Everyone recognizes the old ploy to keep us in the pub when the publican places salty foods like peanuts, pretzels and popcorn at the bar. Even though these thirst-causing snacks keep us drinking, they will not keep us at the bar as long as a game will.
I have now been employed in the brewing industry for 20 years. I have worked as a brewer, brewery representative, retail beer buyer, and as a seller and portfolio manager in wholesaling. Over the past 20 years I have collected a number of tools used in the production and selling of beer. These items are usually highly specialized to perform a certain purpose or service. A number of interesting items have also been issued by the yeast, hop growing, and malting companies.
This year marks the 95th anniversary of the neon sign. In less than a century, this advertising form went from slick to sleaze, but the interest of breweries and bar owners has helped keep the medium alive.
1. 4000 BC: the Sumerians brew the first beer. The clay tablets with the recipe, or the crude tools used to stir this live changing brew have to be the oldest pieces of breweriana.
A few years back, the state of Ohio banned a 12-pack carton of Bud Light that featured Suds Mackenzie riding in a sleigh and wearing a red hat trimmed in white. The reasoning was that this Santa-like image might influence children. Immediately, I began to acquire any type of beer item designed to celebrate Christmas.
To this day, one of the favorite items in my collection is a simple license plate that reads, “Don’t worry, Dad, we’re drinking Genesee.” This item dates back to the early 1970s. If it were to be released today, the ramifications would fill all of the major news sources. Drinking and driving—and underage drinking, at that! Years ago, the beer environment was completely different.
