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Beer Birthday: Evan Rail

September 16, 2026 By Jay Brooks 1 Comment

evan-rail
Today is the 54th birthday of Evan Rail, expat American writer living, and writing about beer, in Prague, Czech Republic. Evan was born and raised in Fresno, but discovered his love for beer while attending U.C. Davis as a French and German literature major. While there, he spent his time at the nearby Sudwerk Privatbrauerei brewpub, and counted among his friends several students in the Master Brewers program. That’s also where he began homebrewing in 1993. He also studied in New York and Paris, before making the Czech Republic his home in 2000. His move to Prague was meant to be for a single year, but he’s still there almost two decades later. Given that he met his wife there, and they’ve started a family, it’s likely he won’t be moving home any time soon. In addition to writing the Good Beer Guide to Prague and the Czech Republic, Rail’s also penned Why Beer Matters, In Praise of Hangovers and Triplebock, all Kindle singles. We finally had a chance to share a beer in person a few years ago when he was in San Francisco for an event sponsored by Pilsner Urquell. But since then we’ve been on trips in Denmark and Belgium together, as well. Join me in wishing Evan a very happy birthday.

IMG_2260
A few years ago at event in san Francisco, where Evan was doing a presentation for Pilsner Urquell.
copenhagen
Also a couple of years ago in Copenhagen, along with, clockwise from left: Martyn Cornell, Jeff Alworth, Evan, me, Stephen Beaumont, Pete Brown, Stan Hieronymus and Ron Pattinson.
SAM_5803
Talking with Stan Hieronymus during a tour of the Carlsberg Laboratory.
Evan-Rail-1
A Facebook cover photo of Evan (which is where I purloined it from, along with the next one, too).
Evan-Rail-2
A screenshot from a video of Evan talking about Czech beer.

Filed Under: Birthdays Tagged With: California, Czech Republic, United States

Historic Beer Birthday: Christian Kalmbach

September 5, 2026 By Jay Brooks

Today is the birthday of Christian Kalmbach (September 5, 1846-February 5, 1932). He was born in Wörnersberg, Freudenstadt, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. When he was twenty, in 1866, he emigrated the U.S., finding work as a brewer at the Croh Brothers Brewery and later the Schmitt & Kofen Brewery in New York. After ten years as a journeyman brewer, he moved to Springfield, New York in October of 1876 and partnered with Theodor Geisel (the grandfather of Dr. Seuss) and bought Oscar Rocke’s brewery on Boston Road. They renamed it the Christian Kalmbach & Theodore Geisel Brewery. In 1894, he retired and Geisel remained and they started trading under the name Highland Brewing Co., but five years later they merged with two more local breweries and became the Highland Branch of Springfield Breweries, at least until it was closed permanently due to prohibition.

Here’s his obituary from the Springfield Daily Union in 1932:

The brewery around 1880.

And here’s another obituary, this one from the Springfield Daily Republican:

Filed Under: Birthdays, Breweries, Just For Fun Tagged With: Germany, New York, United States

Beer In Ads #5335: Bock Beer Rider

August 31, 2026 By Jay Brooks

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.

Monday’s trade card is for Bock Beer generically, that was apparently created in Bavaria, Germany, sometime after 1850 but before 1900 or so. I think this would be considered a Victorian Trade Card, popular from the 1870s until around 1900. They were typically created via lithography, which gave them vibrant colors. Their popularity as far as I can tell was primarily in the United States, so I suspect that whoever claimed this was Bavarian was simply incorrect and it seems more likely it was created here. This one shows a woman riding a goat side-saddle with a glass of bock beer raised high.

Filed Under: Art & Beer, Beers, Just For Fun Tagged With: Advertising, Bock, History, New York, United States

Beer In Ads #5334: Bock Beer Tankard

August 30, 2026 By Jay Brooks

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.

Sunday’s trade card is for Bock Beer generically, that was apparently created in Bavaria, Germany, sometime after 1850 but before 1900 or so. I think this would be considered a Victorian Trade Card, popular from the 1870s until around 1900. They were typically created via lithography, which gave them vibrant colors. Their popularity as far as I can tell was primarily in the United States, so I suspect that whoever claimed this was Bavarian was simply incorrect and it seems more likely it was created here. This one shows a goat in a circle with a tankard of bock in the foreground.

