Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Patent No. 4779750A: Beer Keg Cap

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Today in 1988, US Patent 4779750 A was issued, an invention of Kenneth J. Armstrong, for his “Beer Keg Cap.” Here’s the Abstract:

A removable thermoplastic cap for a beer keg bushing comprising a flat disc with integral peripheral skirt which includes inturned upwardly directed gripping lugs preventing removal of the cap when once fitted to a beer keg bushing, vertical slots spaced around the skirt and extending partway across the disc to provide venting for the interior of the bushing, and a pull tab provided on one side of the disc and connected by weakened lines to the opposite side thereof to facilitate peeling off of the cap by tearing apart the skirt.

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Beer In Ads #1718: All This, Just To Drink A Guinness In Peace?

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Saturday’s ad is for Guinness, from the 1986. On the day the United Nations was founded, I thought this ad for Guinness depicting the U.N. building in New York was appropriate. The copy is pretty funny though, referring to the beer as “fraternal Guinness” and to drink it “in peace and quiet all you have to do is become a delegate in the United Nations.” That’s because apparently Guinness is served in the dining room reserved for delegates on the top floor of the U.N. building, complete with panoramic views of the city. But I suspect there are probably easier ways to get a beer, though maybe the one we can buy aren’t “cool, fraternal Guinness.”

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Patent No. 3348726A: Pull Tab

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Today in 1967, US Patent 3348726 A was issued, an invention of George D. La Cross, assigned to the Continental Can Co., for his “Pull Tab.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in easy opening containers, and more particularly to a novel pull tab construction.

In accordance with this invention, it is proposed to provide a metal pull tab which is secured to the tear strip by means of nibs which pierce the tear strip and which are sealed relative thereto.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel pull tab which is -formed of sheet metal, but which is so constructed wherein it has the necessary beam strength while at the same time may be readily secured to a tear strip in sealed relation thereto.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel pull tab and tear strip assembly wherein both the tear strip and the pull tab are formed of metal and the pull tab is provided with a pair of nibs which pierce the tear strip and bend there beneath, the openings required in the tear strip for the passage of the nibs being sealed by completely encasing each nib in a covering of sealing compound.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel tear strip pull tab assembly wherein the pull tab is formed of sheet metal and has a pair of depending nibs, and the tear strip has narrow slits for receiving the nibs, the metal of the tear strip adjacent each slit being slightly deformed to facilitate the passage of a nib therethrough, and the metal being returned to its normal position during the folding over of the nib beneath the tear strip with the metal, when it returns to its original position, tightly clamping and forming interlock with the nib.

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Beer In Ads #1717: Together!

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Friday’s ad is for Colt 45, from the 1970s. It’s a simple ad, with two African-Americans in orange outfits. The man is facing the camera, holding a can of Colt 45 Malt Liquor in his hand. Looks like they have a fine evening ahead of them … together!

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Patent No. 196297A: Improvement In Beer-Cooling Apparatus

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Today in 1877, US Patent 196297 A was issued, an invention of Charles P. Hovey, for his “Improvement In Beer-Cooling Apparatus.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

It is to obviate these difficulties, and to produce a cooler which may be readily transported from place to place for use, and which may be placed under an ordinary counter, that my invention is designed.
To this end I construct a chest, A, of wood or other suitable material, and line its interior partially or entirely with galvanized sheet-iron, zinc, or other suitable material, after the manner of constructing an ordinary ice-chest. The chest is provided with one or more removable sides, H, and a removable, cover or top, B, through which access may be had to the interior of the chest. At or near one end of the chest, inside of the same, is located an air pump, G, of any suitable construction, it being secured to one of the walls of the chest by means of screws or other suitable means.

