Brian Alberts
@brewedculture.org
Historian, writer, dad studying the cultural history of beer. Footnotes and pizza both Chicago style. He/him
Indiana's 2nd oldest brewery, Lafayette Brewing Company, is closing this month.
This won't make the splash that Rogue did, but LBC was a local treasure. Fond memories there.
non-paywall link: archive.ph/lvIet
cc @timothyjlombardo.bsky.social @ppospisek.bsky.social @castrohistorian.bsky.social
This won't make the splash that Rogue did, but LBC was a local treasure. Fond memories there.
non-paywall link: archive.ph/lvIet
cc @timothyjlombardo.bsky.social @ppospisek.bsky.social @castrohistorian.bsky.social
December 4, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Indiana's 2nd oldest brewery, Lafayette Brewing Company, is closing this month.
This won't make the splash that Rogue did, but LBC was a local treasure. Fond memories there.
non-paywall link: archive.ph/lvIet
cc @timothyjlombardo.bsky.social @ppospisek.bsky.social @castrohistorian.bsky.social
This won't make the splash that Rogue did, but LBC was a local treasure. Fond memories there.
non-paywall link: archive.ph/lvIet
cc @timothyjlombardo.bsky.social @ppospisek.bsky.social @castrohistorian.bsky.social
I was advised to go to grad school in history riiiight about there.
November 23, 2025 at 1:03 AM
I was advised to go to grad school in history riiiight about there.
More pics. I want that neon sign.
November 22, 2025 at 11:23 PM
More pics. I want that neon sign.
Just had a drink with @whereandback.bsky.social at the doomed Pike Brewing Pub. The walls are already being stripped down. This place is iconic and I'm gonna miss it.
November 22, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Just had a drink with @whereandback.bsky.social at the doomed Pike Brewing Pub. The walls are already being stripped down. This place is iconic and I'm gonna miss it.
Time to break this puppy out again.
November 21, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Time to break this puppy out again.
Related, the earliest confirmed example I have of a post-WW2 U.S. Oktoberfest serving not only imported German beer, but a Märzen, is from 1958. In Washington D.C., go figure.
Old Europe still exists but they aren't answering my emails ☹️
Old Europe still exists but they aren't answering my emails ☹️
November 16, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Related, the earliest confirmed example I have of a post-WW2 U.S. Oktoberfest serving not only imported German beer, but a Märzen, is from 1958. In Washington D.C., go figure.
Old Europe still exists but they aren't answering my emails ☹️
Old Europe still exists but they aren't answering my emails ☹️
It's been fun to see how American understandings of Oktoberfest changed over time. Here's a NY newspaper in 1952 mistakenly thinking that Oktoberfest beer in Munich reaches 18% (!)
News of the Tonawanda, Oct 7, 1952
News of the Tonawanda, Oct 7, 1952
November 15, 2025 at 6:50 PM
It's been fun to see how American understandings of Oktoberfest changed over time. Here's a NY newspaper in 1952 mistakenly thinking that Oktoberfest beer in Munich reaches 18% (!)
News of the Tonawanda, Oct 7, 1952
News of the Tonawanda, Oct 7, 1952
Well this is cool: Just found reference to Rheingold producing a special beer for an Oktoberfest in Queens' Ridgewood neighborhood in 1977.
It's the first reference I've seen to a large brand (ostensibly) making an Oktoberfest beer. But it doesn't describe the actual beer. Was it extra dry???
It's the first reference I've seen to a large brand (ostensibly) making an Oktoberfest beer. But it doesn't describe the actual beer. Was it extra dry???
November 15, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Well this is cool: Just found reference to Rheingold producing a special beer for an Oktoberfest in Queens' Ridgewood neighborhood in 1977.
It's the first reference I've seen to a large brand (ostensibly) making an Oktoberfest beer. But it doesn't describe the actual beer. Was it extra dry???
It's the first reference I've seen to a large brand (ostensibly) making an Oktoberfest beer. But it doesn't describe the actual beer. Was it extra dry???
Trying to chart the evolution of modern Oktoberfests in N. America. Earliest example of an imported German beer explicitly billed as Oktoberfest that I've found (so far) dates back to 1970.
It was Löwenbräu.
It was Löwenbräu.
November 15, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Trying to chart the evolution of modern Oktoberfests in N. America. Earliest example of an imported German beer explicitly billed as Oktoberfest that I've found (so far) dates back to 1970.
It was Löwenbräu.
It was Löwenbräu.
Happy Veterans Day! Here's a July 1945 letter from Capt. John W. Earle, US Army.
In Günzburg, Germany, Earle unexpectedly found himself his division's "District Brewery Officer," overseeing ten local breweries to supply soldiers with beer (and Coke).
Sounds like he enjoyed the role. #beerhistory
In Günzburg, Germany, Earle unexpectedly found himself his division's "District Brewery Officer," overseeing ten local breweries to supply soldiers with beer (and Coke).
Sounds like he enjoyed the role. #beerhistory
November 11, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Happy Veterans Day! Here's a July 1945 letter from Capt. John W. Earle, US Army.
In Günzburg, Germany, Earle unexpectedly found himself his division's "District Brewery Officer," overseeing ten local breweries to supply soldiers with beer (and Coke).
Sounds like he enjoyed the role. #beerhistory
In Günzburg, Germany, Earle unexpectedly found himself his division's "District Brewery Officer," overseeing ten local breweries to supply soldiers with beer (and Coke).
