Thursday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1956. It’s part of their “Where There’s Life … there’s Budweiser” campaign and features a great illustration of a dinner party scene through a glass of beer.
Beer In Ads #210: The Taste Buds
Wednesday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1979. The “Taste Buds” ad campaign was one of the goofiest ones they ever did. It didn’t last very long, but it sticks out in my memory, for whatever that’s worth. This is a print ad for the campaign, but it was really the television ads where its complete goofiness came out. So below this I’ve included two of those.
A 1979 Budweiser “Taste Buds” Ad:
And Another One with Pizza:
Beer In Ads #209: Pilsner Urquell, Pilsner I
Tuesday’s ad is for Pilsner Urquel, because today is “Pilsner Day.” That’s because it was today in 1842 that the Citizen Brewery in Plzen, Bohemia — in what today is the Czech Republic — first brewed Pilsner Urquell, the world’s first pilsner. The ad is fairly recent, but plays on the beer’s heritage as a noble beer, Pilsner I, or Pilsner the First. And it’s just beautiful.
Beer In Ads #208: Every Glass of Schaefer Tastes the Same
Monday’s ad is for Schaefer Brewing from 1970. The ad is promoting the idea of consistency with the curious tagline, “Every Glass of Schaefer Tastes the Same. That’s What Makes It Different.” The ad was for the Boston and New England market, suggesting enjoying your Schaefer beer while watching the Red Sox play baseball, and also mentioning that it was sold at the concession stands of, presumably, Fenway Park.
Guinness Ad #37: The Kinkajou
Our 37th Guinness poster by John Gilroy features an upside-down Kinkajou holding a pint of Guinness upside down, too, causing the zookeeper to tilt his head back. It also features the tagline “My Goodness — My Guinness,” with the second part upside-down. In the corner is also the following text. “Just think what kinkajou can do.”
Beer In Ads #207: New Lebanon Brewing
Friday’s ad is a turn of the century ad for a Pennsylvania brewery, New Lebanon Brewing. The brewery was first founded in 1874 and went through a variety of name changes. It was Lebanon Brewing from 1884 to 1893 and Lebanon Valley Brewing from 1934 until it closed in 1959. But it was New Lebanon Brewing from 1893 to 1920, so this ad has to have been from those years.
Beer In Ads #206: Ballantine, Moving In The Best Circles
Thursday’s ad is another early ad for Ballantine, done by a cartoon artist depicting three well-heeled gentlemen sitting and talking while they enjoy their Ballantine Ale. It uses the tagline “Moving in the Best Circles …”
Beer In Ads #205: Ballantine Clown
Wednesday’s ad is an early ad for Ballantine, one of the first to use their iconic three-rings of “body,” “purity” and “flavor.” Unfortunately, it also features an ugly, frightening clown — but then I hate clowns.
Beer In Ads #204: Pilse Etzer
Tuesday’s ad is for a German brewery — I think — Pilse Etzer, so it says, is the best bottled beer. The woman in the red circle, however, looks like Dutch.
Beer In Ads #203: Epidor Moritz
Monday’s ad is for a Spanish brewery, Moritz in Barcelona, which was founded in 1856 and closed in 1978. Remaining family members started up the brand again a few years ago, contracting the brewing. This ad is for Epidor, a strong lager they debuted July 23, 1923. Given the strange face of the man in the ad, I’m not exactly sure who their target audience was or why they thought that would help sell beer. Does it make you want to drink their beer?
