Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Historic Beer Birthday: Matt Bonney

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Today would have been the 51st birthday of Matt Bonney, formerly of Brouwer’s and Bottleworks, both in Seattle, Washington, and later the proprietor of Toronado Seattle. Bonney was one of my favorite people in the industry. You would have been be hard-pressed to find a person more passionate about good beer. He also knew how to throw a party and was always a gracious host. Unfortunately, he unexpectedly passed away in late March of 2019. Join me in drinking a toast to Bonney tonight. He is definitely missed.

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Matt with Chris Black, from Falling Rock Taphouse in Denver, pouring candy sugar to create Publication at Russian River Brewing in May of 2008.

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Matt (3rd from left) with the final judges at the 2009 Hard Liver Barleywine Festival at Brouwer’s.

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Matt with Dave Keene, from the Toronado, at the A Night of Ales beer dinner during SF Beer Week.

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Dr. Bill with Matt at Slow Food Nation 2008.

Beer In Ads #3834: Beer And Pretzels

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Tuesday’s ad is for “Rainier Beer,” from 1992. This ad was made for the Seattle Brewing & Malting Co., who made Rainier Beer, and was later known as the Rainier Brewing Company of Seattle, Washington. This one features a female contortionist who’s bent herself into a pretzel-shape while holding a mug of beer and a bottle of Rainier Ice-Lagered Draft Light Beer.

Beer In Ads #3833: Through This Portal …

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Monday’s ad is for “Rainier Beer,” from the 1970s. This ad was made for the Seattle Brewing & Malting Co., who made Rainier Beer, and was later known as the Rainier Brewing Company of Seattle, Washington. This one features another eye-catching image, this one of an overhead close-up of an open can of beer. In the opening it reads: “through this portal…” and continues below with “pours the greatest beer in the west: Rainier.” The ad was created by legendary ad man Len Sirowitz.

Beer In Ads #3832: A Good Pretzel Has A Lot Of Salt. A Good Beer Has Just A Little.

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Sunday’s ad is for “Rainier Beer,” from the 1970s. This ad was made for the Seattle Brewing & Malting Co., who made Rainier Beer, and was later known as the Rainier Brewing Company of Seattle, Washington. This one features an eye-catching giant pretzel that fills the page. Below that is the tagline. “A good pretzel has a lot of salt. A good beer has just a little.” And below that, the text explains that Rainier’s brewers add a pinch of salt to the water.

Beer In Ads #3831: Think Fresh

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Saturday’s ad is for “Rainier Beer,” from 1974. This ad was made for the Seattle Brewing & Malting Co., who made Rainier Beer, and was later known as the Rainier Brewing Company of Seattle, Washington. This one features a man with a mountaintop for a head and the tagline “Think Fresh.” It’s a weird one, to be sure, and it made me think of Frank Zappa’s song “Billy the Mountain.” But no sign of Ethel.

Beer In Ads #3830: My Favorite Beer

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Friday’s ad is for “Rainier Beer,” from 1977. This ad was made for the Seattle Brewing & Malting Co., who made Rainier Beer, and was later known as the Rainier Brewing Company of Seattle, Washington. This is another one featuring actor Mickey Rooney in the foreground. He’s wearing a Royal Canadian Mounted Police uniform and the print ad was also in support of a television commercial, as well.

Below is a better image used in the ad, but is also a bit smaller.

Beer In Ads #3829: Bring ‘Em Back Fresh

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Thursday’s ad is for “Rainier Beer,” from 1975. This ad was made for the Seattle Brewing & Malting Co., who made Rainier Beer, and was later known as the Rainier Brewing Company of Seattle, Washington. This one features a hunting expedition to catch fresh bottles of Rainiers, but things appear to have gone awry. They seem to be having some trouble capturing the bottle, and yes, that is actor Mickey Rooney in the foreground.

Beer In Ads #3828: The Fresh That Got Away

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Wednesday’s ad is for “Rainier Beer,” from the 1970s. This ad was made for the Seattle Brewing & Malting Co., who made Rainier Beer, and was later known as the Rainier Brewing Company of Seattle, Washington. This one features a fishing expedition to catch fresh bottles of Rainiers, but things appear to have gone awry. It looks the beer broke through their net and is escaping, much to their horror.

Beer In Ads #3827: Mountain Fresh To You Each Evening By Wagon

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Tuesday’s ad is for “Rainier Beer,” from the 1970s. This ad was made for the Seattle Brewing & Malting Co., who made Rainier Beer, and was later known as the Rainier Brewing Company of Seattle, Washington. This one is another ad using the tagline “Mountain Fresh to You Each Evening” though this one shows a giant beer bottle being delivered on a wagon being pulled by a large mountain goat.

Beer In Ads #3826: Starship Rainier

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Monday’s ad is for “Rainier Beer,” from the 1970s. This ad was made for the Seattle Brewing & Malting Co., who made Rainier Beer, and was later known as the Rainier Brewing Company of Seattle, Washington. This one is a great spoof of Star Trek, with the Starship Enterprise refitted with a Rainier crown and three ginormous beer bottles. There’s even a shuttle floating nearby shaped like a bottle opener. I certainly hope they made posters of this one.