Brookston Beer Bulletin

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Historic Beer Birthday: Charles Weyand

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Today is the birthday of Charles Weyand (March 1, 1869-April 28, 1905). He was born in upstate New York, and was the son of Christian Weyand, who co-founded what would become the Christian Weyand Brewing Co. in Buffalo, New York. There’s not too much information about Charles, I suspect because he died fairly young and worked as the secretary and treasurer for his family’s business. His brother, John Weyand, became the president of the brewery after his father died, and it remained in business until closed by prohibition in 1920.

This is his obituary, from the Buffalo News, April 28, 1905:

This biography of Weyand is from “Our County and its people, A descriptive work on Erie County, New York,” edited by Truman C. White, 1898:

Weyand, Charles M., Buffalo, secretary and treasurer of the Christian Weyand Brewing Company, is a son of Christian and Magdelen (Meyer) Weyand, and was born in Buffalo, March 1, 1869. In order to thoroughly equip himself for the business of life he intended to pursue, after passing through the Canisius College he entered the Bryant & Stratton Business College, where he obtained a thorough business education. He immediately entered business with his father and in 1890, when the concern was made a stock company, he was elected secretary and treasurer, which responsible position he now holds. He was married in October, 1891, to Bohumila Louise Andele of Buffalo, and they have one daughter. Mr. Weyand is a member of the Buffalo Orpheus and the St. Louis Dramatic Circle.

Beer In Ads #5137: Bock Is Back… Look For It March 1st

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Two years ago I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. 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. With Spring approaching, there are so many great examples that I’m going to post two a day for a few months.

Saturday’s second ad is for not for a specific Bock Beer, but for every Bock made by the member breweries of the Western Pennsylvania Brewers’ Association. The ad was published on February 28, 1951. This one was for the Western Pennsylvania Brewers’ Association which was founded in 1902 by at least a dozen different breweries. This ad ran in The Pittsburgh Press, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Beer In Ads #5134: Lord Bushkill On Bushkill Bock

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Two years ago I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. 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. With Spring approaching, there are so many great examples that I’m going to post two a day for a few months.

Friday’s first ad is for Bushkill Bock Beer, which was published on February 27, 1936. This one was for Bushkill Products Co. of Easton, Pennsylvania and was founded in 1848 or 1849 by Xavier Veile. They’re advertising in Florida as “Bushkill Beer and Ale: Fine Old Pennsylvania Brew.” This ad ran in The Miami Herald, of Miami, Florida. It’s essentially a cartoon for their Bock beer, signed by “Tyler.”

Historic Beer Birthday: John Emmerling

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Today is the birthday of John Emmerling (February 21, 1851-May 24, 1912). He was born in Philadelphia, but moved to Johnston in Western Pennsylvania, where he founded the Empire Brewery in 1878. It was concurrently also known as the Emmerling Brewing Co. the entire time it was in business, until it was closed by Prohibition in 1920.

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Here’s a biography of Emmerling, written in 1896 from the Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria County:

JOHN EMMERLING, proprietor of the Empire Brewery, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was born in Philadelphia, this State, February 22, 1851. His education was acquired in the public schools of his native city, upon the completion of which he learned the business of brewing. Subsequently, he traveled extensively, visiting many of the more important cities of the West, and finally, located in Pittsburg, where he married. In 1878 he came to Johnstown, and immediately embarked in the brewing business on his own account. Starting in the humble building now known as the Eintracht Hall, the brewery of John Emmerling prospered so well that in one year it was moved to the larger building now occupied by the bottling house of William Thomas. Six years more saw the business grow until it became necessary to build and remove to the large and commodious brick structure which occupies nearly half a square, fronting on Horner street. The plant is two hundred by one hundred and eighty feet, three stories high, and has an annual output of eight thousand barrels, and contains all the latest improved machinery known to the brewer’s art, including engines, two ten-ton refrigerators, seven pumps for various purposes, and bottling apparatus. A visit to the vault in which the beer is stored, gives to the uninitiated a genuine surprise. Following the guide, one wanders in and out among the huge hogsheads, some of which contain forty, and others as high as eighty barrels of the amber fluid, surrounded on all sides by pipes covered to the depth of several times their own thickness with white frost, produced by the intense cold of the ammonia and brine which they contain, one can but express astonishment at the wonderful advance made since the time when nature alone supplied the cooling substance. So large is the local demand for the beer brewed at this establishment, that very little is shipped out of the city. Two wagons are kept going constantly, and two others are used when the demand requires. The present force consists of fourteen men, to which several others are added when increased business makes demand. On September 26, 1872, Mr. Emmerling married Miss Phil. Houch, a daughter of Earnest Houch, a prominent citizen of Pittsburg, and to them have been born ten children. Mr. Emmerling was one of the organizers of the board of trade, in which he takes an active interest.

