George the Bear

[flossy]

what did he advertise

[pezza.......]

Was it Hofmeister 'lager'?

[trick]

It certainly was Hofmeister lager (love the quotes pezza - somebody at Trades Description should be contacted!). The adverts were always followed with the strap line "Follow the Bear", indicating that George was pretty cool as he could clear a pool table with one shot. This message was often supported by George being accompanied by a couple of heavies. I seem to recall from the 100 Greatest Adverts that George himself was played by a 4 foot tall Eastern European. My friends and I often recall George when hungover. We have an expression that we feel like a bear came into our rooms whilst asleep and $*@&ed in our mouths. Given the George made his last advert sometime in the late 80s and was pensioned off, we assume that the bear in our expression is a disgruntled George seeking to exact his revenge on the drinks industry...

[LeMarchand]

I'm sure I read that George was handed his P45 after complaints from parents (and probably Mary Whitehouse) that the character was giving children the impression that it was cool to drink.

[pezza.......]

It was never cool to drink Hofmeister! The only reason to drink it was that it was 90p a pint, and even then it was close!!!