I tend to view the concept of ice plus beer with horror, but apparently in Japan it’s “so cool.” That’s at least the opinion of Kirin, whose uncharacteristically low-tech commercial make the case for its coolness. The verdict? The ad: pretty cool. Ice plus beer: not cool.
Beer In Ads #766: Seasons Cheer …
Monday’s Christmas Eve ad is for Arrow Beer, from 1946. It’s a simple ad, showing a glass of Arrow Beer along with a bottle in front of a wreath of holly and a candle. The ad copy couldn’t be simpler. “Seasons Cheer … from Arrow Beer.”
Libya Beer
Today in 1951, Libya gained their Independence from Italy under UN trusteeship.
Libya
Libya Breweries
- Abou Atni
- O.E.A. Drinks Company
Libya Brewery Guides
Other Guides
- CIA World Factbook
- Official Website
- U.S. Embassy
- Wikipedia
Guild: None Known
National Regulatory Agency: None
Beverage Alcohol Labeling Requirements: Not Known
Drunk Driving Laws: BAC 0.00%
- Full Name: Libya (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya)
- Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Tunisia
- Government Type: Operates under a transitional government
- Language: Arabic (official), Italian, English (all widely understood in the major cities); Berber (Nafusi, Ghadamis, Suknah, Awjilah, Tamasheq)
- Religion(s): Sunni Muslim (official) 97%, other 3%
- Capital: Tripoli (Tarabulus)
- Population: 5,613,380; 109th
- Area: 1,759,540 sq km, 17th
- Comparative Area: Slightly larger than Alaska
- National Food: Libyan Pepper Pot
- National Symbol: Pomegranate; Hawk; Star and crescent (1951–69 and since Libyan civil war)
- Affiliations: UN, African Union, Arab League
- Independence: From UN trusteeship, December 24, 1951
- Alcohol Legal: No
- Minimum Drinking Age: Total Ban
- BAC: 0.00%
- Number of Breweries: 2
- How to Say “Beer”: beereh (biræ)/ جعة / شراب من الشعير / جعة / المزر شراب نوع من الجعة / بيرة
- How to Order a Beer: Waheed beera, meen fadleek
- How to Say “Cheers”: Bismilah / Fi schettak or Fisehatak (“to your health”) / في صحتك
- Toasting Etiquette: N/A
Alcohol Consumption By Type:
- Beer: N/A
- Wine: N/A
- Spirits: N/A
Alcohol Consumption Per Capita (in litres):
- Recorded: 0.01
- Unrecorded: 0.10
- Total: 0.11
- Beer: 0.00
WHO Alcohol Data:
- Per Capita Consumption: 0.01 litres
- Alcohol Consumption Trend: Stable
- Excise Taxes: No
- Minimum Age: Illegal
- Sales Restrictions: N/A
- Advertising Restrictions: N/A
- Sponsorship/Promotional Restrictions: N/A
Patterns of Drinking Score: N/A
Prohibition: None
Beer In Ads #765: Still Putting The Finishing Touches On The Tree
Friday’s ad is a newer one for Carlsberg, with the tree he’s “still putting the finishing touches on” made out of Carlsberg crowns with a fill glass as tree trunk.
Nepal Beer
Today in 1768, the Kingdom Nepal was declared, and on the same day in 1923 gained their Independence.
Nepal
Nepal Breweries
- Chaudhary Group
- Coblenzer Beers (Sthapit & Schlau)
- Gorkha Brewery
- Himalayan Brewery
- Mount Everest Brewery
- Nepali Beer
- United Breweries Nepal
Nepal Brewery Guides
Other Guides
- CIA World Factbook
- Official Website
- U.S. Embassy
- Wikipedia
Guild: None Known
National Regulatory Agency: None
Beverage Alcohol Labeling Requirements: Not Known
Drunk Driving Laws: BAC 0.00% NOte: Breathalyzer testing is regularly used in major cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara, Biratnagar and Highways. For more verification, driver will be taken to nearest hospitals for blood and urine test (if demanded by the driver). Licence will be seized instantly. Driver will get the licence back after attending anti-alcoholic classes run by Nepal Traffic Police and fine will be charged NRS 1000.
- Full Name: Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
- Location: Southern Asia, between China and India
- Government Type: Federal Democratic Republic
- Language: Nepali (official) 47.8%, Maithali 12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu (Dagaura/Rana) 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.6%, Magar 3.3%, Awadhi 2.4%, other 10%, unspecified 2.5%
- Religion(s): Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other 0.9%
- Capital: Kathmandu
- Population: 29,890,686; 41st
- Area: 147,181 sq km, 94th
- Comparative Area: Slightly larger than Arkansas
- National Food: Dal bhat
- National Symbols: Cow; Rhododendron Blossom
- Affiliations: UN
- Independence: Kingdom declared, December 21, 1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH) / Republic declared, May 28, 2008
- Alcohol Legal: Yes
- Minimum Drinking Age: 18 (to drink); None (to buy)
- BAC: 0.00%
- Number of Breweries: 5
- How to Say “Beer”: biyar, jad / बियर
- How to Order a Beer: N/A
- How to Say “Cheers”: N/A
- Toasting Etiquette: N/A
Alcohol Consumption By Type:
- Beer: 35%
- Wine: <1%
- Spirits: 65%
Alcohol Consumption Per Capita (in litres):
- Recorded: 7.20
- Unrecorded: 2.20
- Total: 9.40
- Beer: 1.15
WHO Alcohol Data:
- Per Capita Consumption: 0.2 litres
- Alcohol Consumption Trend: Increase
- Excise Taxes: Yes
- Minimum Age: 25
- Sales Restrictions: No
- Advertising Restrictions: Yes
- Sponsorship/Promotional Restrictions: Yes
Patterns of Drinking Score: N/A
Prohibition: None
Beer In Ads #764: “Liquid Life” The National Drink Of America
Thursday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1908, when it appears they launched a number of historically themed ads. This one features our 7th president, Andrew Jackson, and equates him with “Liquid Life,” “The National Drink of America.”
