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 ...
That was my dads beer.
I loved those Hamms beer commercials as a kid....
My Grandpa use to drink Gettleman and Schlitz Beer. My Dad claims there was a beet called Idleberry Cherryberry.
Weideman's and Hudepohl were favorites of my dad's generation here in Indiana.
15 minutes would make it, what, -25F? And the proper term should be beericide.
Some of their ads featured a running joke about the mysterious "Artesians".
"...Ah seen 'em!"
In Indiana there was also Hoosier Beer and Drewrey's.
I miss all those old local beers. The big boys have squeezed them out of the market.
Today Bud Light sells the most, even over Budweiser. When we do a standard bar for banquet functions we include Bud, Bud Light, Miller Lite, Amstel Light and Heineken.
Bud Light and Miller Lite go the most followed by Heineken. We usually get all the Bud returned.
Beers I remember from my youth.
Probably long departed, thankfully.
I remember Rheingold, Knickerbocker and Schaefer beers. Rheingold had "The Miss Rheingold" contest. Posters of six very pretty ladies would be hung in subway cars, bars and beer distributors. Patrons would vote on who they thought should be Miss Rheingold for that year. My Dad always let me pick who he would vote for. Good old days. :O)
I remember that commercial.
Anybody on here ever drink Shiner Beer, brewed in Texas in the German settled areas near Victoria?
I used to drink Hamms, Schlitz, PBR and many others, but I didn't learn what a good beer was until I went to Germany. Loved those flip top bottles and that strong beer! Today, I drink Sam Adams on the few occasions that I actually drink beer, you know like celebrating National Orange Week or some other national holiday.
It's a shame, really. The death of so many beloved brews is on account of Big Beer (economics of scale), greed (3rd generation cashes in the family business), and changing tastes (Chardonnay spritzers). Microbreweries are our hope...providing they don't get bought up.
Next round's on me.
Pretty good because it got one buzzed on a budget less than four bucks a case on Long Island mid 70's. The taste was not much to brag about but it was better than nothing!
There was also Sterling. Tasted like it was brewed with green corn.
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