# Barrelman Wikipedia: [Beer Barrel Man - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_Barrel_Man) # What / Who is Beer Barrel Man - The Beer Barrel Man (often nicknamed **Owgust** in earlier incarnations) is a mascot/logo tied to the **Milwaukee Brewers** baseball franchise. - He is anthropomorphic—a beer barrel with a tap for a nose—and was illustrated doing baseball activities (pitching, batting, running the bases). --- ## History & Timeline 1. **Origins (early 1900s / 1940s)** - When Milwaukee had a Brewers team in the American Association (starting ~1901), the Barrelman symbol was associated with the club. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_Barrel_Man "Beer Barrel Man - Wikipedia")) - The mascot became more formalized in the 1940s under a nickname “Owgust.” ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_Barrel_Man "Beer Barrel Man - Wikipedia")) - During the 1940s–50s, variations of the Barrelman logo were used in different baseball-action stances. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_Barrel_Man "Beer Barrel Man - Wikipedia")) - In December 1944, there was even a depiction of Owgust dressed as Santa Claus. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_Barrel_Man "Beer Barrel Man - Wikipedia")) - The use of Barrelman as a primary logo/mascot was phased out in spring training of 1953 when Milwaukee lost its major league team (Boston Braves displaced Brewers). ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_Barrel_Man "Beer Barrel Man - Wikipedia")) 2. **Return in the Major Leagues / Re-adoption** - When Major League Baseball returned to Milwaukee (Bud Selig’s group moved the Seattle Pilots to Milwaukee), the Barrett Barrelman was brought back as the first logo of the “new” Brewers.) - The Brewers used Beer Barrel Man as their primary logo through the **1977 season**. - In 1977, the team ran a contest to replace the Barrelman. They picked a **ball-in-glove logo** designed by a 30-year-old art student, Tom Meindel. 3. **Legacy & Occasional Resurgence** - Even after being retired as the main logo, Barrelman has resurfaced in various ways:   - On stadium giveaways   - As part of the “Turn Ahead the Clock” promotion in 1999   - On Cooperstown Collection merchandise   - In a 2013 “Design A Youniform” contest, a fan design using Barrelman was selected and used in some exhibition games. - Also in 2013, the Brewers allowed fans to vote on naming a new craft beer; the winning name was *Bernie’s Barrelman Ale*. - On January 25, 2015, the Brewers officially reintroduced a costumed version of the character (simply called “Barrelman”) as a mascot. 4. **Distinction from Bernie Brewer** - Barrelman is **not** the same as *Bernie Brewer*. - *Bernie* has always been a human-like figure (first a regular person in lederhosen, then a full mascot suit). --- ## Some Observations & Themes (my two cents) - **Brand consistency & nostalgia**: The Barrelman’s repeated comebacks show how much the Brewers and their fans value heritage/nostalgia. - **Evolution of branding**: The shift from Barrelman to ball-in-glove logo illustrates how sports teams often modernize or rebrand, yet keep legacy elements alive in secondary ways. - **Personification of beer culture**: As a mascot, the Barrelman stands literally in for “brewers” (beer barrels)—it’s clever branding, especially in a city with brewing heritage.