Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Patent No. 1003014A: Automatic Keg Washing And Sprinkling Machine

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Today in 1911, US Patent 1003014 A was issued, an invention of Friedrich Strohl, for his “Automatic Keg Washing and Sprinkling Machine.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

This invention relates to a combination can-piercing device and drinking cup.

One of the principal objects of the invention is the provision of :a drinking cup provided with can-piercing instrumentalities depending from its bottom wall, guide means for attaching the cup to the top of a beverage can and sealing means associated with the cup and guide means to prevent leakage between the top of the can and the outside of the cup after the top of the can has been pierced.

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Beer In Ads #1675: Get Yourself A Beer * And Sit Down

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Friday’s ad is for Carling’s Red Cap Ale, from 1955. Kinda of goofy Canadian ad, all in red. A guy who looks a bit like Bing Crosby sitting in front of a television set, looking back to us with the headline. “Hi there! Get yourself a Beer * and sit down.” I guess there’s not going after the active lifestyle demographic. I also love the tagline at the bottom. “It’s a pure case of pleasure.”

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Patent No. 3758008A: Tapping Assembly For Beer Kegs

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Today in 1973, US Patent 3758008 A was issued, an invention of Mack S. Johnston, for his “Tapping Assembly for Beer Kegs and the Like.” Here’s the Abstract:

A keg adapter for beer kegs and the like with gas and liquid passageways containing normally closed valves, which when opened permit compressed gas to be admitted to the keg and beer to be withdrawn therefrom, said valves being biased toward the closed position by actuators which contain permanent magnets. A tapper is connected to a source of compressed gas and to a beer faucet and contains a tap rod, which, when manually actuated, seals the tapper to the adapter and interconnects the gas source and the faucet with the interior of the keg.

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Beer In Ads #1674: For Good Taste I’ll Hand It To You

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Thursday’s ad is another one for Blatz Pilsener Beer, this one from 1943. It’s for “discriminating people everywhere.” I do love the barley in the script “B,” that looks pretty cool. But my favorite is how they characterize the beer in the copy at the bottom. “Milwaukee’s Most Exquisite Beer.” There were apparently other “exquisite” beers in Milwaukee, but this one was the “most exquisite.”

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Patent No. 5553327A: Hat Made From Cardboard Beer Container

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Today in 1996, US Patent 5553327 A was issued, an invention of Anthony R. Koecher and Kevin M. Schoeller, for their “Hat Made from Cardboard Beverage Container and Method of Making the Same.” Here’s the Abstract:

A hat is constructed from a cardboard product container, for example a 24-pack beer package including a product logo and other graphics thereon. The hat provides a new use for a previously wasted container material, and enables fans or collectors to display their loyalty and support of a particular brand.

This is certainly an odd one to have been patented. I’ve definitely seen hats made from 12-pack containers or similar packages, but I don’t think I knew the process was one that could be, or had been, patented.
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MillerCoors Acquires Majority Stake In Saint Archer

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Not quite as big news as yesterday, but certainly continuing a trend. This Morning, MillerCoors announced that Saint Archer Brewing of San Diego, California will be joining their craft division, Tenth and Blake, as they acquire a majority interest in the small brewery.

Here’s the press release:

Tenth and Blake, the craft and import division of MillerCoors, announced today an agreement to acquire a majority interest in Saint Archer Brewing Company.

Founded in San Diego in 2013 by a talented group of entrepreneurs, artists, skateboarders and surfers, Saint Archer brews an award-winning range of ales including Blonde Ale, IPA, White Ale and Pale Ale. Saint Archer expects to sell 35,000 barrels of beer in 2015, up more than 100 percent over 2014, making it one of the fastest-growing breweries in California. Tenth and Blake plans to support its continued growth under the ongoing leadership of Josh Landan, Saint Archer co-founder and president.

“We have always wanted to get great beer into more people’s hands,” said Landan. “We were fortunate that brewers big and small were interested in partnering with us, but Tenth and Blake was the clear choice. Tenth and Blake shares our passion for putting great beer first. Joining Tenth and Blake allows us to keep doing what we love right here in San Diego, but now with more resources to innovate and grow. With Tenth and Blake’s help, we hope to one day be a national brand.”

Saint Archer’s management and their team will continue to brew, package, ship, and sell Saint Archer’s outstanding portfolio of high-quality brands. Saint Archer will be run as a separate business unit of Tenth and Blake.

