“Good people drink good beer”
“Good people drink good beer” is a saying that has been printed on many posters. American author and journalist Hunter S. Thompson (1937-2005) created the “Good people drink good beer” slogan for the Flying Dog Brewery; the saying has been cited in print since 1995.
Flying Dog did not trademark the slogan and it’s been used in articles and advertisements as well as on posters.
Wikipedia: Hunter S. Thompson
Hunter Stockton Thompson (July 18, 1937 – February 20, 2005) was an American author and journalist.
The Flying Dog Story
Hunter also wrote a toast for the launch of Road Dog to go along with his essay:
There is an ancient Celtic axiom that says “Good People Drink Good Beer.” Which is true, then as now. Just look around you in any public barroom and you will quickly see: Bad People Drink Bad Beer. Think about it.
11 December 1979, The Progress (Clearfield, PA), “Long Life Attributed To Drink, Tobacco,” pg. 6, col. 7:
PITTSBURGH (UPI)—“I really attribute my longevity to drinking, smoking, chewing and having a helluva good time,” Abraham C. Martin said on his 100th birthday.
(...)
Asked once by an interviewer for sage advice, Martin said: “Pal around with good people and drink good beer.”
6 October 1995, Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), “Swear word on beer label upsets liquor authorities” by Charlie Brennan:
In addition, Thompson contributed a phrase used on the front label: “Good people drink good beer.”
11 July 2002, The Capital Times (Madison, WI), Taste of The Town, pg. 9, col. 1 ad:
GOOD PEOPLE DRINK GOOD BEER
(Come Back In—ed.)
Vail (CO) Daily
Monday, April 4, 2005
Brewery hosts a tribute to Hunter S. Thompson’s life
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The Flying Dog Brewery started in Aspen back in 1990. There are many urban legends surrounding this infamous brewery, but the one with the most credibility goes as follows:
“It was a warm summers night in Woody Creek, Flying Dog founder George Stranahan and the gonzo duo of Ralph Steadman and Hunter S. Thompson were engaged in a meeting of minds so to speak. Yes, yes, they were getting drunk, the kind of drunk you save for once a year, pink elephant drunk, or if you will, Flying Dog drunk. What happened next was a kind of collective hallucination and the fearless trio conjured up an image of The Road Dog,” said marketers at Flying Dog.
Road Dog Porter later became the first Flying Dog beer to be illustrated by Ralph Steadman. Doctor Hunter penned the beer with the words, “Good People Drink Good Beer.”
Google Books
Hunter S. Thompson:
An Insider’s View of Deranged, Depraved, Drugged Out Brilliance
By Jay Cowan
Guilford, CT: Lyons Press
2009
Pg. 153:
By the mid-1990s Hunter had less time for creating art, which jibed well for the falling demand for it. He moved on to other projects, including on-the-bottle copy for George Stranahan’s Broadway Brewing. George decided to combine the artwork of Ralph Steadman with Hunter’s words to create provocative presentations on beers such as Road Dog Ale. I think once again Hunter took his payment in product.
Even getting their initial offering of Doggie Style beer accepted as a national brand, because of its name, was a feat, said George. The Road Dog came along with Hunter’s endorsement: “Good beer, no shit. Good people drink good beer. Just look around you in any public barroom, and you will quickly see: Bad people drink bad beer. Think about it.”
Google Books
CloneBrews, 2nd Edition:
Recipes for 200 Commercial Beers
By Tess and Mark Szamatulski
North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing
2010
Pg. 212:
Flying Dog labels all bear the motto, “Good people drink good beer.”
The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, OH)
Flying Dog Brewery’s UnderDog Lager has super body, hint of hoppiness: Crack One Open
By Marc Bona, The Plain Dealer
on February 19, 2013 at 6:00 AM, updated February 20, 2013 at 12:48 PM
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Label: The crazed and distinct Ralph Steadman artwork on a lime-green label includes this wonderful quote from Hunter S. Thompson: “Good people drink good beer.”
Bethesda (MD) Now
WWBG: Good People Drink Good Beer
by Sophia Jones | March 15, 2013 at 2:30 pm
“There is an ancient Celtic axiom that says ‘Good People Drink Good Beer.’ Which is true, then as now. Just look around you in any public barroom and you will quickly see: Bad People Drink Bad Beer. Think about it.