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Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Beer In Ads #1207: Ale Man Eugene Burdick

May 30, 2014 By Jay Brooks


Friday’s ad is another one for Ballantine Ale, also from 1963. In an ad series somewhat similar to the Blatz series, the “Ale Man” in the ad is a famous person, although more marginally famous tending more toward the manly fame. In this one, a second, and different, ad featuring political scientist, novelist, and non-fiction writer Eugene Burdick, who was also fond of scuba diving, making him “a man with a thirst for a manlier brew.”

Ballantine-scuba-3

Filed Under: Art & Beer, Beers Tagged With: Advertising, Ballantine, History

Beer In Ads #1206: Ale Man Colin Ratsey

May 29, 2014 By Jay Brooks


Thursday’s ad is another one for Ballantine Ale, from 1963. In an ad series somewhat similar to the Blatz series, the “Ale Man” in the ad is a famous person, although more marginally famous tending more toward the manly fame. In this one, the ad features the appropriately named Colin Ratsey, who was a world-class sailor before founding a sail-making company, making him “a man with a thirst for a manlier brew.”

Ballantine-1963-Colin-Ratsey

Filed Under: Art & Beer, Beers Tagged With: Advertising, Ballantine, History

Beer In Ads #1205: Ale Man Ray Manley

May 28, 2014 By Jay Brooks


Wednesday’s ad is another one for Ballantine Ale, from 1963. In an ad series somewhat similar to the Blatz series, the “Ale Man” in the ad is a famous person, although more marginally famous tending more toward the manly fame. In this one, the ad features the appropriately named Ray Manley, who was a photographer known for his landscapes of Arizona, making him “a man with a thirst for a manlier brew.”

1963-Ballantine-Ale-Who-Is-The-Ale-Man-Ray-Manley

Filed Under: Art & Beer, Beers Tagged With: Advertising, Ballantine, History

R.I.P. Jack Joyce: 1942-2014

May 28, 2014 By Jay Brooks

rogue
He was the original Rogue. I just learned from Lisa Morrison that Rogue Ale & Spirits founder Jack Joyce passed away yesterday. He was 71. My thoughts go out to his family. Jack was a terrific voice in the beer community and he will be missed. I can still picture him sitting at the bar in San Francisco, beer in hand, chatting away. Drink a toast tonight to Jack’s memory, one of the true pioneers of craft beer.

jack-joyce

UPDATE: I just got the following from Rogue president Brett Joyce, and Jack’s son:

Yesterday the Rogue Nation and Family lost our co-founder, leader, friend, and father as Jack Joyce passed away at the age of 71.

Following a career as both a small town attorney and Nike executive, Jack and some friends founded Rogue in 1988 in Ashland, Oregon. From the outset, Jack set Rogue on a path of innovation, creativity, and rebellion. Rogue made hoppy, flavorful beers and was told that no one would drink them. Rogue made a wide range of beers and was told no one wanted variety. Rogue sold 22oz bottles of beer and was told no one would pay a premium for a single serve beer. Rogue opened multiple pubs and breweries and was told that it would be wise to follow a more efficient and logical business plan. Rogue took the road less, or perhaps never, travelled. Rogue was the first U.S. craft brewer to send beer to Japan. Rogue won 1,000 awards for product and packaging excellence. Rogue worried about getting better, not bigger. Rogue began distilling. Rogue began farming. Rogue remained dedicated to its small town roots and made sure to give back to its local communities. Rogue started a Nation. This was all vintage Jack.

He was the true Rogue and will be missed by us all.

Filed Under: Breweries, News Tagged With: Oregon

Beer In Ads #1204: Ale Man Eugene Burdick

May 27, 2014 By Jay Brooks


Tuesday’s ad is another one for Ballantine Ale, also from 1962. In an ad series somewhat similar to the Blatz series, the “Ale Man” in the ad is a famous person, although more marginally famous tending more toward the manly fame. In this one, the ad features political scientist, novelist, and non-fiction writer Eugene Burdick, who was also fond of scuba diving, making him “a man with a thirst for a manlier brew.”

