Posted 3 years ago
GusT
(4 items)
Hi,
Would appreciate any information on the ceramic beer bottle found in Tasmania....I have never come across one with a paper label...
I have so far learned that Tennent Caledonian Breweries used Heriot and Wellpark Breweries....I cannot find much more like when produced, when transported to Tasmania Australia, time period when these unusual bottles were used etc. Contacting the Tennent Breweries is impossible as no email address available ??? I have added a pic of a Cuban beer label which I found by accident...can anyone provide any pics or info regarding export of Tennent's beer in stoneware bottles...?
Any info greatly appreciated,
Cheers Gus.
Hi GusT. I think I can help you with is but I need a bit more information. I'm a member of the Scottish Pottery Society and the Scottish Brewery Archive Association so know a bit about these sorts of bottles. It would be a big help if you could take a close look at the lower side of the bottle and see if there is an impressed mark put there by the pottery that made the bottle. It's going to be by one of the Scottish potteries, either in Glasgow or Portobello (Edinburgh). That would be a good start and then we could take it from there. Tennents would not be able to help you with this one. Look forward to hearing more.
Hi Denstone,
Thank you for reply....no visible pressed mark found....I have come to conclusion that bottle not original....did they ship beer in such bottles ? I presumed that beer was transported in bulk..? Label has slightly peeled on one side and edge marks suggest that label has been on for a long time....and bottle does have hint of beer....could someone have stuck labels on the bottles ??
Cheers Gus.
I'm used to ginger beer in stone bottles, but not ale. Their are beer stone bottles in this link.
https://www.google.ca/search?q=stoneware+bottle+identification&tbm=isch&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi18fuZrrLzAhUgr3IEHTJaB7YQrNwCKAB6BQgBELgC&biw=1897&bih=937
Firstly, can I just say that I am at a bit of a disadvantage because I’m in Scotland and only stumbled across this site by accident I’ve no idea whether either of you are in NZ, Australia, the US or Canada.
I can assure you that bottle is Scottish and that label has been on it since about 1875/1885. Ale was exported to all the British colonies and to the US in vast quantities in either glass or stoneware bottles. Heavy stoneware bottles often coped better with very long and stormy sea journeys in sail ships and then being roughly handled overland. Ninety-six bottles would be packed into large barrels surrounded by straw. Some other Scottish bottle turned up overseas recently with Jeffrey’s labels identical to yours. If you want to see the photos just let me have your email address.
As far as confusion with ginger beer bottles is concerned that doesn’t arise in the UK where such bottles were often made but does in the US where it seems to be assumed that most stoneware bottles were filled with ginger beer. The reason for that is quite simple. Ginger beer bottles usually have permanent printing or impressed wording on them. Ale bottles were shipped full to the US in their hundreds of thousands each year but only had paper labels and these usually eventually disintegrated or were removed which means that when these turn up in the US now there’s no indication of what they contained so people assume it was ginger beer. There were so many of these empty bottles that many US breweries would clean them and fill them and put their own label on. I have a photo of an advert in a Philadelphia newspaper of 1871 advertising ale newly arrived from Scotland in Scottish stoneware bottles. I also have some photos of a bottle with a label which I recently bought online from the US. If either of you are interested in seeing these then just send your email address to dp@jester.f9.co.uk
Thanks for info Denstone,
Have sent 2 emails as requested....hope to hear back...2nd email was with a pic of Cuban beer label showing Scottish stoneware beer bottle with a Tennent's
label....Cheers Gus.
Thank you Gillian,
Cheers Gus.