Wednesday’s ad is for Pabst, probably from the late 1930s, early 40s. The cartoon tells the story of Pabst Blue Ribbon blending 33 different (not that different, obviously) beers to create PBR. Or as they put it, “33 Fine Brews Blended into One Great Beer.” Apparently it’s the blending that gives it “that swell flavor.”
Tuesday’s ad is for Schlitz, from the 1960s, when they debuted the “Aluminum soft top” can, which according to the ad was much easier to open than the “old hard way.” They billed it as the “world’s easiest opening beer can!” I’m not sure about their prophecy that “Some day all beer cans will open this easy!” Time seems to have passed by that innovation.
Monday’s ad is the companion to yesterday’s Beer In Art post, Gil Elvgren’s Shiner Texas Special. After Elvgren finished the artwork, Shiner marketing applied the text and logo in upper righthand corner. The result, I think, is a pretty great looking ad.
Our 107th Guinness ad is from 1934, showing a man drinking a Guinness leaning against the bridge. But the strength he received from drinking his Guinness was apparently enough to knock over the bridge. Now that’s a pretty impressive claim.
Friday’s ad is another turn of the last century ad, this one from the Federal Brewing Company of Brooklyn, New York. The ad is from 1905, though the brewery closed its doors two years later. It appears, though, that Federal Brewing may be resurrected soon as a new craft brewery.
Thursday’s ad is also an older one, most likely from the first decade of the 20th century, over 100 years ago. It’s for Hudson County Consumers Brewing, which I presume was located in New Jersey. Hudson County includes Jersey City, Hoboken, Bayonne, Weehawken and others. It looks a tad grandiose to me. And is that a woman or a man in the costume, holding up the mug of beer?
Wednesday’s ad is from 1908, for a Philadelphia brewery by the name of Rieger & Gretz Brewers and Bottlers. I love the idyll setting with the well-to-do woman enjoying a beer on her estate. I can’t imagine most beer drinking was like that in 1908.
Tuesday’s Valentine’s Day ad is for Schafer Beer, specifically their Pale Dry, “the beer that’s both light and dry.” But “Love at first glass” is a great slogan, especially to tie in with Valentine’s Day.
Our 106th Guinness ad is from the Illustrated London News, from late 1945, toward the end of World War II. Showing a sad-looking man in the desert, holding the lead to his camel, who’s piled high with boxes, barrels and luggage. I’m not 100% sure what’s going on in the ad. The camel looks like perhaps he’s refusing to give up the Guinness in one of the boxes on his back because he’s not tired yet. Maybe that’s why the hapless explorer looks so downtrodden. He is tired and he’s not getting an Guinness.
Regular Bulletin readers know how much I love infographics, a marriage of data and graphic illustration that shows information in a beautiful and understandable way. So I was thrilled when I got an e-mail this morning from a new Silicon Valley start-up, Visual.ly, whose mission is just that, to create and help others create cool visual charts, infographics and videos.
One of their latest works is The American Beer Revival, created by Nate Whitson. Here’s how they describe it:
Over the last hundred or so years, the brewing industry in the United States has changed dramatically. From the saloon era through consolidation to today’s flourishing craft beer culture, it’s been quite a ride. Take a look at how the small brewer is making quite a comeback after nearly a half century of decline.
But better yet, just watch.