Sounds like he enjoyed the role. #beerhistory
Bluesky is such a bad influence. Saw someone here using beef cuts for milanesa to make Rouladen, and look what it's done to me.
Got some Spätzle cooling on the stove too, it's awful.
Got some Spätzle cooling on the stove too, it's awful.
November 7, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Bluesky is such a bad influence. Saw someone here using beef cuts for milanesa to make Rouladen, and look what it's done to me.
Got some Spätzle cooling on the stove too, it's awful.
Got some Spätzle cooling on the stove too, it's awful.
What ever do you mean 😉
October 24, 2025 at 9:10 PM
What ever do you mean 😉
Just found my earliest references yet to specifically Märzen-style beers served at an American Oktoberfest, going back to 1958!
They were imported, not brewed locally, but still very exciting to find.
They were imported, not brewed locally, but still very exciting to find.
October 24, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Just found my earliest references yet to specifically Märzen-style beers served at an American Oktoberfest, going back to 1958!
They were imported, not brewed locally, but still very exciting to find.
They were imported, not brewed locally, but still very exciting to find.
A fun anecdote in this is that Anheuser Busch created "Anheuser Märzen" in late '87, invited Michael Jackson to their test release, and soon after he gave the beer a nod in his New World Guide to Beer.
Now that's earned media!
Now that's earned media!
October 22, 2025 at 4:57 PM
A fun anecdote in this is that Anheuser Busch created "Anheuser Märzen" in late '87, invited Michael Jackson to their test release, and soon after he gave the beer a nod in his New World Guide to Beer.
Now that's earned media!
Now that's earned media!
A few cropped up in the late 80s/early 90s, like Sam Adams Octoberfest. A-B and Coors even dabbled a bit.
But certainly not the first. Formosa Springs in Ontario made one in the mid-70s (no idea what the actual beer was like)
I *might* have found an earlier one but not sure yet.
But certainly not the first. Formosa Springs in Ontario made one in the mid-70s (no idea what the actual beer was like)
I *might* have found an earlier one but not sure yet.
October 22, 2025 at 3:55 PM
A few cropped up in the late 80s/early 90s, like Sam Adams Octoberfest. A-B and Coors even dabbled a bit.
But certainly not the first. Formosa Springs in Ontario made one in the mid-70s (no idea what the actual beer was like)
I *might* have found an earlier one but not sure yet.
But certainly not the first. Formosa Springs in Ontario made one in the mid-70s (no idea what the actual beer was like)
I *might* have found an earlier one but not sure yet.
Takes courage for a U.S. newspaper to call German beer third rate (in 1951)
- Browning (MT) Chief, April 6, 1951
- Browning (MT) Chief, April 6, 1951
October 16, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Takes courage for a U.S. newspaper to call German beer third rate (in 1951)
- Browning (MT) Chief, April 6, 1951
- Browning (MT) Chief, April 6, 1951
In 1958 you could book a 10 day travel package to Bavaria & Austria, including airfare, hotels, most meals, 2-days at Oktoberfest, and a bunch of other sightseeing...
...for $646.80
...for $646.80
October 9, 2025 at 2:13 PM
In 1958 you could book a 10 day travel package to Bavaria & Austria, including airfare, hotels, most meals, 2-days at Oktoberfest, and a bunch of other sightseeing...
...for $646.80
...for $646.80
Had a great time at Loza Farms' annual Mexican Night, in Wapato, WA. Met amazing beer folks from Mexico, Argentina, and all over the U.S. There was an actual truckload of beer.
Also got to see my first Yakima golden hour. Breathtaking, but couldn't take pics because I was driving.
Also got to see my first Yakima golden hour. Breathtaking, but couldn't take pics because I was driving.
September 26, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Had a great time at Loza Farms' annual Mexican Night, in Wapato, WA. Met amazing beer folks from Mexico, Argentina, and all over the U.S. There was an actual truckload of beer.
Also got to see my first Yakima golden hour. Breathtaking, but couldn't take pics because I was driving.
Also got to see my first Yakima golden hour. Breathtaking, but couldn't take pics because I was driving.
Slicing and dicing my own draft.
September 18, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Slicing and dicing my own draft.
Not yet.
(this isn't from my house, but it's in my neighborhood. These are the Olympics)
(this isn't from my house, but it's in my neighborhood. These are the Olympics)
September 17, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Not yet.
(this isn't from my house, but it's in my neighborhood. These are the Olympics)
(this isn't from my house, but it's in my neighborhood. These are the Olympics)
Blast from the past: I have photos of Three Floyds'/Sun King's Slacktivist beer from circa 2015, plus the notice they posted in their brewery to advocate for policy changes.
This remains one of my favorite bottle art designs ever. Notice the "lazy" mismatched label size.
This remains one of my favorite bottle art designs ever. Notice the "lazy" mismatched label size.
September 5, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Blast from the past: I have photos of Three Floyds'/Sun King's Slacktivist beer from circa 2015, plus the notice they posted in their brewery to advocate for policy changes.
This remains one of my favorite bottle art designs ever. Notice the "lazy" mismatched label size.
This remains one of my favorite bottle art designs ever. Notice the "lazy" mismatched label size.
Can we hire a skywriter or something?
September 3, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Can we hire a skywriter or something?
First ever tour of a hop farm today!
August 29, 2025 at 6:10 PM
First ever tour of a hop farm today!