on December 4, 1950. This ad was for the Walter Bros. Brewing Co. of Menasha, Wisconsin, which was originally founded as the Island City Brewery in 1860. It became known as Walter Bros. in 1933 after prohibition, although the brothers had been involved in the brewery since 1888. This ad ran in The Post Crescent, from Appleton, Wisconsin.

Beer Birthday: Christian DeBenedetti

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Today is the 52nd birthday of fellow beer writer and brewery owner Christian DeBenedetti. In 2011, he wrote The Great American Ale Trail and you can check out a lot of his other work online. His latest project is his brewery on his family’s property, Springbrook Farm, and it’s called the Wolves & People Farmhouse Brewery, which opened in 2016. Join me in wishing Christian a very happy birthday.

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Christian with Stephen Beaumont at the Denver Rare Beer Tasting in 2013.
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With Vinnie Cilurzo in the barrel room during a visit to Russian River Brewing.
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With Charlie Papazian at GABF.
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With Jim Koch at Ale House at Amato’s for the book release party for the Great American Ale Trail, during GABF in 2011.
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In front of the brewhouse at Wolves & People Farmhouse Brewery, his brewery.

Beer Birthday: Bob Brewer

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Today is the 77th birthday of Bob Brewer, longtime brewery rep. for Anchor Brewing. For many years, he worked from southern California, circling the country with the entire nation his territory (the only exception being the Bay Area) representing Anchor beers. More recently, he moved back to the Bay Area, but you could find him at every nook and cranny of the beer world. Several years ago, Bob retired from Anchor, although he still occasionally works a festival or does other work, like giving a great talk at my class at SSU and more recently he was working the taps for Anchor at the Lagunitas Circus. Join me in wishing Bob a very happy birthday.

Bob serving a festival-goer at the Mammoth Lakes Bluesapalooza in 2007.

Bob giving a tour at Anchor.


Me, brewer Mike Lee and Bob at the 2011 Anchor Christmas party.

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Bob serves up the then-new Anchor Bock to Portland beer sage Fred Eckhardt.

Beer In Ads #5131: Gem Bock Beer Mighty Good This Time Th’ Year

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Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have 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 Gem Bock Beer, which was published on December 3, 1951. This ad was for the Walter Bros. Brewing Co. of Menasha, Wisconsin, which was originally founded as the Island City Brewery in 1860. It became known as Walter Bros. in 1933 after prohibition, although the brothers had been involved in the brewery since 1888. This ad ran in The Post Crescent, from Appleton, Wisconsin. I love their tagline, that “Santa Says: Mighty Good This Time Th’ Year.”

Beer Birthday: Andy Klein

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Today is the 56th birthday of Andy Klein, founder and brewmaster at Monk’s Cellar Brewery & Public House, located in Roseville, Cal. Andy first brewed at Sacramento Brewing in the mid-90s, then was at Beermann’s Beerworks before working as a brewery consultant for over a decade, before opening his own place six years ago, in 2013. I met Andy a few years ago and quickly realized we’re kindred spirits and I’ve enjoyed both getting to know him better whenever we run into one another and drinking his beer. Sean Paxton and I first went to his brewpub at least a year before we met, and it’s a favorite place of my son because it’s very near to the train yards in the area. Join me in wishing Andy a very happy birthday.

Andy and me at the brewery earlier this summer.
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Dressed appropriate as a monk one Halloween.
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Sacramento Brewing alums Andy, Peter York, and Peter Hoey.
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The Monk’s Cellar crew with Big Mike Moore and Tom McCormick at the Celebrator Anniversary Party in 2017.

Note: Last three photos purloined from Facebook.