Posted on 09/08/2006 3:33:40 PM PDT by toddlintown
Beer historian explores what happened to famous brews like Schlitz, Rainier, Schmidt and National.
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) September 8, 2006 -- Using Chicago as a backdrop, leading beer historian Bob Skilnik delves into the reasons why once favorite national and regional beer brands have faded in popularity, some banished to obscurity. BEER: A History of Brewing in Chicago ($24.95, Hardcover, 416 pages, Barricade Books, ISBN 1569803129), proves to be more than a regional history book as it also details the downfall of national breweries like Schlitz and Pabst, to once powerhouse regionals with their flagship brands such as Seattle’s Rainier, Detroit’s Stroh, Baltimore’s National Bohemian and G. Heileman’s Old Style, once anointed as "Chicago’s Beer."
"When it came to gaining favor with the Windy City’s thirsty beer drinkers after the local industry went flat in the 1970s," notes Skilnik, "a lot of out-of-town brands tried -- and a lot of brands died. Chicago’s stature as a financial center, as a hub of advertising agencies, and as a convention and hotel stronghold, however, made it the stage for a number of behind-the-scene maneuverings of brewery takeovers and consolidations which also affected the national beer market, and still does."
As the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times have reported on several recent occasions, when it comes to beer, retro is in, whether the beer served is Miller High Life, "The Champagne of Bottled Beers," Schlitz as "The Beer That Made Milwaukee Famous," or young Pabst Blue Ribbon drinkers telling bartenders to "PBR Me!"
(Excerpt) Read more at prweb.com ...
what about Genesee beer?....Utica Club?( its still made, however).....and what about Reingold?.......
It needed someone named Skilnik to do this story justice.
Falstaff...
Mark
Made with Tumwater, right?
"It needed someone named Skilnik to do this story justice."
Ya think? :)
Late in the night, I just dump my beer straight into the toilet. Saves time that way.
Very Mike Royko-esque.
The guy may be a looter but at least he's a discriminating looter.No Schlitz or Pabst for him, it's imported Heineken or nothing !!!
Carling Black Label
"Hey, Mabel..."
JAX
HAMM'S
BUSCH BAVARAN BEER
Is PEARL still around?
OLYMPIA my favorite.
BILLY BEER (gag)
MASH BEER ( made because of the tv show)
The original Knickerbocker beer ( before they changed the formula around 1971 and called it Knickerbocker natural ) was great lager beer . So was Rheingold with the " 10 minute head " . My Dad was a salesman, so there were plenty of samples around the house . Hehe ...And although I wasn't of drinking age in CT in 1970 ( 21 ) I could drink in NY (18 ) , my age at the time . I loved Knick !
Without a doubt the most memorable beer from my youth was Griesedieck beer, longtime sponsor of St. Louis Cardinals ball games on radio during the 40s and 50s.
Anyone who ever heard Harry Carey pronounce Greasy dick, which, by the way was the correct pronunciation, would never forget it.
If you were young, broke and needed beer in Los Angeles, Brew 102 was the way to go. Boy was it bad.
For some reason I thought Mickey's Big Mouth's would get you blasted sooner and deeper. Maybe it just poured faster.
Anybody ever "shoot a beer"? Take a "church key", lay the can on it's side, cut a hole on the top side near the bottom, cover the bottom hole with your mouth, upright the can, pull the pop top and whoosh, all the beer all at once.
Do they still have Rheingold in NY? Schafer?
I have drank gallons of Mickey's Big Mouths. And lots more Rainer Ale. And I'm no grandpa.
Only saw this one up north and was pretty good,BLATZ.
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