Saturday’s holiday ad is for Altes beer, from the Tivoli Brewing Co. of Detroit, Michigan, from 1915. Featuring Santa Claus holding a case of beer, apparently saving your bottle caps could pay off. According to the carton, “Save the Altes caps and get an elegant 42 piece set of china free.” I wonder how many crowns it took to get your free set of china?
It’s day thirty-four of my frantic flight 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.
2008 was the thirty-fourth 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-fourth label was was a “Jeffrey Pine,” or “Pinus jeffreyi.”
Friday’s holiday ad is for the William Simon Brewery, of Buffalo, New York. But on closer inspection it turns out to be just another ad dressed up for the holidays.
In case you missed it, today was “National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day.” Not surprisingly, a lot of ugly Christmas sweaters involve beer, such as one of my favorites, “Frothy the Snowman.”
But it’s not too late. There are nine more days until Xmas, plenty of time to pick up your own ugly beer sweater. I found at least thirty different beer-themed ones. You can see them all in the slideshow below. A few of them are t-shirts meant to mimic a sweater, but since their in the same spirit, I’ve included them, as well. Enjoy.
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.”
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?
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.”
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.
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.”
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.”
