Tuesday’s ad is for Z.H.B. Lager Beers, from the South Holland Brewery (a.k.a. Zuid Hollandse Bierbrouwerijen) in The Hague Center. The ad is from between 1925 and 1950, a wide range to be sure, but that’s according to the Memory of the Netherlands website, who also credits the ad to Jacob Jansma. It’s a pretty great illustration of a woman holding up a glass of beer, and looking slyly to the side, possibly right at you and me.
Today in 1953, US Patent 2657817 A was issued, an invention of Victor Alvear, for his “Plastic Bung for Beer Barrels or the Like.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
I have found that an elastic and entirely satisfactory and cheap stopper can be formed of synthetic elastomeric plastic having the properties of polyethylene and vinyl derivatives. This is not only cheap to manufacture but the stopper can be used over and over again. Such a stopper has been found to be tasteless, non-absorbent, insoluble, indestructible, can be used in conventional bung hole bushings and when properly formed is entirely effective. The stopper is inert to liquid as well as gases and is entirely sanitary. It is not affected by normal changes in atmospheric conditions and does not stick to the bushing. This type of plastic has the known characteristic of being form retaining under normal pressure but capable of deformation under excessive pressure and return to its original form upon release of such pressure.
Today in 1964, US Patent 3155522 A was issued, an invention of Peter John Andrew Murray, Brian James Clarke, Robert Peter Hildebrand and Frank Vincent Harold, assigned to Carlton & United Breweries, for their “Process for the Production of a Hop Concentrate.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
This invention relates to the preparation of hop concentrates or extracts for brewing purposes, and to the production of hopped beverages, such as beer, utilizing such concentrates.
An object of this invention is to provide a new process for the manufacture of hop concentrates which if used to replace hops will impart to the finished beer in their correct balance those materials contributing to taste characteristics and flavour which are normally found in beer manufactured by conventional processes. A further object is to enable economies to be effected in the manufacture of beer or like beverages.
While the invention applies to the treatment of any part of the hop plant it refers in particular to the hop cones, and the hops used may be either in the freshly picked state or dried as in normal commercial practice.
Monday’s ad is for Heineken, from who knows when. I can’t quite make out if these are actual vintage ads or modern ones made to look retro. Both feature the tagline “Heineken’s Beer,” while the first features a woman in a skimpy purple swimsuit.
Whereas in the second ad it’s a white one-piece suit. The woman almost appears the same in both, although in the first she has red hair, but in the second it appears more brown.
Today in 1943, US Patent 2333088 A was issued, an invention of Raymond M. Brown, for his “Bottle Opener.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a bottle opener of the type described, having one or more back stops adjacent the prying lip and slightly spaced therefrom which permit the prying lip to exercise its function of detaching the cap, but which may contact with the flange of the cap as to spread andthereby limit the extent to which it can be flared, thus preventing the bending of the disk of the cap under any circumstances and particularly under the conditions of sudden operation above referred to.
Another object of the invention is to provide a pair of spaced back stops preferably symmetrically arranged with respect to the apex of the prying lip, permitting the latter, if necessary, to bulge the flange between the back stops by drawing upon the fullness of the flutes of the flange beyond said back stops, the metal moving.
Today in 1909, two patents were issued: US Patent 938577 A for “Process of Bottling Beer” and US Patent 938578 A for “Machine For Bottling Beer.” Both were patented by Rudolf Gull, and the drawings filed with each application are identical, except for the titles. There’s no Abstract for either patent, although in the description it includes this summary:
Patent 938577 A: Process of Bottling Beer
1. The improvement in the method of bottling beer consisting in maintaining in the bottles while they are being filled with beer, and independent of the flow of the beer, a higher gaseous pressure than on the surface of the suplly or column of beer with which the bottles are filled, and changing such hi her pressure at predetermined intervals during the time the beer is entering the bottles, substantially as set forth.
2. The improvement in the method of bottling beer consisting in maintaining successively in the bottles while they are being filled with beer two or more distinctly different gaseous pressures each one of which is successively maintained in a substantially constant proportion to the gaseous pressure on the column of beer, substantially as set forth.
3. The improvement in the method of bottling beer, consisting in maintaining in the bottles while they are being filled a higher gaseous pressure than that on the column of beer from which the bottles are filled, and in maintaining such higher gaseous pressure within the bottles at such a’ proportion to the gaseous pressure on the column of beer that the surplus of pressure in’ the bottle over the gaseous pressure on the column of beer balances the weight of the column of beer above the level of beer in the bottle as soon as the beer in the bottle reaches a predetermined level.
938578 A: Machine For Bottling Beer
Bottling the beer to flow from the tank into the bottles and permitting also the passage of air from the tank, above the beer, to the bottles, so as to have the same air pressure in both tank and bottles at or before the time the valves are opened, thus permitting the beer to flow by gravity from the tank into the bottles the height of the beer column above the end of the filling spout, the width of the filling spout and the size of the air vent through which the air escapes from the bottles when the beer enters regulating the flow of the beer into the bottles.
Sunday’s ad is for Rheingold beer, from 1940. Grantland Rice was a famous sportwriter, apparently known for his “elegant prose.” It’s also his birthday today. He wrote the sentiment that it’s not whether you won or lost, “But how you played the Game,” in a poem entitled “Alumnus Football.” He also did this ad for the “quicker quencher,” an odd nickname if ever there was one.
Today in 2012, US Patent 834491 A was issued, an invention of Eugene G. Probasco and Jason Perrault, for their “Hop Plant Named ‘HBC 291.'” Here’s the Abstract:
A new hop plant named ‘HBC 291’ is disclosed. The cones of ‘HBC 291’ mature in mid September, and yield a crop of 2000 to 2400 pounds per acre. ‘HBC 291’ is used for its unique aromatic and flavor qualities, high alpha acid content and exceptional yield.
While the hop variety has yet to be named, it is available as an experimental hop at HopUnion. And the BA’s Julia Herz wrote about the hop on CraftBeer.com in Birth of a Hop, which in part is about Summit Brewing Co. using it in a Experimental Hop Brews.
Today in 1938, US Patent D111959 S was issued, an invention of Clarence B. Deible, for his “Design for a Beer Bottle,” although he’s more famous for having invented to crown bottle cap. There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this very short summary:
I claim an original and ornamental Design for Beer Bottles.
Saturday’s Halloween ad is for Schlitz, from 1949. Part of Schlitz’s “I Was Curious” series, each employing a three-panel structure, this one takes place at a Halloween party. A man dressed as a bear spots a table full or Schlitz beer and was apparently thirsty enough to get a beer, forcing him to reveal himself by removing his bear helmet/mask to drink the beer, at which point, the bunny behind the table removes her rabbit head to reveal a fetching blonde, and the two appear to make googly eyes at one another. Which should mean the ad will have a happy ending. But in the first panel, the bunny was holding on onto a tray while a pirate poured beers into glasses, and then briskly goes off to deliver the beers to other guests at the party. That might suggest that he’s one of the hosts of the party, and possibly the bunny’s husband or boyfriend. So maybe this ad is racier than you might think at first glance. Perhaps we’re seeing the start of an affair?
