Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Patent No. 2048266A: Beer Cooling And Dispensing System

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Today in 1936, US Patent 2048266 A was issued, an invention of Thomas Alfred Jenkins, for his “Beer Cooling and Dispensing System.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

This invention relates to improvements in beer cooling and dispensing systems and consists in the construction; combinations and arrangements as herein described and claimed.

The general object of my invention is the provision, in a manner-as hereinafter set forth, of a beer cooling and dispensing system that is complete in arrangement; unique in design; attractive; durable; sanitary; efficient and economical in operating performance.

The basic thought and purpose of conception, as embodied in this invention, is the creation of a beer cooling and dispensing system, wherein the cooling tank is simple; the means for cooling highly efficient and the entire system complete in function and sanitary throughout. Means for filtering the beer are practical in every sense and perform the important function of protecting various valve protecting elements. Means for controlling pressure; retaining gases and for flushing and emptying the entire system during cleaning periods are provided.

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Pyramid Closes Berkeley Brewery

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North American Breweries announced today that effective immediately, they’ve closed the Pyramid Brewery that’s been located in Berkeley, California since 1997. That leaves just the Walnut Creek alehouse remaining in California, after they closed the Sacramento brewpub in 2013.

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At Pyramid’s website, it offers only the following by way of explanation.

The Pyramid Berkeley Alehouse is now closed.

Thank you so much for your support and patronage over the years! We also want to thank our employees for their dedicated service. Our other locations remain open and available to provide great beers and a wonderful experience. We hope to see you there.

The East Bay Express has a bit more of the story, explaining “Berkeley’s Pyramid Alehouse (901 Gilman St.) is now permanently closed, according to a message on the restaurant and brewery’s answering machine.”

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Of course, the story isn’t complete without acknowledging that they haven’t been brewing at that location since 2013, when the brewers voted to unionize and shortly thereafter the company suspended brewing claiming it was to “fix a quality issue.” Which was obvious nonsense, especially now that the closure has gone from temporary to permanent. The original “temporary” period to “fix” the brewery was supposed to be 6-9 months, which meant it should have reopened and brought back the laid-off brewers sometime between March and June of 2014, or a little over one year ago.

This is, at least in part, what happens when breweries become part of larger businesses like equity firms, who only care about profit and bottom lines, and not the businesses themselves. Pyramid is part of North American Breweries (NAB), and was created in 2009 when equity firm KPS Capital Partners (KPS) bought it along with Magic Hat, Portland Brewing, Labatt’s USA, Genesee and a couple of other brands. In 2012, KPS sold NAB to Cerveceria Costa Rica, a subsidiary of Florida Ice & Farm Co., for $388 million.

East Bay Express later added this update, apparently from a press release from NAB:

The company decided to close its Berkeley facility in order to prepare the building for sale — “after an extensive evaluation process. “We have made the decision to focus our West Coast production in our Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington locations,” said CEO Kris Sirchio.

Frankly, that’s about as believable as the celebrity or political figure embroiled in scandal who retires “to spend more time with his family.” I’m sorry to see the brewery go, but frankly NAB has become a difficult company with many layers to get through before finding an actual live person who can, or will, answer questions about the company’s brands. When Sacramento closed, I spent hours on websites and phones just trying to find someone who would comment or answer questions, and this time I’m not even going to try, given how awful it was last time. One commenter on the EBE piece said, “[w]ord on the street is that another brewery is looking to purchase the property,” so perhaps we’ll have good news about the location soon.

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R.I.P. Pyramid Berkeley 1997-2015.

Patent No. 2645893A: Hop Picking Machine

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Today in 1953, US Patent 2645893 A was issued, an invention of Emil Clemens Horst Jr., for his “Hop Picking Machine.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a hop picking machine especially designed as a portable unit and especially useful in accommodating variations in the positioning and size of the growing hop vines and also designed with a wide degree of latitude for accommodating variations in the operation of the machine itself.

Another object of the invention is to provide a generally improved hop picking machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hop picking machine of the field harvesting type in which substantially all of the hops stripped from the vines are retained in the machine and are not lost upon the ground.

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Patent No. 734305A: Process Of Preserving Beer

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Today in 1903, US Patent 734305 A was issued, an invention of Francisque Crotte, for his “Process Of Preserving Beer.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

This invention relates to, the preservation of beer or other liquids; and the object of the invention is to provide a process by which the organic or germ life in the beer is rendered harmless, so that the beer will keep without deterioration for a great length of time.

The invention consists of the process of preserving beer which comprises the steps of placing a suitable preservative substance in a receptacle in contact with the beer to be treated and then passing through said substance, receptacle, and the beer an electric current of high tension, said current being of such direction, strength, tension,and character as to induce a cataphoric transference of said preservative substance through the receptacle into the beer.

The invention consists also in certain other combinations of steps hereinafter described and claimed, all however, involving the same principle of cataphoric action.

