Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Historic Beer Birthday: Fritz Goetz

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Today is the birthday of Fritz Goetz (August 20, 1849-May 3, 1917). He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but moved to Chicago as a young man, eventually going into the copper business, which changed names a few times, but settled on the Goetz Company. In addition to copper brewing equipment, they also sold tanks, and general brewing and bottling equipment. The business was so successful that in his obituary, it was noted that “There is hardly any brewery, bottlery or malting plant in the United States or Mexico where there is not some machine or apparatus manufactured by the Goetz Company.”

Here is his obituary from the American Brewers’ Review for 1918:

Beer Birthday: Don Feinberg

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vanberg-dewulf
Today is Don Feinberg’s 70th birthday, along with his wife Wendy Littlefield, ran the Belgian export company Vanberg & DeWulf. Their portfolio included such great beer lines as Dupont, Castelain and Dubuisson (Bush). They were also the original founders of Brewery Ommegang. Several years ago they celebrated their 30th anniversary of being involved in the beer industry and bringing great beer to America. Plus, they’re great fun to hang out and drink with. Unfortunately, several years ago they sold Vanberg & DeWulf, and are taking some time off, before deciding on their next project. It’s been a while now, but hopefully, we’ll learn something soon. Join me in wishing Don a very happy birthday.

Don, along with the Dubuisson brewmaster, being poured Lambrucha in Chicago in 2010.
Wendy and Don at a dinner in Belgium a few years ago.
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Wendy Littlefield, Don and Greg Engert at a Vanberg & DeWulf tasting in Washington, D.C.
(photo by Chuck Cook)
Don Feinberg, Anne (from New York’s Ginger Man) and Wendy in Belgium.
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Wendy and Don in 1979.

Beer In Ads #5053: Stiegl Golden Bock Beer

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Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer became known as ‘Bock.’ A goat often appears on bottle labels.” And presumably because they were special releases, many breweries went all out promoting them with beautiful artwork on posters and other advertising.

Thursday’s ad is for Stiegl Golden Bock Beer, which was published on August 14, 1982. This one is for the Stiegl Brauerei of Salzburg, Austria, which was originally founded in 1492. This ad for the imported beer ran in The Chicago Tribune, of Chicago, Illinois.

Beer In Ads #5049: Get Your Quarts From LaCorte’s

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Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer became known as ‘Bock.’ A goat often appears on bottle labels.” And presumably because they were special releases, many breweries went all out promoting them with beautiful artwork on posters and other advertising.

Sunday’s ad is for Fox De Luxe Bock Beer, which was published on August 10, 1951, though strictly speaking it was for a liquor store called LaCorte’s Park-In Liquors, located at 552-56 State Line St., in Calumet City, Illinois. [I checked, it appears to be the site of a Wendy’s today.] The ad was actually advertising a variety of alcohol, some twelve different products, but I cut them all out except the one bock beer and its neighbor. The bock is from the Peter Fox Brewing Co. of Chicago, Illinois, which was originally founded in 1896 as the Hoffman Bros. This ad ran in The Hammond Times, an afternoon paper serving Hammond, Whiting, and East Chicago, Indiana, though now is headquartered in Munster, and it just a few miles (less than 4) from the liquor store.

Historic Beer Birthday: William J. Seib

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Today is the birthday of William J. Seib (August 4, 1836-after 1901). He was born in Germany and learned to brew there. When he was 18, in 1854, he emigrated to the United States and worked at several breweries in the Detroit area, including Stroh’s. He worked for several additional breweries before becoming the brewmaster at Conrad Seipp Brewery of Chicago, Illinois, a position he held for nearly two decades until his retirement in 1901, after fifty years in the brewing industry. He must have been very well regarded because he’s referred to as “the dean of American brewmasters.” Seib was one of three men appointed to draft the charter of the Master Brewers’ Association of the United States, along with Louis Frisch and Charles J. Schmidt, which was founded on April 14, 1887.

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This is a short biography when he retired from brewing in 1901, when he was 64, from the American Brewers’ Review:

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And this biography is from when Seib celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary.

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Beer Birthday: Jonathan Surratt

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Today is the 51st birthday of Jonathan Surratt. Jonathan launched the Beer Mapping Project and also ran the website for DRAFT magazine before it folded. And Jonathan also created National Growler Day, though its exact date from year to year is still fluid, plus he was a twitter diva, too. More recently, he’s become a sandwich aficionado of the highest order. Join me in wishing Jonathan a very happy birthday.

A self-portrait with Matt, then with Oakshire Brewing, Jonathan, and me at the Goose Island cask event during CBC in 2010.
Horse Brass publican Don Younger bookended by Jonathan’s wife Robin and Jonathan, displaying his excellent taste in attire.
Jonathan & Robin Surratt Sandwiched by Sean Paxton
Jonathan with Sean Paxton and Jonathan’s wife Robin at GABF a few years ago.
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Jonathan, Ray McCoy, Robin, and Ray’s wife, Cornelia Corey.
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Michael Roper, owner of the Hopleaf, Jonathan, and Wendy Littlefield, from Vanberg & DeWulff, when we had dinner there a few years ago.

Historic Beer Birthday: Jacob Woolner

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Today is the birthday of Jacob Woolner (July 24, 1834-March 23, 1909). He was born in Szennitz (or Szeged), Hungary (although one source says Budapest) but settled initially in Vienna, Austria, where he married. In 1873, he emigrated to the United States, and ended up in Peoria, Illinois. In 1886, he co-founded the Union Brewing Co. with his brother-in-law Sigmund O. Mitler. It closed in 1920 due to prohibition, re-opening briefly as the Peoria Brewing Co. in 1934 but closed for good in 1940.

This is his obituary from his unexpected death in 1909.

Beer In Ads #5021: Olympia Bock Beer

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Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer became known as ‘Bock.’ A goat often appears on bottle labels.” And presumably because they were special releases, many breweries went all out promoting them with beautiful artwork on posters and other advertising.

Thursday’s poster is for Olympia Bock Beer, and was published around the 1910s. This one was for the Pilsen Brewing Co. of Chicago, Illinois, which was originally founded in 1903 by a group of Bohemian tavern owners.

Beer Birthday: Sigmund O. Mitler

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Today is the birthday of Sigmund O. Mitler (June 18, 1850-October 18, 1896). He was born in Trnava, Slovakia, which was formerly Srenitz, Hungary. He was initially a banker, and was the director of the Anglo-Hungarian Bank in Vienna, but after emigrating to the United States around 1884, and settling in Peoria, Illinois, he co-founded the Union Brewing Co. with his brother-in-law Jacob Woolner in 1886. It closed in 1920 due to prohibition, re-opening briefly as the Peoria Brewing Co. in 1934 but closing for good in 1940.

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I couldn’t find out much else about Mitler other than he worked as the general manager and treasurer of the brewery until the day he died.

Although not exactly relevant, when he was 30 he married Ernestine Sternberg Mitler, who had a fondness for big hats.

Ernestine Sternberg Mitler

Beer In Ads #5001: Decatur Bock Beer

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Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer became known as ‘Bock.’ A goat often appears on bottle labels.” And presumably because they were special releases, many breweries went all out promoting them with beautiful artwork on posters and other advertising.

Tuesday’s ad is for Decatur Bock Beer. The ad was published in 1912. This one was for the Decatur Brewing Co., which was located in Decatur, Illinois and was originally founded in 1855. And it made sense to share today because it was run for a time by Frank Shlaudeman, who was born today in 1862. This ad ran in The Daily Review, also of Decatur, Illinois.