Filed Under: Art & Beer, Beers, Just For Fun Tagged With: Advertising, Bock, History, New York, United States

Beer In Ads #5333: Bock Beer Goat Love

August 29, 2026 By Jay Brooks

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.

Saturday’s trade card is for Bock Beer generically, that was apparently created in Bavaria, Germany, sometime after 1850 but before 1900 or so. I think this would be considered a Victorian Trade Card, popular from the 1870s until around 1900. They were typically created via lithography, which gave them vibrant colors. Their popularity as far as I can tell was primarily in the United States, so I suspect that whoever claimed this was Bavarian was simply incorrect and it seems more likely it was created here. This one seems to show a goat staring lovingly at a woman depicted on a presumably bock beer barrel.

Filed Under: Art & Beer, Beers, Just For Fun Tagged With: Advertising, Bock, History, New York, United States

Beer In Ads #5332: The Statue Of Liberty Bock

August 28, 2026 By Jay Brooks

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 trade card is for Bock Beer generically, that was apparently created in Bavaria, Germany, sometime after 1850 but before 1900 or so. I think this would be considered a Victorian Trade Card, popular from the 1870s until around 1900. They were typically created via lithography, which gave them vibrant colors. Their popularity as far as I can tell was primarily in the United States, so I suspect that whoever claimed this was Bavarian was simply incorrect and it seems more likely it was created here. This one may be the most damning one to prove they were actually American give that it features a goat as the Statue of Liberty holding up a glass of bock beer.

Filed Under: Art & Beer, Beers, Just For Fun Tagged With: Advertising, Bock, History, New York, United States

Beer In Ads #5331: Bock Beer, Hopfen Und Malz Gott Erhalts!

August 27, 2026 By Jay Brooks

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.

Thursday’s trade card is for Bock Beer generically, that was apparently created in Bavaria, Germany, sometime after 1850 but before 1900 or so. I think this would be considered a Victorian Trade Card, popular from the 1870s until around 1900. They were typically created via lithography, which gave them vibrant colors. Their popularity as far as I can tell was primarily in the United States, so I suspect that whoever claimed this was Bavarian was simply incorrect and it seems more likely it was created here. This features a brewer’s star and a banner with the phrase “Hopfen und Malz Gott erhalts!” which I believe was a parody of “Bayern und Pfalz, Gott erhalt’s”, or “God save Bavaria and the Palatine”, which were two parts of the Bavaria that were separated and reunited a few times.

Filed Under: Art & Beer, Beers, Just For Fun Tagged With: Advertising, Bock, History, New York, United States

Beer In Ads #5330: Bock Beer Trade Card

August 26, 2026 By Jay Brooks

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.

Wednesday’s trade card is for Bock Beer generically, that was apparently created in Bavaria, Germany, sometime after 1850 but before 1900 or so. I think this would be considered a Victorian Trade Card, popular from the 1870s until around 1900. They were typically created via lithography, which gave them vibrant colors. Their popularity as far as I can tell was primarily in the United States, so I suspect that whoever claimed this was Bavarian was simply incorrect and it seems more likely it was created here.

Filed Under: Art & Beer, Beers, Just For Fun Tagged With: Advertising, Bock, Germany, History, United States

Beer In Ads #5327: Bock Bier, A Oldbairisch Dirndl Un a luschdiger Bua

August 21, 2026 By Jay Brooks

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 poster depicts a goat, a man and a woman along with beer and food. The lithograph was created in 1884 by H. Schile & Co. of 14 & 16 Division St. in New York City. Henry Jerome Schile was born in Germany, and emigrated to the U.S. in 1851, settling in Manhattan, which is where he opened his own print company. The text at the top of the poster reads: “A Oldbairisch Dirndl Un a luschdiger Bua” which is roughly translated as “An Old Bavarian dirndl and a very funny Bua” (slang for Lederhosen). The text at the bottom is more inscrutable, “A Moas’l BocK Bier un a Sam’l dersu” which was stumped by Google translate. Anybody know?

Filed Under: Art & Beer, Beers, Just For Fun Tagged With: Advertising, Bock, History, New York, United States

Beer In Ads #5322: Bock! Bock! Bock!

August 15, 2026 By Jay Brooks

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.

Saturday’s poster is for Bock! Bock! Bock! It was created in 1879 by Herman Dohm, who was a lithographer, engraver and printer located in New York City.

Filed Under: Art & Beer, Beers, Just For Fun Tagged With: Advertising, Bock, History, New York, United States

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