1 - paterson1
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Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
Carlings had recently lost Carlsberg beer to Molson prior to the two companies merging. The brewer needed something to replace the popular Danish beer that they had sold in Canada since 1971. Rather than brew a totally new brand, Carling O'Keefe decided to resurrect one of their popular beers from the 50's and 60's.
Do you remember these odd and funky ads that flooded television in the summer of 1989?
,vid:tslSsBkmDbw,st:0
- newsguy1
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
I remember "The legend is Black."
- turkeytop
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
Yes. Summer of 89. I had a weekend job at a bar. Black Label did become a big seller for a while. Instead of a paper label, it was painted right on the glass.
I believe they're still making it. Up umtil about two years ago, I used to get it once in a while. But if I go on the Beer Store website now, every store in London says not available at this location.
After all is said and done, more is usually said than done.
- RadioAaron
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
turkeytop wrote:
Yes. Summer of 89. I had a weekend job at a bar. Black Label did become a big seller for a while. Instead of a paper label, it was painted right on the glass.
I believe they're still making it. Up umtil about two years ago, I used to get it once in a while. But if I go on the Beer Store website now, every store in London says not available at this location.
The Beer Store's inventory is still messed up from the LCBO strike.
- paterson1
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
You can see in the commercials how they have a couple of quick shots of the old paper label and then painting the logo on the bottle to reintroduce the brand.
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Thread Starter- Paul Jeffries
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
Carlings had recently lost Carlsberg beer to Molson prior to the two companies merging. The brewer needed something to replace the popular Danish beer that they had sold in Canada since 1971. Rather than brew a totally new brand, Carling O'Keefe decided to resurrect one of their popular beers from the 50's and 60's.
Do you remember these odd and funky ads that flooded television in the summer of 1989?
,vid:tslSsBkmDbw,st:0
The second spot reminds me of ?(Question Mark) & the Mysterians "96 Tears".
PJ
ClassicHitsOnline.com...The place where all the cool tunes hang out!
- mace
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
Did you know Canada's oldest beer that is still in production is Molson Export. It was introduced in 1903.
- paterson1
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
Looks like Molson's Ale used Sir John A. for some ads in 1923. 
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Thread Starter- darcyh
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
How did the old commercial go? You who Mabel... Black Label, Carling Black Label Beer.
As a kid that's the one I remember. And another: Wouldn't a Dow go good now.
- paterson1
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
Hey darcyh- When they re-introduced Black Label back in 1989 they even used one of the older spots from the 50's. It may take about 10 seconds to load but here it is..,vid:r3emX7VG1lA,st:0
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Thread Starter- mace
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
How did the old commercial go? You who Mabel... Black Label, Carling Black Label Beer.
As a kid that's the one I remember. And another: Wouldn't a Dow go good now.
And the original O'Keefe Brewery was located just east of Yonge and Dundas.
- turkeytop
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
Another obscure brand from Molson is Old Style Pilsner. It's available in Ontario and is a decent beer. But hardly anyone even knows about it. It's one of Molson's third tier, discount brands. They don't advertize of promote the brand at all.
But apparently, at some time, they paid for product placement on a popular TV show. Watching old episodes of Corner Gas, which replaces local news on CTV London, whenever the characters are drinking beer, it's always Old Style Pilsner.
When the gang is at the bar in the Dog River Hotel, they are all drinking Old Style Pilsner.
After all is said and done, more is usually said than done.
- pinto
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
I remember Pil being big out west
- BowmanvilleBob
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
I remember Pil being big out west
Indeed, Pil (or Swill, depending upon your tastes) was/is much beloved among cheap beer aficionados in southern Saskatchewan and Alberta. Originally brewed in Lethbridge, it's become so associated with Saskatchewan that it was natural to have the characters in Corner Gas drink the stuff. During my time in Western Canada, their radio ads, featuring characters such as Horsefly and Festus, were among the most creative and best produced ads on the air.
As for the taste? Well, let's say it took some getting used to. But when you were barely making ends meet on your radio salary in 1986, it was a bargain to say the least. And as this parody song suggests, the locals keep lapping it up.
- Big8Newsie
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
Did you know Canada's oldest beer that is still in production is Molson Export. It was introduced in 1903.
Let’s not forget Moosehead!
- Chrisphen
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
I'm a Unibroue fan myself, but I picked up a case of Labatt 50 for the long weekend. THAT is an increasingly rare beverage. Rare as a man's tears.
- SpinningWheel
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
Carlings had recently lost Carlsberg beer to Molson prior to the two companies merging. The brewer needed something to replace the popular Danish beer that they had sold in Canada since 1971. Rather than brew a totally new brand, Carling O'Keefe decided to resurrect one of their popular beers from the 50's and 60's.
