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Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Anchor Christmas Ale 2007

December 16, 2016 By Jay Brooks

xmas-christmas-ale
It’s day thirty-three of my trot to Christmas featuring all 42 labels from Anchor’s Christmas Ale — a.k.a. Our Special Ale — all different beers (well, mostly different) and all different labels, each one designed by local artist Jim Stitt, up to and including this year’s label.

2007 was the thirty-third year that Anchor made their Christmas Ale, and from 1987 through the present day, each year Anchor’s Our Special Ale has included spices, a different combination of them every time. Generally the base beer has been a spiced brown ale, although it has been varied from time to time, as well. This thirty-third label was was a “Valley Oak,” or “Quercus lobata.”

Anchor-Xmas-2007

Filed Under: Art & Beer, Beers, Just For Fun Tagged With: Anchor Brewery, Beer Labels, Christmas, History, Holidays

Beer In Ads #2126: A Merry Christmas In Every Glass

December 15, 2016 By Jay Brooks


Thursday’s holiday ad is for Ballantine’s, from 1937. A man blows the Ballantine logo smoke rings, while a cartoon balloon contains the words. “A Merry Christmas In Every Glass.” And I love how they try to fit Christmas into the narrative. “There always a festive touch when Ballantine’s Ale or Beer is opened.” So here’s their advice. “So, when your friend foregather in holiday mood, pay them the compliment of serving one of the world’s great drinks. And be generous — put in a goodly supply of the quart bottles or “Bumper” cans.” Who talks that way?

Ballantine-1937-xmas-glass

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

Anchor Christmas Ale 2006

December 15, 2016 By Jay Brooks

xmas-christmas-ale
It’s day thirty-second of my scamper to Christmas featuring all 42 labels from Anchor’s Christmas Ale — a.k.a. Our Special Ale — all different beers (well, mostly different) and all different labels, each one designed by local artist Jim Stitt, up to and including this year’s label.

2006 was the thirty-second year that Anchor made their Christmas Ale, and from 1987 through the present day, each year Anchor’s Our Special Ale has included spices, a different combination of them every time. Generally the base beer has been a spiced brown ale, although it has been varied from time to time, as well. This thirty-second label was was a “European Beech,” or “Fagus sylvatica.”

Anchor-Xmas-2006

Filed Under: Art & Beer, Beers, Just For Fun Tagged With: Anchor Brewery, Beer Labels, Christmas, History, Holidays

Beer In Ads #2125: Holiday Refreshment

December 14, 2016 By Jay Brooks


Wednesday’s holiday ad is for Hamm’s, from 1953. Although it’s called “Holiday Refreshment” and makes reference to “your holiday snacks,” the only real signs of Christmas seems to be the case carton, which appears to have some sort of snow scene on it, though I can’t quite make out what it is.

Hamms-1953-holiday-refreshment

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

Anchor Christmas Ale 2005

December 14, 2016 By Jay Brooks

xmas-christmas-ale
It’s day thirty-one of my jolly jog to Christmas featuring all 42 labels from Anchor’s Christmas Ale — a.k.a. Our Special Ale — all different beers (well, mostly different) and all different labels, each one designed by local artist Jim Stitt, up to and including this year’s label.

2005 was the thirty-first year that Anchor made their Christmas Ale, and from 1987 through the present day, each year Anchor’s Our Special Ale has included spices, a different combination of them every time. Generally the base beer has been a spiced brown ale, although it has been varied from time to time, as well. This thirty-first label was was a “California Live Oak,” or “Quercus agrifolia.”

Anchor-Xmas-2005

Filed Under: Art & Beer, Beers, Just For Fun Tagged With: Anchor Brewery, Beer Labels, Christmas, History, Holidays

Beer In Ads #2124: Christmas Greetings

December 13, 2016 By Jay Brooks


Tuesday’s holiday ad is for Miller Brewing, from 1952. This in an interesting old ad from the December 1952 issue of Modern Brewery Age, so not aimed at general consumers. As a result, it’s fairly simple and straightforward, and largely free of hyperbole and adspeak. Showing an illustration of the modern Miller brewery, with a Christmas tree on the roof by the entrance, the text simply wishes everyone “happiness and good health.”

Miller-1952-christmas-greetings-mod-brewery-age

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

Anchor Christmas Ale 2004

December 13, 2016 By Jay Brooks

xmas-christmas-ale
It’s day thirty of my seasonal sprint to Christmas featuring all 42 labels from Anchor’s Christmas Ale — a.k.a. Our Special Ale — all different beers (well, mostly different) and all different labels, each one designed by local artist Jim Stitt, up to and including this year’s label.

2004 was the thirtieth year that Anchor made their Christmas Ale, and from 1987 through the present day, each year Anchor’s Our Special Ale has included spices, a different combination of them every time. Generally the base beer has been a spiced brown ale, although it has been varied from time to time, as well. This thirtieth label was again “[i]nspired by the Original Christmas Ale Tree.”

Anchor-Xmas-2004

Filed Under: Art & Beer, Beers, Just For Fun Tagged With: Anchor Brewery, Beer Labels, Christmas, History, Holidays

Beer In Ads #2123: Recipe For Pleasure

December 12, 2016 By Jay Brooks


Monday’s holiday ad is for Miller High Life, from 1952. A table of holiday foods — including some pretty odd ones — but I especially love the Christmas tree of finger foods.

Miller-1952-xmas-recipe-for-pleasure

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

Anchor Christmas Ale 2003

December 12, 2016 By Jay Brooks

xmas-christmas-ale
It’s day twenty-nine of my jack be nimble to Christmas featuring all 42 labels from Anchor’s Christmas Ale — a.k.a. Our Special Ale — all different beers (well, mostly different) and all different labels, each one designed by local artist Jim Stitt, up to and including this year’s label.

2003 was the twenty-ninth year that Anchor made their Christmas Ale, and from 1987 through the present day, each year Anchor’s Our Special Ale has included spices, a different combination of them every time. Generally the base beer has been a spiced brown ale, although it has been varied from time to time, as well. This twenty-ninth label was a “Sitka Spruce,” or “Picea sitchensis.”

Anchor-Xmas-2003

Filed Under: Art & Beer, Beers, Just For Fun Tagged With: Anchor Brewery, Beer Labels, Christmas, History, Holidays

Beer In Ads #2122: Christmas Cheer

December 11, 2016 By Jay Brooks


Sunday’s holiday ad is for Pabst Blue Ribbon, from 1912. Interesting illustration of Santa Claus peering through a beer glass and you can also see his ear through the bottle. And I love their tagline. “Nothing but the best will do at Holiday Season — especially if you expect to entertain.”

Pabst-1912-xmas-cheer

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

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