Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Patent No. 3447375A: Beverage Container Having Sight Gage Means

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Today in 1969, US Patent 3447375A was issued, an invention of John H. Fox Jr., assigned to the Reynolds Metals Co., for his “Beverage Container Having Sight Gage Means.” There’s no Abstract, though the description in the application states that he’s invented an “improved beverage container having sight gage means made of a solid light transmitting material and extending through opaque outer wall means of such container wherein such sight gage means has outer easily visible viewing surface means and inner surface means arranged to be surrounded by a beverage within such container, such outer surface means having a normally bright appearance which becomes dark upon surrounding the inner surface means with beverage.”

Many carbonated beverages are currently sold in pressurized container means such as kegs, or the like, wherein it would be desirable to determine the amount of beverage within such keg in a simple and inexpensive manner. Although many types of liquid level gages are available most of such gages are complicated, expensive, and provide undesirable easily damaged protrusions from exterior wall means of an associated beverage keg. Accordingly, it is a feature of this invention to provide an improved beverage container having improved sight gage means of simple and economical construction.

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Senate Passes Resolution Celebrating Brewers

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This is kind of fun. A few years ago, the California state senate declared that February was California Beer Month using language I helped draft. Other states have followed suit, as well. But now the U.S. Senate has unanimously passed a national resolution, S. Res. 188 recognizing the efforts of small breweries nationwide and American Craft Beer Week in particular.

Here’s the BA’s press release:

The weeklong celebration honoring the country’s small and independent craft brewery renaissance during the 10th American Craft Beer Week (ACBW) continues, as Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Susan Collins (R-Me.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) introduced a resolution, S. Res. 188, expressing the Senate’s appreciation of the goals of the week and commending the craft brewers of the United States. The U.S. Senate passed S. Res. 188 by unanimous consent.

From May 11-17, all 50 states witnessed over 2,000 registered ACBW events, including exclusive brewery tours, special craft beer releases, food and beer pairings, tap takeovers and more, to honor the ever-advancing craft beer culture and unite tens of thousands of beer lovers nationwide. CraftBeer.com also created an interactive graphic featuring fun facts to commemorate each state and its respective commitment to craft brewing.

“American Craft Beer Week is about supporting and celebrating small and independent brewers,” said Julia Herz, publisher of CraftBeer.com and craft beer program director at the Brewers Association. “We are thrilled to see the U.S. Senate recognize the week and commend the accomplishments of small brewery businesses, each of whom are a driving economic force and cultural bright spot for this country.”

In addition to expressing gratitude for the goals of ACBW, the resolution recognizes the significant contributions of the craft brewers of the United States to the economy and to the communities which the craft brewers are located. The resolution also commends craft brewers for providing jobs, supporting agriculture, improving balance of trade—particularly by producing many sought-after new and unique styles ranging from smoked porters to pumpkin peach ales—and educating the country and beer lovers around the world about the history and culture of beer, while promoting legal and responsible appreciation.

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Patent No. 701335A: Device For Drawing Liquids

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Today in 1902, US Patent 701335 A was issued, an invention of Lucien H. Handy, assigned to the American Faucet Company, for his “Device For Drawing Liquids.” There’s no Abstract, though the description in the application states that he’s “invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Drawing Liquids,” such as:

My invention relates to that class of devices for drawing liquids in which a faucet connection is made and broken with a permanent bung in the barrel or keg simultaneously with the operation of the bung-valve, due to said connection; and said invention is especially applicable to those devices of this type in which for the purpose of drawing lager-beer means are provided for passing a slip-pipe into the liquid in the receptacle and forcing air under pressure upon top of the liquid, whereby the latter is forced up through the slip-pipe.

My invention consists in the novel combinations of bung, controlling-valve, and faucet connection, with its locking and operating key, slip-pipe, and air-passage and in the novel details of construction and arrangement in connection therewith.

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Beer In Ads #1574: Chiamami Peroni Saro La Tua Birra

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Tuesday’s ad is for Italy’s Peroni, from 1976. The headline, “chiamami Peroni sarò la tua birra, translates roughly to “call me Peroni I’ll be your beer” or possibly “call me, Peroni’ll be your beer.” And in the ad copy there’s “sono la birra pùr bevuta la Italia,” which is something along the lines of “drinking the beer while in Italy,” and finally “Lo sapevi,” meaning “did you know?” What makes this ad stand out is how exactly is she holding up that beer mug in her hand with all five of her fingers spread wide? Either she just let go and the photographer snapped the picture before it smashed to the floor, or that’s one slick magic trick.

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Patent No. 2888944A: Filling System

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Today in 1959, US Patent 2888944A was issued, an invention of Rudolph H. Breeback, assigned to Crown Cork & Seal Co., for his “Filling System.” There’s no Abstract, though it’s described this way in the application. “The present invention relates to a filling system and more particularly to a system for delivering beer or other carbonated beverages to a filling machine.”

An object of this invention is the provision of a system for delivering beer to a reservoir of a filling machine whereby the supply of liquid in the reservoir will be controlled by a pressure actuated switch so connected to the reservoir that the pressure acting upon the switch is controlled by the liquid level within the reservoir.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a system for delivering beer to a reservoir of a filling machine whereby the pressure and level of the liquid in the reservoir can be controlled within a range independent of the level and pressure of the liquid in government tank.

