THE ART OF CRAFT BEER LABELS

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But, for small brewers, it’s not just about catching your

eye but about telling a brand story, sharing some of

their interests, and showing off their personality.

A splashy label is a

clear way for smaller

breweries to stand

out next big beer.

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Often using professional designers, design firms, or working

with artists, craft brewers are not afraid to try new things or

take their label to the max for the sake of effect.

Craft brewers have created a label-explosion limited

only by imagination.

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Let’s look at six fun and clever ways

craft brewers are standing out...

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By collaborating with artists, craft brewers can create

custom beer labels that bring meaning and depth to

their brand and also help support the arts.

1. ART COLLABORATION

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Visualizing the literal interpretation of their brand name,

Moonchild Brewing Co created a whimsical and beautiful

label in collaboration with a local artist.

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Collective Arts Brewing fuses

art and music to create a

brand that fosters creativity.

Their bottles are adorned

with limited-edition labels

that feature work by artists

and musicians and change

every few months.

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2. GEOMETRIC & MINIMALISTA simple, yet striking design is achieved with the

use of color blocking and negative space for a

unique label that speaks to the design-minded.

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These cans were made to

mimic the London art gallery, Tate

Modern. English art director and

graphic designer Peter Saville

was commissioned to create the

minimalist can design for Fourpure

Brewing’s Switch House beer.

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This minimal design was created by lg2 design

boutique for Farnham Ale & Lager’s Ska beer, a citrus

malt beverage. The not-so-subtle lemon gets across

the strong citrus flavor in the most basic form.

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Mix and match to your heart’s content!

These cans beg to be played with.

3. PLAYFUL & STACKABLE CANS

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Noble Rey Brewing Co.’s fun and playful beer cans

take it to the next level. You can already imagine the

drinking games in the works.

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While not yet ready for market,

Springetts Brand Design

Consultants entered their

impish rough sketch stackable

faces in the A’ Design Award &

Competition

A play on name and the

design? Kudos, competitors!

– and won!

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There’s something old school and nostalgic

about flat graphics. One thing is for sure,

they are definitely eye-catching.

4. FLAT GRAPHICS

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Austin Beerworks hired Helms Workshop

to fancify their seasonal ales.

2D letters.

Wrap-around pattern.

Reminds us of vintage wallpaper and comic books.

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11 Below Brewing’s fun and surprising cans designed

by Caliber Creative feature white-outlined characters,

like the eye-patch wearing unicorn above.

How do they think of this stuff?

Lighter background creates depth.

Simple, graphics and colors pop

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With fonts as pretty as these, there seems no

need for imagery. Let the type take it away!

5. TYPOGRAPHY FIRST

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DIY style hints back to their roots

London Beer Lab got their start doing beer-making

workshops. When creating their new look, Elmwood agency

featured London Beer Lab’s rich history of personal beer

making to create a label that plays off DIY.

Handcrafted look.

Newburyport Brewing Co. knows how to mix it up

–typography that is.

It seems easy, but like most things that look easy,

it requires a great deal of skill.

That’s probably why they hired Magnifico to do it for them!

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Labels like these remind you not to take

yourself – or your beer – too seriously.

6. CARTOONISH & SILLY

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Birra Bizarra’s cartoon circus performers take

on the mighty act of making ‘grabbing a cold

one’ a whole lot more lighthearted.

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Electric Bear Brewing Company’s bold illustrations

tell a dramatic story on each bottle.

This one has Thomas Edison holding a light bulb and a phonograph on a barrel – with sheep falling out of it!

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TO WRAP IT UP...When it comes to creative craft beer labels, anything goes.

Unencumbered by corporate design declarations, the label is

another part of the beer world that independents are messing

with – to their benefit and our entertainment and delight.

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And to that we say,

“BOTTOMS UP!”

Interested in more clever craft beer labels?

Check out our Pinterest board.

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