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And this is his obituary from the Western Brewer, June 1912

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John Emmerling at the wheel of a 1908 Maxwell that he drove round-trip between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia in a race with a $20,000 prize at stake (around $532,258 today’s money). Emmerling (who owned Emmerling Brewery) came out on top.

This is John Emmerling’s brewery, also known as the Empire Brewery in Johnston, Pennsylvania, which also served as the family’s residence.

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Beer In Ads #5212: Once Again … It Is The Professor’s Please To Present Bartel’s Bock Beer

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Two years ago I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. 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. With Spring approaching, there are so many great examples that I’m going to post two a day for a few months.

Friday’s first ad is for Bartels Bock Beer, which was published on February 20, 1942. This ad was for the Bartels Brewing Co. of Edwardsville, Pennsylvania, which was originally founded in 1898. This ad ran in The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader Evening News of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

Beer In Ads #5211: It’s Here Again … Bock Beer At Its Best!

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Two years ago I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. 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. With Spring approaching, there are so many great examples that I’m going to post two a day for a few months.

Thursday’s second ad is for Ortlieb Bock Beer, which was published on February 19, 1959. This ad was for the Henry F. Ortlieb Brewing Co. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which was originally founded in 1859 by Louis Schweitzer. Henry Ortlieb appears to have acquired the brewery around 1893. This ad ran in The Philadelphia Inquirer, also of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There’s some great ad copy here, including “It’s the he-man brew — that the gals love too!” and it’s “The Wet beer.”

Beer In Ads #5205: Bock Time Is Schmidt’s Time

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Two years ago I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. 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. With Spring approaching, there are so many great examples that I’m going to post two a day for a few months.

Monday’s ad is for Schmidt’s Bock Beer, which was published on February 16, 1940. This ad was for the C. Schmidt & Sons, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which was originally founded in 1860 by Christian Schmidt. This ad ran in The North Penn Reporter, of Lansdale, Pennsylvania.

Beer Birthday: Lew Bryson

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lew-bryson
Today is my good friend and fellow beer writer Lew Bryson’s 67th birthday. You used to be able read his writings at his website, lewbryson.com, Seen Through a Glass, and his Session Beer Project, and for a while there was less there because he became the managing editor of Whiskey Advocate and wasn’t writing about beer, although he’s still kept up with his political Why the PLCB Should Be Abolished. His latest book is also about Tasting Whiskey. But he’s back, baby, and is once again also writing about beer at his websites and other places. Lew is my favorite big galoot and the brother I never had. Join me is raising a glass of beer or whiskey and wishing Lew a very happy birthday.

Me and Lew at Triple Rock a few years ago.
Last year in D.C. judging the World Beer Awards.
At an event at the Reading Market when CBC was in Philadelphia in 2016.
With Em Sauter, Ken Weaver and me for GABF judging in 2017.
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Birthday boy Lew (middle) flanked by fellow Pennsylvanians Don Russell (a.k.a. Joe Sixpack) and Jack Curtin. I’m originally from Pennsylvania, too. What is it about the Commonwealth and beer writers?
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Lew and Rick Lyke at the World Beer Festival in Durham in 2008.
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Award-winning beer writer Lew with Pete Slosberg at GABF several years ago.

Beer In Ads #5201: Metzger’s Bock Beer

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Two years ago I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. 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.

Friday’s ad is for Metzger’s Bock Beer, which was published on February 13, 1942. This ad was for the Mount Carmel Brewery of Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, which was originally founded as the Anthracite Brewing Co. in 1897.  This ad ran in The Mount Carmel Item, also of Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania.

Historic Beer Birthday: Henry C. Haefner Jr.

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Today is the birthday of Henry Charles Haefner Jr. (February 13, 1895-July 7, 1948). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was the son of Henry C. Haefner, who founded what would become the Joseph Haefner Brewery, although it was also known as the Empire Brewery, and it’s best-known brand was Tivoli Beer. It reopened after prohibition as Haefner Brewing Co. and remained in business until 1946, when it became the Lancaster Brewing Co. for another three years, closing for good in 1949. Haefner Jr. worked with his father at the brewery and continued running it after his father died, and apparently neither of his two daughters were able to or wanted to continue the business.

There’s not much information I could find about Junior. His Find-a-Grave page has just this from the Intelligencer Journal Lancaster, from July 8, 1948:

Henry C. Haefner Jr. fifty-three Millersville R1 died at his home Wednesday at 7:30 am after a lingering illness. He formerly was associated with his father in the Haefner Brewery Co.
Born in Philadelphia a son of the late Henry C and Josephine Lammer Haefner he was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

Joseph-Haefner-brewery

Surviving are his wife Margaret Schwebel Haefner, two daughters: Margaret Elizabeth wife of Allen G. Caldwell and Sybilla Frances wife of Ernest C. Doll, Jr. both of Millersville R1 and these brothers: Francis J., Paul, Leon, Joseph and George all of this city, and three grandchildren.

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