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Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Beer In Ads #1462: Enjoy Life

February 10, 2015 By Jay Brooks


Tuesday’s ad is for Miller High Life, from 1961. “Enjoy Life with Miller High Life.” Certainly the man is enjoying his, he gets the rocking chair and a book, while the little woman sits at his feet peeling carrots. I guess she shouldn’t complain, he did allow her to have a beer, too.

miller-hi-life-naturally

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

Beer In Ads #1461: The Sensible Choice

February 9, 2015 By Jay Brooks


Monday’s ad is yet another one for Budweiser, this one from maybe the late 1930s. “The Sensible Choice of those who guard their health.” According to the ad, Budweiser is the “favorite beer of athletes and sportsmen everywhere.” That’s because “Pure, wholesome food and drink are necessary to have and to keep a healthy body.” And Bud is made with a mixture of American hops and “imported Saazer hops.” Which apparently makes it “strength-building but not fattening.”

Bud-gymnastics

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

Beer In Ads #1460: Gardening With Buds

February 8, 2015 By Jay Brooks


Sunday’s ad is another one for Budweiser, this one from 1950. I love the idea that Mother Nature is responsible bringing us beer, however this may be taking the thank you a bit too far. No fan of gardening myself, it seems like it would be even more difficult — nearly impossible I should think — trying to garden while holding a glass of beer in one hand.

Bud-1950-gardening

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

Beer In Ads #1459: Pick-A-Pair Twice!

February 7, 2015 By Jay Brooks


Saturday’s ad is for Budweiser, from sometime in the 1970s, based on the collars and fashion. The ad is trying to get people to pick-a-pair, that is buy a six-pack, and in fact the ads wants people to do that “Twice!,” that is buy two six-packs. I grew up in a case state with weird, antiquated laws (Pennsylvania) so were twelve-packs not available yet in the 1970s? When did the twelve-pack debut? Anybody know? Because otherwise why not just advertise twelve-packs?

Bud-pick-a-pair-twice

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

Beer In Ads #1458: Sound That Trumpet, Man

February 6, 2015 By Jay Brooks


Friday’s ad is for Rheingold Beer, from 1960. Featuring jazz legend Louis Armstrong, the ad quotes “Satchmo” as saying “Sound That Trumpet, Man — New York’s favorite beer is here” and “My beer is Rheingold….” Also, curiously, check out the inset imaged in the bottom right corner showing the flagship Rheingold Extra Dry beer and also Rheingold Scotch Ale. Interesting to see such a relatively obscure style being advertised in 1960.

Rheingold-1960-louis-armstrong

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

Beer In Ads #1457: Real Harmony

February 5, 2015 By Jay Brooks


Thursday’s ad is another one for Budweiser, this time from 1934, just a year after prohibition. Showing an older gentlemen with his violin, the real harmony of the ad, they say, is a bite to eat and a beer. And this is great ad copy. “There are many times when just a simple sandwich and a bottle of Budweiser strike the right note.” But post-depression, he looks more like a man playing for his meal. I wouldn’t be surprised if that open case was in front of him on the ground. To me, it looks like his suit is too big, maybe from losing weight from not having enough to eat? And he’s reaching out his hand longingly for that beer, but it’s really too far away, isn’t it? Kind of sad ad, in the end.

Bud-1934-real-harmony

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

Beer In Ads #1456: Half Quarts & Popcorn

February 4, 2015 By Jay Brooks


Wednesday’s ad is for Budweiser, from the 1960s. Part of the “where there’s life” series of ads, this one focuses on the big cans, half quarts or as they jokingly say, “king size.” And each king size can apparently fill two glasses. It’s certainly captured the guy’s attention as he smirks and gives an intent sideways glance at the beer being poured, as he continues to eat from the bowl of popcorn in front of him. Maybe it’s just me, but who sits at a table and eats popcorn? Isn’t popcorn a watch something sort of food?

bud-1960s-popcorn

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

Beer In Ads #1455: Every Golden Drop

February 3, 2015 By Jay Brooks


Tuesday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1949. In the windy bleachers, watching a baseball game does look like an appetizing way to spend a day, especially if you have a hot dog and a beer. It’s too bad this idyllic picture of American life doesn’t really exist anymore, if indeed it ever did, because the beer and dog will run you some serious coin these days. Did they ever actually carry bottles around the stadium? I do miss the white paper hats worn by the vendors, though. There’s even one subversive rebel in this illustration. Do you see him? That fella in the middle, he’s not wearing a hat. He’s really living life, “every golden minute of it,” as the ad suggests, before ending with this ad copy. “Enjoy Budweiser, every golden drop of it.”

1949Budweiser

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

Beer In Ads #1454: Light-Hearted Living

February 2, 2015 By Jay Brooks


Monday’s ad is for Falstaff, from what looks to be the 1950s or early 1960s, when bowling still was king. Two couples locked in a bowling struggle, intently watching … what, she still has the ball in her hand and yet they’re all looking down the lane. I especially love how the next round, all four bottles on that tray, are perfectly displayed with their labels facing out. That is impressive.

Falstaff-light-hearted

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

Beer In Ads #1453: In Football, We Went Head To Head

February 1, 2015 By Jay Brooks


Super Sunday’s ad is for Miller Lite, from 1981. Featuring a number of former football players, including Fred “The Hammer” Williamson and Billy Kilmer, at a bar claiming that “In Football, We Went Head To Head. But When It Comes To Lite Beer, We See Eye To Eye.” I’m not sure that will happen anytime soon for either the Seattle Seahawks or the New England Patriots, especially after the brawl that erupted in the very last seconds of this year’s Super Bowl earlier tonight.

Miller-Lite-1981

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

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