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Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Beer In Ads #1447: Great Ballplayers Drink Lite

January 26, 2015 By Jay Brooks


Monday’s ad is Miller Lite, from 1982. Today is also the birthday of Mr. Baseball, Bob Uecker, who arguably was at least partially responsible for the success of lower-calorie diet beers with his wildly successful ads for the beer in the 1980s. It was a marvel of modern advertising and I’m still amazed to this day that it worked in convincing people to drink an even more watered-down version of the macro lagers of the day. But Uecker was certainly great in the ads, and I loved him in the “Major League” movies, too.

Miller-Lite-1982-bob-uecker

Filed Under: Art & Beer, Beers Tagged With: Advertising, History, Light Beer, Miller Brewing

Beer In Ads #1446: Decoupage Bud Girl

January 25, 2015 By Jay Brooks


Sunday’s ad is yet another one for Budweiser, this time from the 1970s. While the ad, or sign, is from the Seventies, I suspect that the image is most likely much older, possibly from the late 19th century. But the decoupage sign? That’s pure 1970s. Even my mom got caught up in the craft craze, decoupaging all manner of do-dads when I was a kid. So this would have seemed right at home in that decade.

Budweiser-Girl-sign-1970s

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

Beer In Ads #1445: Why America Prefers Budweiser

January 24, 2015 By Jay Brooks


Saturday’s ad is another one for Budweiser, this time from 1936. While the ad is shortly after the end of prohibition, and I can only imagine beer lovers were pretty excited to once more be able to legally buy beer, I’m still not convinced Bud’s success had anything to with “age-old taste.” Also, as the ad suggests, when did Anheuser-Busch employ monks?

bud-1935-ages

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

Beer In Ads #1444: Be Sure All The Essential B Vitamins Give You A Full Day’s Work

January 23, 2015 By Jay Brooks


Friday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1943. This World War 2 ad, while people were rationing, wants to ensure you get all of your B vitamins so you can keep on working or fighting. The imagery is fairly surreal, with a planet-sized clock with a ramp of working people lined up around it, creating a Saturn-like appearance. At the end of the line is a soldier, sailor, a construction worker who brings his own sledgehammer with him, a female member of the military, a farmer, another soldier with a pack on his back, a businessman, and so on ad infinitum. And the ad isn’t even about beer, but the brewer’s yeast which they supply to pharmaceutical companies who in turn use it to make Vitamin B pills. Yay yeast!

Bud-1943-bvitamins

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

Beer In Ads #1443: Guinness Gives You Power

January 22, 2015 By Jay Brooks


Thursday’s ad is another one for Guinness, from 1968. This as ran in Sierra Leone, and the ad copy is hilarious. Besides giving you power, “you can feel your glass of Guinness doing you good.” I wonder what that feels like?

guinness-1968-sierra-leone

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

Beer In Ads #1442: A Full-Bodied Brew For Able-Bodied Men

January 21, 2015 By Jay Brooks


Wednesday’s ad is for Guinness, from 1960. Showing a man playing golf, suggesting he could play better by keeping “a Guinness in mind!” But I guess that only holds true for men, and not just any men, but just the tough ones, as the ad copy makes clear. “But for muscular men … who work hard, play hard, live hard … this is it.” And apparently it’s been that way for awhile now. “For 200 years now , this dark Irish brew has been the masculine man’s preference. Frankly, it is not for everyone. But vigorous, vital men are vehement that Guinness stout has the secret of the cool refreshment they need.”

1960Guinness

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

Beer In Ads #1441: Cooking With Schlitz

January 20, 2015 By Jay Brooks


Tuesday’s ad is another one for Schlitz, from 1936. Between the recipe for “Famous Schlitz Rarebit” and the man pouring a little Schlitz into whatever that dish is — soup, dip, etc. — it’s clear that Schlitz is cooking with beer. Based on the look on his face, I’d say he’s had a few beers before the guests are even due to arrive. And his wife in the shiny blue dress looks like she’s been keeping up, and is bringing in the next round. It’s going to be a great dinner party!

Schlitz-1953-party

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

Beer In Ads #1440: Health With Enjoyment …

January 19, 2015 By Jay Brooks


Monday’s ad is another one for Schlitz, from 1936. “Schlitz, the beer with Sunshine Vitamin-D,” which is where the “Health with Enjoyment” line comes from. Apparently, “Sunshine Vitamin-D” gave people “that feeling of radiant health,” along with “that sense of bracing invigoration and fresh vitality.” That sounds impressive, doesn’t it. But it gets better. The ad continues. “It gives you the cooling tang that soothes heat-frayed nerves and awakens jaded spirits.” But the conclusion is certainly one that would never fly today. “Beer is good for you — but Schlitz, the beer with Sunshine Vitamin D, extra good for you. Drink it daily — for health with enjoyment.”

sclhlitz-08-08-1936-vitamin-d

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

Beer In Ads #1439: The World Looks Brighter

January 18, 2015 By Jay Brooks


Sunday’s ad is also for Schlitz, from 1942. So when, exactly, is it that “The world looks brighter?” Why, it’s when you discover “that famous flavor found only in Schlitz.” The other big news in the ad, buried at the bottom is the fact that they just debuted a new quart-size bottle, which they call a “guest bottle.” I wonder why they’d call the larger package a “guest bottle.”

Schlitz-Beer-advertisement-1942

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

Beer In Ads #1438: It’s The Little “Extras”

January 17, 2015 By Jay Brooks


Saturday’s ad is another one for Schlitz, from 1952. It’s an interesting ad, focusing on “the little ‘extras’ that make Schlitz the best-liked beer in history.” They mention three “extra’s,” the “purity born of choice ingredients,” “delicacy of flavor,” and “that extra smoothness.” The artwork was done by Thomas Vroman, who’s more well-known for children’s books. I especially love the woman lying on the beach, with part of her visible through the glass of beer. That’s a cool effect, the way it’s drawn.

schlitz-1950s-Thomas_Vroman

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

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