This post is just an excuse to post this picture from 1889. Careful readers will know that I play a game or two of 1860s base ball each summer. One of the players on our team, Jordan Press, forwarded this post from MLB historian, John Thorne, on baseball – and even base ball – in art. An early sports themed brewery endorsement, the man on the left is Buck Ewing catcher for the New York Giants. He was one of the first six players to be entered into the Baseball Hall of Fame fifty years after this ad was first produced.
But notice a few things. He is drinking stout. And not just any stout but Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. Jess Kidden has a bit of the story about the relationship between Guinness and its NY importer, E.& J. Burke. But notice a few other things. Five bottles lay about the ground. The beer is being enjoyed. And it’s been delivered packed in a barrel of straw. Over on Facebook, Ethan asked about the use of the word “hamper” in an ad from 1774. In another recent post, I discussed a 1790s ad for a NY porter vault where the drink was available by the “tierce” of quarts. I understand in both these cases the thing being described in the barrel of bottles which is stuffed with straw to keep them from breaking in transit. I think Buck Ewing is working his way through a tierce. Or at least having his fair share.
My favorite quantity of beer… well, after the pottle.
[Original comments…]
Ed – November 17, 2015 9:13 AM
http://edsbeer.blogspot.com
They look like the people on the Camp Coffee label.
Jess Kidden – November 18, 2015 10:35 AM
https://sites.google.com/site/jesskidden/jk'smisc.beerpages
Pretty common to find ads from retailers in late 19th century newspapers selling bottled beer by the “barrel” (or sometimes “cask”) typically containing 10 dozen pint bottles – a “pint bottle” usually containing 12 – 13 ounces.
For instance, one could purchase Jacob Ruppert’s Pale, Extra or Dark Beer or Ballantine Export Beer
“In bottles packed and warranted to keep in any climate. Shipped direct to consumers at $7.25 per barrel of 10 dozen bottles”
from a Brooklyn retailer, circa 1900.
Alan – November 18, 2015 12:11 PM
And the 120 bottle barrel is in line with the 1790s ad for porter so sounds like a tierce to me.