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"Giant." Big man enjoying a cigar and glass of beer in a New York tavern circa 1908. View full size. George Grantham Bain Collection.
The Big Man's friend appears to be Paul Giamatti!
Beer is very broad word. This looks like ale, a dark bitter beer. Light colored beers are lagers, as often found in the USA.
Considering that Irish Coffee wouldn't be invented for another 30 or 40 years (at Shannon Airport in Ireland to be exact) the idea that it's beer is probably accurate. If this were England or Ireland, you'd think Guinness Stout, and I imagine there were brewers in the US who made stout as well. Prohibition was the worst thing to happen to the US brewing industry as it drove out the small local companies and left you with Budweiser and Miller and the rest.
In those days they drank "real" beer. It was dark. He's got a pitcher of it there next to him ... there's a good head on it since he's just finished pouring another glass. I don't think taverns of the day would have served woozy Irish coffee anyway.
The "giant" appears to be drinking an Irish coffe - he has good taste!
Any information on who the Giant is?
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