Today in 1903, US Patent 726427 A was issued, an invention of William Haussermann, for his “Beer Filter.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
This invention relates to improvements in filters, and particularly beer-filters.
The object of the invention is to provide a beer-filter which is simple of construction, comparatively inexpensive of production, efficient in operation, and adapted to be readily and conveniently cleansed of the retained impurities.
Today in 1931, US Patent 1802638 A was issued, an invention of Erik J. Eriksson, for his “Pressed Metal Keg.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
My invention relates to pressed metal kegs, and more particularly to the type of keg composed of a plurality of pressed metal staves assembled with metal end pieces and hoops in the manner of the customary wooden keg.
Wednesday’s ad is entitled Gathered Around the Piano, and the illustration was done in 1949 by Douglass Crockwell. It’s #25 in a series entitled “Home Life in America,” also known as the Beer Belongs series of ads that the United States Brewers Foundation ran from 1945 to 1956. In this ad, a trio of couples is having a sing-a-long around a piano, the karaoke of its day. They’re all drinking beer, which makes sense. I know I need a few before I’m willing to sing in front of other people.
Today in 1948, US Patent 2440276 A was issued, an invention of Abraham Arnold Klein, for his “Brewing Method Using Albedo In Wort.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
According to the present invention albedo from fruit of the genus Citrus, particularly from grapefruit or citron, is used instead of, or in addition to, hops in the manufactured beer. I have found that the lupulin of hops has in many cases undesirable effects on the human organism. Furthermore hops deteriorate easily. Albedo from citrus fruit can be used instead of hops and the bitter flavour imparted by it to the wort is of a mild and agreeable character.
So this is essentially using grapefruit or other citrus almost 70 years before Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin. But not the whole fruit, or even the rind, the albedo is the white, fleshy inner later in between the thinner, top rind layer and the inside fruit. That spongy material is, according to this patent, used in place of or with hops in the brewing process. I wonder if anybody used this method to produce commercial beer?
Tuesday’s ad is entitled Getting Ready For Christmas, and the illustration was done in 1948 by Douglass Crockwell. It’s #24 in a series entitled “Home Life in America,” also known as the Beer Belongs series of ads that the United States Brewers Foundation ran from 1945 to 1956. In this ad, the womenfolk are preparing to wrap all of the Christmas presents while the men sit, smiling and drinking beer. Hopefully they’re at least cheering them on so they;re not completely useless.
Today in 1892, US Patent 473737 A was issued, an invention of Peter F. Gaynor, for his “Beer-Drawing Apparatus.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
My invention relates to improvements in beer-drawng apparatus and the object of my invention is to produce a simple apparatus by means of which beer may be conveniently drawn under pressure from the cask and which may be inserted in the cask without spilling any beer or freeing any gas.
Monday’s ad is entitled Thanksgiving, and the illustration was done in 1948 by John Gannam. It’s #23 in a series entitled “Home Life in America,” also known as the Beer Belongs series of ads that the United States Brewers Foundation ran from 1945 to 1956. In this ad, a large family gathers for Thanksgiving dinner. I count at least eleven people. As one woman carries in the turkey from the kitchen, the rest appear to be finishing setting the table. All five of the men seen in the ad, are doing nothing whatsoever to help, and every one of them has a beer in one hand. One’s even pouring himself another beer. I’m a little surprised he didn’t have one of the womenfolk pour it for him.
Sunday’s ad is entitled Wedding Anniversary, and the illustration was done in 1948 by Douglass Crockwell. It’s #22 in a series entitled “Home Life in America,” also known as the Beer Belongs series of ads that the United States Brewers Foundation ran from 1945 to 1956. In this ad, an older couple is celebrating their wedding anniversary, and is being toasted with beer, presumably by their own kids, grandkids and other relatives. Granddad has a beer, but curiously Grandma does not, what’s up with that?
Today in 2013, US Patent EP 2583934 A1 was issued, an invention of Thomas W. Bates, Dan Morgan, and Leslie W. Ross, for their “Reusable Beer Keg.” Here’s the Abstract:
A reusable beer keg (1) is disclosed comprising a hollow beer keg body (2) with a dispenser tube assembly (10) having a dispenser valve (11), dispenser tube (12), and a disposable bladder (13). The dispenser valve (11) is releasably attached to a top portion of the keg body (2) and the dispenser tube (12) and bladder (13) extend into the interior of the keg body (2). When beer flows through the open dispenser valve (11) and into the bladder (13), the beer causes the bladder (13) to expand until it contacts the inside surface of the keg body (2). When the beer keg (1) has been emptied it can be returned to the brewery for reuse by cleaning the dispenser valve (11), dispenser tube (12) and disposing of the used bladder (13). The beer keg body (2) does not need to be cleaned, however, because the beer only comes in contact with the disposable bladder (13) and not the keg body (2). The beer keg parts can then be reassembled, using a new bladder in place of the used bladder.
Today in 2003, US Patent 20030075208 A1 was issued, an invention of Mason McMullin, Robert Bell, and Mark See, for their “Beerbrella.” Here’s the Abstract:
The present invention provides a small umbrella (“Beerbrella”) which may be removably attached to a beverage container in order to shade the beverage container from the direct rays of the sun. The apparatus comprises a small umbrella approximately five to seven inches in diameter, although other appropriate sizes may be used within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Suitable advertising and/or logos may be applied to the umbrella surface for promotional purposes. The umbrella may be attached to the beverage container by any one of a number of means, including clip, strap, cup, foam insulator, or as a coaster or the like. The umbrella shaft may be provided with a pivot to allow the umbrella to be suitably angled to shield the sun or for aesthetic purposes. In one embodiment, a pivot joint and counterweight may be provided to allow the umbrella to pivot out of the way when the user drinks from the container.