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Patent No. 2043183A: Double-Walled Vessel

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Today in 1933, US Patent 2043183 A was issued, an invention of Karl Wilhelm Mauser, for his “Double-Walled Vessel.” There’s no Abstract, though it’s described this way in the application:

This invention relates to a double-walled metal vessel for transport and storage of beverages, more particularly beer, in which the inner vessel for holding the beverage is removable. The removable inner vessel has the advantage over the fixed vessel that a separate cleansing or sterilization and a storage of the beverage can be effected without the outer vessel, so that the latter is used only for transporting the storage `vessels when ready for despatch. A further advantage is that the inner vessel can be kept under observation, which is of importance, for example, in case of the occurrence of corrosion.

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Patent No. 1098659A: Racking-Machine

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Today in 1914, US Patent 1098659 A was issued, an invention of John G. Bieniek, for his “Racking-Machine.” There’s no Abstract, though it’s stated in the application that Bieniek has “invented a new and useful Improvement in Racking-Machines,” adding:

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved racking machine; to provide a racking machine in which the filling apparatus may be readily brought into and out of operative position with respect to the barrel to be filled; to provide a rack 111g machine having means for automatically operating the filling valve; to provide a racking machine having improved mechanism for indicating that the barrel is filled; to provide a racking machine having improved means for firmly holding the filling apparatus in operative position; and to provide a strong, simple and easily operable device adapted to fill beer barrels with great rapidity.

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Beer In Ads #1573: Man Size Pleasure Of Surfing

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Monday’s ad is yet another one for Falstaff, also from the late 1950s. This is the fourth Falstaff ad I’ve come across equating manliness with beer, and in particular sports. While the last ones were for golf, baseball and bronco riding, while this one celebrates surfing as its “Man Size Pleasure.” Like yesterday’s ad, this one was also a doubletruck ad, that is a two-page ad, showing off the man surfing quite impressively.

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Patent No. 2082222A: Brewing Process

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Today in 1937, US Patent 2082222 A was issued, an invention of Frederick P. Siebel, for his “Brewing Process.” There’s no Abstract, though it’s described in the application as an “invention relat[ing] to the art of brewing, and pertains particularly to the preparation of the wort.” I assume this is the same Siebel who led the Institute after it reopened after Prohibition in 1933.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a process whereby a desired wort may be produced in a condition suitable for immediate cooking, in a period of time very substantially less than is required for the mashing and sparging operations heretofore quite generally employed.

`Another Object is the provision of a process whereby there can be accomplished a substantially higher extraction and conversion of the desired constituents of the malt and other grains than has been the case under commercial brewing procedures heretofore generally employed; this obtaining a more complete utilization and hence a saving, in the raw materials required.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a process which maybe carried on rapidly and with facility for preparation of a wort on a commercial brewing scale, whereby the enzymatic conversion or modification of the grain starches and albumens may be accomplished more completely and rapidly than with commercial procedures heretofore generally employed.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a wort-preparing process of a character such as to permit successive batches to be prepared in rapid succession one after another in the same apparatus.

Yet another object is the provision of a process for wort preparation which may be carried on under very definite and accurate control, for production of a wort of a desired character very rapidly and with very close uniformity as between different batches.

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Brussels Beer Challenge To Be Held In Antwerp

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2015 will mark the fourth year for the Brussels Beer Challenge. In its inaugural year it was held in Brussels, in the second year it was in Liege, and last year we were in Leuven. This year’s competition will be in Antwerp, described as a “city on the Scheldt, city of Rubens, of diamonds, of fashion, a port city… The sum of all these different aspects is what makes Antwerp into a real city: a vibrant, welcoming metropolis, which is also great fun and heart-warming, with green areas where you can relax and peaceful corners. Antwerp is a veritable cultural capital, which prides itself on its impressive architecture and splendid art. Moreover, Antwerp is a fashionista’s dream destination thanks to the stores of its world-renowned designers. The cafes only serve the best beers and foodies can enjoy the most delicious traditional and multicultural cuisine in the city’s restaurants. Antwerp: a pocket-sized metropolis which is sure to conquer anyone’s heart in no time at all.” And Antwerp also boasts two of the best frites shops anywhere.

From the press release:

During two days a tasting panel of 60 international renowned beer connoisseurs will taste 850 beers from all over the world. The participating beers are divided into categories based on origin, typicity and style and then evaluated. At the end of the two tasting days, the best beers, in each category, were awarded a gold, silver or bronze award.

This professional beer competition is a unique opportunity for all beer producers to compete with the best international and Belgian brewers.

Why organize this beer competition in Belgium?

Belgium is without a doubt the most unique beer country. Our country has a great expertise and an international reputation. It is only fitting that Belgium has his own professional beer contest. The mixed presence of both national and international specialists ensures that the awarded beers at the Brussels Beer Challenge can count on a huge media interest and international recognition. The Brussels Beer Challenge will take place from November 5-8, 2015.

I’m looking forward to going over and judging again this fall in Antwerp. Should be another great time.

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The 2014 Brussels Beer Challenge judges in Leuven.