Macau Beer
Today in 1999, the Macau Special Administrative Region was established.
Macau
Macau Breweries
Macau Brewery Guides
Other Guides
- CIA World Factbook
- Official Website
- U.S. Embassy
- Wikipedia
Guild: None Known
National Regulatory Agency: None
Beverage Alcohol Labeling Requirements: Not Known
Drunk Driving Laws: BAC 0.05%
- Full Name: Macau Special Administrative Region
- Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
- Government Type: Limited democracy
- Language: Cantonese 85.7%, Hokkien 4%, Mandarin 3.2%, other Chinese dialects 2.7%, English 1.5%, Tagalog 1.3%, other 1.6% [Note: Chinese and Portuguese are the official language]
- Religion(s): Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none or other 35%
- Capital: Macao City
- Population: 578,025; 169th
- Area: 28.2 sq km, 237th
- Comparative Area: Less than one-sixth the size of Washington, DC
- National Food: Minchee
- National Symbol: Lotus Blossom
- Affiliations: None
- Independence: A Macau Special Administrative Region was established, December 20, 1999, celebrated as Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
- Alcohol Legal: Yes
- Minimum Drinking Age: None
- BAC: 0.05%
- Number of Breweries: 1
- How to Say “Beer”: pear zao / pi jiu / 啤酒
- How to Order a Beer: Ching gay woh ee bay pee joh
- How to Say “Cheers”: Gom bui [Cantonese] or Gan Bei [Mandarin] or Kan bei (“dry the cup”) / Kong Chien / Nien Nien nu e / Wen lie / Yam sing, Yung sing or Yum Sen (“drink and win”) / 乾杯 / 干杯
- Toasting Etiquette: N/A
Alcohol Consumption By Type:
- Beer: 44%
- Wine: 1%
- Spirits: <1%
- Other: 55%
Alcohol Consumption Per Capita (in litres):
- Recorded: N/A
- Unrecorded: N/A
- Total: N/A
- Beer: N/A
WHO Alcohol Data:
- Per Capita Consumption: N/A
- Alcohol Consumption Trend: Stable
- Excise Taxes: N/A
- Minimum Age: None
- Sales Restrictions: N/A
- Advertising Restrictions: N/A
- Sponsorship/Promotional Restrictions: N/A
Patterns of Drinking Score: N/A
Prohibition: None
The Science of Beer Goggles
Hmm, not sure how to think about this one. It’s kinda fun, and occasionally funny, but it also goes a little bit too far when it tackles the “bag over her face” issue, although it does offer advice for both women and men. The infographic was created by freedating.co.uk, an online dating website in Great Britain, so it was probably meant to be somewhat tongue in cheek.
There is actually some science behind the concept of beer goggles, and a couple of years ago I wrote about the Math Behind Beer Goggles. The infographic does also include some of that, too, at least.
You can see this chart larger at Love Infographics.
Beer In Ads #763: Washington’s Headquarters At Valley Forge
Wednesday’s ad is for Valley Forge Beer, because it was on this day, December 19, 1777 that George Washington set up camp for the winter in the small Pennsylvania town of Valley Forge. I went to the historical site a few times as a kid, including once as a Boy Scout where we followed some orienteering with maps and compass to earn some sort of ribbon, or something. I don’t usually do breweriana other than actual print advertising, but it made sense to break out the tray because of the date.
Valley Forge Beer was brewed by the Adam Scheidt Brewery in Norristown, Pennsylvania, which is just a few miles from Valley Forge. Here’s a short history of the brewery, from a breweriana collectors website.
The Adam Scheidt Brewing Company was founded in the late 1870s and was incorporated in 1884. After Prohibition, the brewery thrived, brewing Valley Forge Beer, Ram’s Head Ale, and Prior Beer. The brewery’s name was changed to the Valley Forge Brewing Company in 1963 and, five years later, it was sold to Philadelphia’s largest brewer at the time, C. Schmidt & Sons. It continued to operate as a branch of Schmidt’s until 1975, when the facility was closed. Schmidt’s continued to brew the Valley Forge and Ram’s Head brands until the early 1980s, when Schmidt’s itself finally ceased operations.
And here’s another one of the same tray, this one showing better color.
Frankly, I remember seeing these trays around when I was a kid, and cans of the beer, but it was never something I ever drank. I don’t ever remember even seeing it for sale where we lived. Below is a less common tray showing the same event, but by a different artist, obviously.
Yule Shoot Your Eye Out
This is just priceless. Eric Warner’s new brewery in Texas, Karbach Brewing, has named their new seasonal beer for one of the greatest holiday movies ever made, A Christmas Story. The 8% a.b.v. seasonal was made with ginger, cocoa nibs, orange peel, cardamom, allspice, nutmeg and cinnamon, and has one of the best beer names I’ve heard in quite some time: Yule Shoot Your Eye Out.
There’s also a promotional video for the beer.
But wait, there’s more. There’s also a second Christmas beer that was inspired by A Christmas Story, this one slightly more subtle. It’s calle Fra Gee Lay — must be Italian! — an ale brewed with spices and aged in Bourbon barrels. It’s essentially the Yule Shoot Your Eye Out barrel-aged, and there’s another video.
Hilarious. Now if I can only figure out how to get the beer. Maybe if I hold up the brewery with my Red Ryder BB Gun.