Blossoms Badger Ale
This is the first Badge Ale that was found in the wall of a house in Milwaukee in 1963. The bottom has reversed 200 characteristic of Lancaster Glass. It has been an icon for Wisconsin collectors ever since.
This is a bottom view the first Badge Ale that was found in the wall of a house in Milwaukee in 1963. The bottom has reversed 200 characteristic of Lancaster Glass. It has been an icon for Wisconsin collectors ever since.
GV-2 Lancaster Glass flask made by Lancaster Glass in late 1849 to 1860 according to George McKearin. The photos are courtesy of Norman Heckler Auction. The line drawing is from "American Bottles & Flasks" American
his 1848 original oil on canvas painting in its original frame is a panoramic view of the city of Milwaukee (pop. 16,000) from the hilltop behind Blossom’s brewery looking southeast. The foreground shows the main Eagle Brewery brick building with a wood frame building to the left. The brick building was destroyed by fire in 1852. A beer cellar was also built into the hillside. Part of the beer cellar survived until the 1970’s. The painting is in the collection of the Milwaukee County Historical Society.
This ad from the 1848/49 Milwaukee City Directory pre-dates Lancaster Glass Works that made the Badger Ale bottles. Could the bottle in Figure 5 be one of the bottles mentioned in this ad?
First reference found promoting the Badger Ale brand in bottles is this ad from the 1851 Milwaukee City Directory.
This Badger Ale shard found in 1983 is larger, about a pint, and lacks the characteristic Lancaster base markings. Was this bottle embossed “MILWAUKEE”, “EAGLE” or “SCOTCH” Ale? I hope we don’t have to wait another 30 years to find out.
More ’83 shards in two incredible colors that are from the mold used to make the bottle in Figure 1.
This tiny shard found in 1983 evidenced a third mold variety based on the size of the letters. The bottle found in 2013 (Figure 9) matches it and completes the picture of what the bottle looked like.
Badger Ale found in 2013. The bottom has part of the number 4 in reverse in a distinctive font that also appears on the GV-2 Scroll flask made at the Lancaster Glass Works.
Bottom of the Badger Ale found in 2013. The bottom has part of the number 4 in reverse in a distinctive font that also appears on the GIX-20 Scroll flask made at the Lancaster Glass Works.
Badger Ale found in 2013. The bottom has part of the number 4 in reverse in a distinctive font that also appears on the GIX-20 Scroll flask made at the Lancaster Glass Works. After the repair.