Do you remember these odd and funky ads that flooded television in the summer of 1989?
,vid:tslSsBkmDbw,st:0
I remember Black Label being popular well before 1989, probably mid 1980s. It was taken up by the younger crowd in the downtown Toronto club and bar scene. It wasn't until 1989 that Carling realized what they had with its rising popularity and started to run ads for it again.
- mace
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
Did you know Canada's oldest beer that is still in production is Molson Export. It was introduced in 1903.
Let’s not forget Moosehead!
Yes the brewery is almost as old as Molson's. Do they have any brands still being produced today that go back further than 1903? I don't know. The symbol of the moose came into existance when Moosehead Pale Ale was launched in 1931.
- paterson1
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
Carlings had recently lost Carlsberg beer to Molson prior to the two companies merging. The brewer needed something to replace the popular Danish beer that they had sold in Canada since 1971. Rather than brew a totally new brand, Carling O'Keefe decided to resurrect one of their popular beers from the 50's and 60's.
Do you remember these odd and funky ads that flooded television in the summer of 1989?
,vid:tslSsBkmDbw,st:0
I remember Black Label being popular well before 1989, probably mid 1980s. It was taken up by the younger crowd in the downtown Toronto club and bar scene. It wasn't until 1989 that Carling realized what they had with its rising popularity and started to run ads for it again.
You are correct, Black Label was popular with university students, bar, club and art scene downtown, sort of an alternative brand. However it hadn't been popular with the general public for a few decades. Black Label had been a strong seller in the 40's into the 60's.
Carlings had recently merged with Molson and the brewing rights for Carlsburg had been lost to Labatt. The Danish beer had been a popular brand for the company for almost 20 years and had general appeal. They decided to promote and bring back Black Label rather than introducing a new beer. They kept the alternative image in the ads, so not to lose the customers they already had, and gave the bottle a new painted on logo.
Carlings and later Carling O'Keefe did have great success in the UK and the Carling brand remains one of the most popular brands in England. In the 60's the number one selling beer in Ontario was Carlings Red Cap according to wiki.
Black Label in it's prime in the 50's was sold in Canada, the US, Ireland and South Africa.
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Thread Starter- mace
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
I think Red Cap was discontinued 1982ish after Carling/Okeefe negotiated a deal to begin brewing Miller in Canada.
- turkeytop
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
If I go to a bar on a hot day, I always ask for some unpopular brand. It's probably been in the fridge longer than the other brands. At a bar in St Marys, I once asked for a 50. The bar maid jokingly replied, "I'll have to see some ID, sir. I cant sell that to you unless you're at least seventy-five."
After all is said and done, more is usually said than done.
- paterson1
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
I think Red Cap was discontinued 1982ish after Carling/Okeefe negotiated a deal to begin brewing Miller in Canada.
Miller High Life....MMMMMM
Last edited by paterson1 (August 7, 2024 4:59 pm)
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Thread Starter- Chrisphen
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
Port Perry may well be the only Brewer's Retail location that has an advance green light from the highway directly into the store.
Edit: it explains a great many things about the locals.
Last edited by Chrisphen (August 7, 2024 6:56 pm)
- RadioActive
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
I think Red Cap was discontinued 1982ish after Carling/Okeefe negotiated a deal to begin brewing Miller in Canada.
- RadioActive
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
How did the old commercial go? You who Mabel... Black Label, Carling Black Label Beer.
As a kid that's the one I remember. And another: Wouldn't a Dow go good now.
- betaylored
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
My mom used to drink Ten Penny.
During my radio days during presents at the clubs (so so much free beer) we used to get a kick out of the Molson Export? bottle that has a quirky label, when the bottle is turned sideways the sailing ship turns into an armadillo. Many armadillos on the table was definitely a sign we'd had enough alcohol that night.
Fond memories and wishful drinking...
Last edited by betaylored (August 7, 2024 7:32 pm)
- BowmanvilleBob
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
"We'll drink Carling Red Cap. We are drinkers true!"
- splunge
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
about 25 years ago red cap brought back the stubby for a time....
- mace
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
I think Red Cap was discontinued 1982ish after Carling/Okeefe negotiated a deal to begin brewing Miller in Canada.
That last ad lines up with the channels in Buffalo, Rochester and Erie. I have estimated the ad is from early 1959. Official Detective and the final 13 episodes of the Walter Winchell File were syndicated. During the 1958-59 season, ABC had no programming in the Saturday 10:30pm slot and NBC had none in the same slot on Wednesday.
- RadioActive
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Re: Summer Of 1989...When Black Label Beer Was Cool Again
Pretty good guess. The first ad is from 1956. The second one from 1959. The "Mabel Black Label" come-on was published in 1957.