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Beer In Ads #1622: Chair Painting

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Monday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1950. This is from Bud’s long-running “there’s nothing like it … absolutely nothing” series. At least in this ad, the man is serving a beer to his wife, as there are two bottles and glasses. But she seems to be the only one painting the chair. At least that’s how it looks, since it would pretty foolish to wear a white sweater vest when painting. Of course, this was the fifties, when people seemed to dress up to do anything and everything.

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Patent No. 928588A: Apparatus For Dispensing A Measured Quantity Of Beer

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Today in 1909, US Patent 928588 A was issued, an invention of Harry S. Cornish, for his “Apparatus for Dispensing a Measured Quantity of Beer.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

My invention is primarily designed for dispensing beer and to regulate what is known as the pint trade.

The main object of my invention is to avoid any waste of liquid when changing from one source of supply to another and to insure that the first liquid drawn from the new source will be of the full measured quantity.

To these ends my invention consists in providing an apparatus for drawing a measured quantity of liquid with means for changing from one source of supply to another, when the first has become exhausted, together with means for venting or freeing the air from the pipes and intermediate connections of the empty end of the system previous to connecting the new supply, so that the new supply can immediately fill the empty end and a full measured quantity drawn at the first draft from the new supply.

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Patent No. 2087349A: Beer Keg

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Today in 1937, US Patent 2087349 A was issued, an invention of Hubert H. Lucker, for his “Beer Keg.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in beer kegs.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a metal beer keg which is formed from a 5 comparatively few number of parts and yet which is extremely strong and durable.

A further object of the invention is to provide the main body portion of a metallic beer keg by forming the same from a pair of oppositely arranged dished members, which may be pressed or stamped from suitable gauge material and wherein the edges of the two dished members are suitably joined for a seam.

A further object of the invention is to provide a beer keg with depressions or cavities at its opposite ends, one of said cavities being designed to receive and house the dispensing mechanism for the contents of the keg and wherein a cover is applied to the end of the keg to conceal the dispensing mechanism.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a beer keg which is formed with a cavity or depression at one end adapted to be closed by a cover so as to form a compartment for receiving a refrigerating medium.

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Patent No. 3195445A: Bale Press

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Today in 1965, US Patent 3195445 A was issued, an invention of Sidney S. Meisler, for his “Bale Press.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

This invention relates to baling presses and more particularly to a novel baling press for forming bales and applying a number of tie wires therewith.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for recompressing hops into cylindrical bales confined against expansion by plural bands supplied by a powered strapping machine, thus materially increasing the speed with which finished bales may be completed and therefore materially decreasing the cost of so doing.

A further object of the present invention lies in the provision of an improved pair of complemental shaping dies by means of which a band may be caused to encircle a bale contained in the fully closed mating dies by passing the band thereabout from one side of the bale press.

Another object of the present invention lies in the provision of an improved bale press having a pair of complemental shaping dies which, when in said mating position, provide complemental ways through which bale banding material may be passed by a power strapping machine.

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Beer In Ads #1621: Put The Finest Label … On Your Snacking Table

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Sunday’s ad is for Miller High Life, from 1960. This is another in the “Put The Finest Label … On Your Table” series, with this one focusing on what looks like a generous amount of snacks, finger foods and appetizers, plus a fairly full entrée plate. As before, the woman seems to be doing all of the work, smiling even, as the man pours himself a beer. And there appears to be only one bottle and only one glass, so she’s too bust to stop to have a drink, one supposes. Of course, it’s possible he’s pouring the beer for her, and that’s why she’s smiling. In 1960? Nah, I’m going with my first scenario.

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A Landscape View Of Beer For The Next Session

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For our 102nd Session, our host will be Allen Huerta, who writes Active Brewer. For his topic, he’s asking us to look at the big picture, the entire landscape of beer; yesterday, today, and/or tomorrow, or as he more fully explains what he has in mind for the August Session in his announcement, “The Landscape of Beer:”

SURPRISE, SURPRISE! The Landscape of Beer in America is changing. It has even begun influencing beer in countries all around the world. Everyone has their opinion on Local vs Global, Craft vs Macro, and Love vs Business. Those who were at the Beer Bloggers & Writers Conference in Asheville this past weekend had a brief talk about how “Small and Independent Matters”. Something that quite a few people say matters to them, but where is the upper limit? Does a purchase of another brewery still allow a brewery to fall into the Small and Independent camp?

Our topic this month is, “The Landscape of Beer“. How do you see that landscape now? What about in 5, 10, or even 20 years? A current goal in the American Craft Beer Industry is 20% market share by the year 2020. How can we get there? Can we get there?

Whether your view is realistic or whimsical, what do you see in our future? Is it something you want or something that is happening? Let us know and maybe we can help paint the future together.

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So start painting your thoughts in broad strokes, and give us your take on the beer landscape. To participate in the July Session, leave a comment to the original announcement, on or before Friday, August 7.

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