“We’re really excited about our partnership with Saint Archer,” said Scott Whitley, president and CEO of Tenth and Blake. “Saint Archer is consistent with our strategy of building our high-end portfolio while driving topline growth. Josh and his team represent everything we look for in a partner. Saint Archer brews award-winning ales across a variety of styles that are complementary to our current portfolio—including some outstanding IPAs. We’re excited at the prospect of working together to support the continued success of Saint Archer.”

Saint Archer picked up two gold medals at the 2014 San Diego International Beer Festival and a gold medal at the 2014 Great American Beer Festival.

Saint Archer joins other leading crafts in the Tenth and Blake portfolio, including Blue Moon Brewing Company, Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, Crispin Cider Company and a minority equity stake in Terrapin Beer Company.

The transaction is expected to complete in October 2015. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

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Patent No. 3834429A: Method And Apparatus For Detecting Beverage Bottles Having A Lip Damaged Outwardly Of The Crown Sealing Surface

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Today in 1974, US Patent 3834429 A was issued, an invention of Arthur F. Schulz, assigned to the Schlitz Brewing Co., for his “Method and Apparatus for Detecting Beverage Bottles Having a Lip Damaged Outwardly of the Crown Sealing Surface.” Here’s the Abstract:

Method and apparatus are disclosed for the detection of beverage bottles having a lip damaged outwardly of the crown sealing surface. Such detection is provided for in conjunction with the bottle filling operation wherein the filling apparatus seals on the bottle lip outwardly of the crown sealing surface and the bottle is then subjected to a counter pressure. If the counter pressure developed in the bottle is less than the pressure imposed on the beverage in the source reservoir, a short fill results. Thus, if the bottle lip is damaged outwardly of the crown sealing surface and in the region of sealing, a lesser counter pressure is developed in the bottle due to leakage past the seal which will result in a detectable short fill and can be rejected from the production line.

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Patent No. 3103297A: Combination Can Opener And Drinking Cup

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Today in 1963, US Patent 3103297 A was issued, an invention of George H. Taft, for his “Combination Can Opener and Drinking Cup.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

This invention relates to a combination can-piercing device and drinking cup.

One of the principal objects of the invention is the provision of :a drinking cup provided with can-piercing instrumentalities depending from its bottom wall, guide means for attaching the cup to the top of a beverage can and sealing means associated with the cup and guide means to prevent leakage between the top of the can and the outside of the cup after the top of the can has been pierced.

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Patent No. 2806217A: Apparatus For Clarifying Brewer’s Wort

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Today in 1957, US Patent 2806217 A was issued, an invention of Friedrich Schmatz, for his “Apparatus For Clarifying Brewer’s Wort.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

This invention relates to an apparatus for clarifying brewers wort.

Especially this invention refers to a process for clarifying the wort discharged from a straining vat by means of drain pipes communicating with a standpipe, drain taps being provided in the drain pipes substantially under the straining vat.

It is an object of the invention to eliminate this disadvantage so that the wort will remain substantially clear after changing the taps from the clarifying trough to the drain pipes.

According to the invention the above is brought about in such a way that at the beginning of the draining of clear wort first a communication with a small clear opening is established between the clarifying vat at the communicating system until clear water runs in the drain pipes and the standpipe is displaced by the wort, and only then the clear opening is enlarged to the full clear opening of the drain pipes.

This process may be carried out in such a way that the clarifying tap is not completely adjusted to the drain pipe when adjusting its passage from the clarifying trough to the drain pipe, so that the clear opening of the passage is reduced in this way. In this operation, however, it is difficult to reduce the clear opening to the necessary degree, that is, the opening will be adjusted too small or too wide. If the clear opening is adjusted too wide, the purpose of the process according to the invention will not be attained, and the Wort will become turbid. If the clear opening is adjusted too small, the clear water will be displaced too slowly. Several drain pipes each provided with a tap being usually provided, the clear opening of the passage cannot uniformly be adjusted at will even with the greatest care. If some taps are opened too much and others too little, an undesired turbidness of the wort will occur.

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Beer In Ads #1673: One Glass Invites Another!

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Wednesday’s ad is for Blatz Old Heidelberg Beer, from 1940. It’s a “Special Pilsener Brewer,” which apparently means “it’s not bitter; it’s not sweet — it’s just want you want.” But I especially love their rationale for why you’ll love their “new clear glass bottle.” It “let’s you see what you’re drinking.”

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