Olde Frothingslosh Pale Stale Ale

fatima yechburg A visitor (Bill Graham) informed me of a memorable hoax that I missed: Ye Olde Frothingsloth Pale Stale Ale. Frothingslosh is a unique beer that's so light that the beer actually floats on top of the foam. It all started out as a running joke on Rege Cordic's Pittsburgh radio show in the 1950s. He made up all kinds of joke ads for this fictitious beer and invented slogans such as "A whale of an ale for the pale stale male" and "Hi dittom dottom, the foam is on the bottom." But the Olde Frothingsloth concept became so popular, that eventually it caught the attention of the Pittsburgh Brewing Co. who started selling small runs of Olde Frothingsloth for special occasions such as Christmas and holidays. Of course, the beer being sold was really just Iron City Beer repackaged with Olde Frothingslosh labels, but the labels themselves were so outrageous that they instantly became prized among beer can collectors. The most popular cans were those that featured Miss Olde Frothingslosh, Fatima Yechburgh (pictured below), the supposed winner of the Frothingslosh Beauty Contest. Fatima was described as a resident of a small town near Pittsburgh. When not studying arc welding, she enjoyed soap carving, arm wrestling, sky diving, and ballet. I believe that the Pittsburgh Brewing Co. still occasionally produces small runs of Olde Frothingslosh. I'd love to try some.

Food

Posted on Fri Jul 11, 2003


Comments

Well, I remember Old Frothingslosh, and I remember awaiting it's arrival yearly at Christmas. I was not drinking beer at the time, however it was a family tradition.

We need more such euphanisms in our lives, the world has become far to literal.

Today, someone would sue because the foam was not actually on the bottom.
Posted by Rick Binder  on  Tue Sep 14, 2004  at  11:31 PM
What I remember most about Olde Frothingslosh, is hearing Rege on KDKA when I was a very young lad doing the comercials(early 50's)...and of course listening to the adults who were beer drinkers carry on about the wild parodies for the advertisements. We miss a great talent and a great parody...dare i say, where are the good ole days with no foam on the lip from the beer...heh, heh
Posted by Jay Miller  on  Sat Dec 30, 2006  at  05:38 AM
i have a coupla beers with fatima on them,...........what are they worth
Posted by billie honea  on  Fri Apr 27, 2007  at  07:01 AM
the beer floats on TOP of the foam???!?

Now that I gotta see....
Posted by Jeff  on  Sat Aug 09, 2008  at  07:26 PM
I have fond thoughts (and headaches) as a student in Boston in early 70's of Olde Frothingslosh..
Cheapest beer around except for 'NastyGansett' (in 16oz green bottles with different saying under each cap, first 12 pack I believe?)
First saw them in Montreal in '74? on 'imported' shelf while collecting cans.... then found a store in Cambridge that carried it.
Got a kick out of the cans and still have a collection of them...
Thanks for the memories!
Posted by Boston Escapee  on  Thu Oct 16, 2008  at  10:48 PM
My father, Ray, and uncle, Al Benedict owned Mckeesport Beer Distributing on Walnut Street in Mckeesport, Pa. They had the Ft. Pitt set up. In 1955/56. I do remember them getting at Christmas time getting a delvery of Old Frothingslosh Beer. They could never sell all the cases they received and after the holidays they would have to discount the cases of it to get it off the floor. Those days they made deliveries to the taverns and houses in Yellow Dodge pick-up trucks.
Posted by Jay Benedict  on  Sun Mar 29, 2009  at  08:13 AM
I was born and raised in Greensburg, PA. My Uncle who was a doctor received a case of bottled (or possibly canned)Old Frothingslosh Beer at Christmas time back in the 50's. It had a picture of a old "jowled" man and a slogan "A whale of an ale for the pale stale male" on the front of the bottle or can.

Can someone verify my memory with a picture or details of this beer? I would love to have one of these bottles or cans in my possession.

Thanks

Fred McIntyre
Posted by Fred McIntyre  on  Sun Jul 05, 2009  at  11:01 AM
When in Vietnam in the mid-60s, I had a buddy who was familiar with Olde Frothingshlosh and said that is was advertised to the tune of "Old Christmas Tree". The lyrics were:

"Olde Frothingslosh, Olde Frothingslosh,
the pale stale ale for the pale stale male.
Brewed with water from an old dish pail,
Old Frothingslosh, Olde Frothingslosh,
Oh my gosh, it's Frothingslosh"

He also said that in the television advertisements the announcer would say that foam is on the bottom as he poured a glass 'up'; they would invert the picture so that the glass was upside down and the beer would pour up into the bottom of and upturned glass.
Posted by Dave Smith  on  Fri Mar 19, 2010  at  10:27 AM
I remember as a kid, my Grandfather bought Old Frothingslosh, then I found out later that Miss Frothingslosh was a local. Marsha was sweet, and I have about 2 cases of cans. Some are full other are empty, most not open. Any intrest in them, Email me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Posted by Bob Betz  on  Tue May 04, 2010  at  03:25 PM
I was going through my grandfathers attack and found 6 tin. (The can before it was made into the can. If anyone would like photos or interestet in the tin labels, please E-Mail me at: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Posted by ryan  on  Fri May 07, 2010  at  09:24 AM
I have one of these cans of beer pictured above. It is a unopened can of Olde Frothingslosh Pale Stale Ale. It had a ring style pull open, but the ring is gone and the can is a little ruff arond the edges. it is also only about half full. No dents. Almost no damage to any of the many pictures on it. The bottom ring has a small layer of rust and where the can was press together. The alluminum lid has very slight corrosion. Also, one of the pictures on it is up-side down. Is the on purposs? Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing this can.
Posted by Rob  on  Fri Mar 18, 2011  at  10:40 PM
I see that someone had a question mark about the foam. The bottles and cans were packed upside down. So, the pale stale ale with the foam on the bottom. I won a big bet at a college reunion on that one.
Posted by Tom R  on  Fri May 06, 2011  at  08:13 AM
My father bought a case in the 50's. He put it in the liquor closet. I found it after he died. I have never opened the case so I do not know what the cans loook like. I still have it but my wife says our stuff has stuff and wants to not but the burdens on our children that we faced. I think that is optimistic, and a laudable but probably impossible goal.

If anyone has any thoughts on what to do with the case of beer, let me know. I hate to just throw it away since my father got a kick out of it and we have had it for 50+ years.
Posted by Mike Ewing  on  Fri Jul 29, 2011  at  05:31 PM
This is a response to Mike Ewing. Most can collectors that I know of puncture the can on the bottom and drain out all of the beer. I guess it is important to leave the pop-top or snap-top intact. After 50 years the beer is obviously not drikable any longer so it should be disposed of. You could advertise the cans on craig's list or search beer can collectors on google and find someone interesed in them. You may even find someone who wants the cans with the beer in them.
Posted by David Smith  on  Sun Jul 31, 2011  at  01:21 PM
grew up in Monessen, Pa. and remember Rege Cordic reading a list of Olde Frothingslosh beer drinkers and the made up names were hilarious.Also remember being back in Monessen visiting my parents along with my wife and the commercial-to wit to wuw a two headed bwu and a glass with a head on the top and bottom of the beer. The look on my wifes face was priceless-being that she was a blonde I never did tell her that it was just a spoof. Miss ol Rege. Mike.
Posted by mike nicks  on  Wed Feb 20, 2013  at  08:38 AM
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