Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Beer In Ads #1628: The Goodness Of Malt While Boating

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Saturday’s ad is for the Barley and Malt Institute, from 1959. This is the fifth ad I have from the now defunct trade group for barley growers. In this one a woman is pouring a beer on the dock for a man sitting in boat of uncertain size, though it’s probably relatively small, and trying to grab the glass (glass?!?) mug even before she’s finished filling it. The tagline is similar to other Malt Institute ads, suggesting it was a series of ads: “Fun-Flavors your favorite beer—healthfully.” I’m not even sure that quite makes sense.

Barley-and-Malt-1959-boating

Beer In Ads #1627: Take Off On A Completely Unique Experience

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Friday’s ad is for Colt 45 malt liquor, from 1969. I guess they were playing off the popularity of the space race in 1969, when Neil Armstrong walked on the Moon. It’s a pretty weird ad, and I’m not sure about a lot of it. Why, for example, is the man just wearing a conservative black suit? And why is he surrounded by two odd-looking alien women in space suits behind a wall of Colt 45 cans. It certainly is “out of this world,” as the cheesy ad suggests.

colt-45-1969-take-off

Beer In Ads #1626: Vårt Brygg!

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Thursday’s ad is for Brigg beer, a brand from Norway. From the 1970s, with the simple tagline “Vårt Brygg!,” which translates as “Our Brew.” You’ve got to love the trio of serious sweater monkeys. They look like the original reporters from Anchorman that they based the movies on, especially since the dude in the ascot on the right is a dead ringer for Will Ferrell.

vart-brygg-1970s

Beer In Ads #1623: Same Good Taste Everywhere!

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Tuesday’s ad is for Miller High Life, from 1962. After a day of duck hunting, no matter where you are, the beer will taste the same. I love that one of the guys is drinking so much faster than the other one. His glass is empty while the guy on the right with the flannel sleeve hasn’t even touched his, and must be thinking. “Dude, you gulped your beer down already!?!”

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.

bud-1950-chair-painting

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.

miller-1960-snacks

Beer In Ads #1618: Beer Fishing

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Thursday’s ad is another one for Miller High Life, this time from 1947. It’s a detailed illustration of a man fishing from the back of a boat, while at the same time eating a sandwich with a bottle of beer. He’s wearing kind of a goofy grin, maybe that’s what happens if you’re on a boat too long?

miller-1947-fisherman