Ballantine-scuba-3

Filed Under: Art & Beer, Beers Tagged With: Advertising, Ballantine, History

Beer In Ads #1203: Ale Man John W. Harvey

May 26, 2014 By Jay Brooks


Monday’s ad is another one for Ballantine Ale, also from 1962. In an ad series somewhat similar to the Blatz series, the “Ale Man” in the ad is a famous person, although more marginally famous tending more toward the manly fame. In this one, the ad features John W. Harvey, owner of the Elliot Bay Lumber Co., making him “a man with a thirst for a manlier brew.”

Ballantine-1963-John Harvey-Elliott-Bay-Lumber-Co

Filed Under: Art & Beer, Beers Tagged With: Advertising, Ballantine, History

Beer In Ads #1202: Ale Man Alec Cushing

May 25, 2014 By Jay Brooks


Sunday’s ad is another one for Ballantine Ale, also from 1962. In an ad series somewhat similar to the Blatz series, the “Ale Man” in the ad is a famous person, although more marginally famous tending more toward the manly fame. In this one, the ad features Alec Cushing, who built the Squaw Valley Ski Resort, making him “a man with a thirst for a manlier brew.”

1962-Ballantine-Ale-Who-is-the-ale-man-Alec-Cushing

Filed Under: Art & Beer, Beers Tagged With: Advertising, Ballantine, History

Beer In Ads #1201: Ale Man Elliot Burch

May 24, 2014 By Jay Brooks


Saturday’s ad is another one for Ballantine Ale, also from 1962. In an ad series somewhat similar to the Blatz series, the “Ale Man” in the ad is a famous person, although more marginally famous tending more toward the manly fame. In this one, the ad features Elliot Burch, who trains horses, making him “a man with a thirst for a manlier brew.”

1962-Ballantine-Ale-Who-is-the-ale-man-Elliott-Burch

Filed Under: Art & Beer, Beers Tagged With: Advertising, Ballantine, History

Beer In Ads #1200: Who Is The Ale Man?

May 23, 2014 By Jay Brooks


Friday’s ad is for Ballantine Ale, from 1962. In an ad somewhat similar to the Blatz series, the “Ale Man” in the ad is a famous person, a well-known yachtsman of the time, William “Bill” Snaith, sailor of the Figaro III, which can be seen in the ad. Snaith was also, according to the copy, “a man with a thirst for a manlier brew.”

Ballantine-1962-william-smith

Filed Under: Art & Beer, Beers Tagged With: Advertising, Ballantine, History

Beer Outmaneuvering Wine

May 23, 2014 By Jay Brooks

beer-vs-wine
Here’s some interesting news from the wine world, h/t to Jenn Litz from Craft Business Daily. Charles Gill, who runs Wine Metrics, which creates “on-premise wine distribution information in the U.S. market.” According to Litz, Gill has been saying lately that he believes that craft beer is taking market share from wine, which is curious, because “trade show rhetoric has often been the exact opposite.”

On Gill’s blog, Wine List USA, he claims that Craft Beer is Outmaneuvering Wine, and lists ten ways in which he believes that’s happening. Here’s his raw list.

  1. Value
  2. Innovation
  3. Promotion
  4. Community
  5. Venues
  6. Cross-Fertilization
  7. New Traditions
  8. Customer Loyalty
  9. Food Compatibility
  10. Gatekeepers

For a better understanding of that list, read his explanations for each one at the source, 10 Ways Craft Beer is Outmaneuvering Wine. I don’t tend to think about wine and beer as an us versus them proposition, but obviously the pie that is all alcohol consumption is divided into wedges of how much is spent on each type. There’s no getting around it. If more people buy beer, something else isn’t doing as well. It’s theoretically possible that the pie is just growing and people are buying more beer, but are not buying less wine, spirits, cider or what have you, but that’s not exactly realistic. If anything, the pie’s been shrinking, sad to say, as people are drinking less overall than they used to.

As to Gill’s list, I definitely agree with Value, Innovation and some of the Community aspects he mentions. And I also think Food Compatibility and most of what he says about New Traditions ring true, but I’m less convinced by the others. Do you agree? Or Disagree? If, so why, and to which ones?

beer-wine

Filed Under: Beers, Editorial, Just For Fun, News, Related Pleasures Tagged With: Business, Statistics, Wine

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