The cask which contains the beer is placed inside of the chest, in such position as to leave an open space all around it between it and the walls of the chest. In the upper end of the cask a cylindrical tubular plug or drive, m, is inserted, and through this plug passes a tube, the lower end of which passes down to, or nearly to, the bottom of the cask, while its upper end terminates in a faucet, F, of any suitable construction. A packed joint is formed at the upper end of the plug or drive m, where the tube 0 passes through it, but below this point an annular space is left between the tube and the interior of the plug or drive m. A tubular projection, I, is formed on one side of the plug or drive, communicating with the annular space just mentioned, so that connecting’ the pump G and the tubular projection, by means of a short tube or pipe, air will be caused to pass into, the area when the pump is operated, and maybe held there by turning the small cock. shown near the tubular projection. It will be observed that all the parts of this apparatus are placed Within the chest, except B and D, as shown, at a point directly in line with the tube or pipe 0, a semicircular nc tch being made in reach section to it around the same.

In order to close the lid or cover when the pump is not being used, and at the same time I to render the pump readily accessible, a portion of the 1id, G, is out and hinged to: the main portion B, as shown, the portion is being directly over the pump. If preferred, however, the handle of the-pump may extend up through the top or cover in the same manner as the tuber or the pump maybe attached to r the outside of the chest, with its supply-pipe opening into the same. The pump, caslg and tubes being all placed within the ice-chest, it is apparent that the air which is forced into the cask must be cold and pure, and the pipes being short, the air and beer will pass through them Without becoming in any Way affected thereby.

The apparatus thus constructed occupies but a small amount of space, and can be placed under an ordinary counter, or it may be made ornamental in appearance and I placed in sight; can be taken from place to place for picnics and exeursiolis, and is cheap to manufacture.

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The Definitive Guide To Beer Glasses

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Admittedly the title might be a bit too grand and hard to live up to, but it is a nice overview of the sixteen most common types of beer glassware. Created by CorrChilled, a British supplier of cold technology and equipment, The Definitive Guide To Beer Glasses is, most likely, a low key way to promote their business but also seems like a nice outline on the subject.

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Click here to see the infographic full size.

Patent No. 660408A: Hop-Drier

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Today in 1900, US Patent 660408 A was issued, an invention of Adolf Wolf, for his “Hop-Drier.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary, although it’s a bit odd and not terribly straightforward as I believe there may have been some problems with the OCD on this one:

One purpose of the invention is to provide are obtainable under the present treatment of hops.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a means of drying the hops which will economize in time, fuel, labor, and expense and to construct the driers that the lupulin will be preserved and the hops may be dumped quickly and conveniently without damage.

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Patent No. 0873396B1: Brewing Products And Their Methods For Production (Clear Beer)

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Today in 2003, US Patent 0873396 B1 was issued, an invention of Vinod K. Chaudhary, Robert J. Mizerak, Sydney R. Rader, David S. Ryder, William G. Schulze, and Matthew L. Tripp, assigned to Miller Brewing Company, for their “Brewing Products And Their Methods For Production.” Here’s the Abstract:

A method is disclosed of preparing a colorless, clear beer by a method including ultrafiltration and the addition of dextrins, bittering agents and a foam enhancer. Methods of preparing improved nonalcoholic malt beverages and making natural beer foaming components also are disclosed.

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Patent No. 2018543A: Beer Tapping Mechanism

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Today in 1935, US Patent 2018543 A was issued, an invention of William Buirk, for his “Beer Tapping Mechanism.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

The object of my invention is to provide a valve in the air line to the tap’ which is so constructed to permit closing of the air inlet and outlet ports; or to provide an uninterrupted free passage of air through the valve; or to provide a free passage of air through the valve with a safety valve in conjunction therewith to relieve any excess pressure from being applied to the contents of the barrel; or to provide closing of the inlet port and maintaining a limited pressure on the contents of the-barrel; or to provide closing of the inlet and safety valve ports and forming an open connection between the outlet port and a port exposed to the atmosphere to permit venting of the barrel when so desired. A further object is to provide means for disconnecting the air line from the valve whereby a suitable water thief can be attached thereto to make connection with the dispensing faucet for applying pressure to the liquid in the coil through the dispensing faucet.

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