Opinion BY Armin

Plaid Beer

Established in 1997 and located in Cooperstown, NY, Brewery Ommegang specializes in Belgian-style ales, including BPA, Hennepin, wheat, and amber ales among other regular and seasonal brews. Brewery Ommegang is owned by Belgian brewer Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat and is distributed throughout the U.S. and in some European countries. They recently introduced a new look designed by Minneapolis, MN-based Duffy & Partners and the newly packaged product will be available for purchase in early Fall of 2012.

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Friday Likes BY Armin

Friday Likes 03

Once again, beer makes an appearance, accompanied by the logo for a tennis player and a serious NGO.

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Friday Likes BY Armin

Friday Likes 02

A tasty edition that includes pretzels, beer (again), and lettering.

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Friday Likes BY Armin

Friday Likes 01

Trying something new today. Every now and then I run into or am tipped about very cool projects that don’t necessarily fit within the review process. These projects are usually for smaller businesses, services, or products and are done by smaller design firms or individual designers. So every now and then I’ll gather some of my favorites and post on Fridays. You can like or dislike in the votes.

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Opinion BY Armin

Follow-Up: Indio Beer

A couple of weeks ago we reported on the package redesign of Mexican beer, Indio. The design credit was attributed to Mexico City-based Olabuenaga Chemistri but that was incorrect, they are the local advertising agency that did the roll-out. For the record, the proper credit goes to London-based Bulletproof. Official project description and images included in this post.

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Opinion BY Armin

Beer for the People

First brewed in 1893 and originally named Cerveza Cuauhtémoc after the sixteenth-century Mexican emperor, Indio, as it quickly became called by consumers and renamed as such in 1905, is a dark (and super tasty) beer produced by Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma, part of global brewery Heineken. This week Indio introduced a new logo and packaging designed by Mexico City-based Olabuenaga Chemistri London-based Bulletproof.

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Opinion BY Armin

Less Calories, More Crop

Launched nationally in the U.S. in 2008 as MGD 64 by MillerCoors, Miller64 is a 64-calorie beer with a paltry 2.8% alcohol volume and 2.4 grams of carbs per 12 ounces — compared to the 143 calories, 4.7% alcohol volume, and 13.10 grams of carbs of its “full” sister beer, Miller Genuine Draft. Although announced and revealed late last year, this month the revised name and new packaging, designed by Chicago, IL-based Soulsight, hits the shelves.

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Opinion BY Armin

The Huntsman Rides Again

Founded in 1822 by Joshua Tetley, Tetley’s Brewery in Leeds in West Yorkshire, England is one of the better known beer brands in the UK. Perhaps not always for the right reasons. Although it enjoyed quite a bit of success before the 2000s, Tetley’s beer has bounced around owners — now owned by Carlsberg — and closed its legendary plant in Leeds. Tetley’s is heavily involved in the sponsorship of Rugby teams and its most recent logo and packaging focused a little too heavily on that. Tetley’s recently reintroduced its iconic huntsman logo and new packaging, designed by Leeds-based WPA Pinfold.

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Opinion BY Armin

Vintage Brewer

Founded in 1807 in Blackburn, Lancashire, UK, Thwaites Brewery is an independent, family-owned brewer, bottler, wholesaler, and retailer. Thwaites offers a variety of beers from cask beers to keg beers to bottled beers to craft beers, most of which can be enjoyed at one of their 350 pubs. This past June, Thwaites introduced a new logo and a new fleet of trucks.

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Opinion BY Armin

Heineken-ish

Heineken International is the corporate company that produces, obviously, Heineken beer but that is only one of 250 beer brands that it brews, sells, and/or distributes across 70 countries, among them popular beers like Amstel and Foster’s. In 2010 Heineken bought the brewery division of Mexico’s giant FEMSA, becoming the owner of Dos Equis, Bohemia (one of my faves), and Sol. Last week, Heineken International — NOT Heineken consumer beer — introduced a new logo and determined that its name shall be written in all caps, HEINEKEN, “to distinguish the corporate name from the company’s iconic beer brand,” and because “It is also the way the company name was originally written when HEINEKEN was founded in 1864”. The logo has been designed by Amsterdam-based VBAT.

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A B-Side BY Armin

Hatuey

Originally brewed in Cuba in 1927, Hatuey is currently produced by Bacardi. This summer it introduced the beer in the American market. Design by Spring Design Partners. Another image below (or after the jump).

Opinion BY Armin

Brewing one for the Homies

Established in 1978 in Boulder, CO, the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) is “dedicated to promoting the community of homebrewers and empowering homebrewers to make the best beer in the world.” It counts with 27,000 members. The AHA also publishes a bimonthly magazine, Zymurgy, and holds both a national-level homebrewers conference and competition. In turn, the AHA is a division of the Brewers Association, a “not-for-profit trade association dedicated to promoting and protecting amateur and professional craft brewers.” So: small, beer, awesome. Earlier this month the AHA introduced a new logo designed in-house.

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Opinion BY Armin

Budweiser Rocks the Bowtie

First brewed in 1876, Budweiser is one of the best-selling beers in the United States and probably one of the most recognized beers here and abroad. Budweiser is the flagship brand of Anheuser-Busch, that reportedly holds a 48.3 percent share of U.S. beer sales to retailers. This past Wednesday, Budweiser announced a new can design — the 12th redesign since 1936 when it began using them — focused on the “Budweiser bowtie” which, according to this explanatory diagram was created as a symbol to encourage people to order the beer by its full name, instead of just by “Bud”. The new packaging was designed by London-based JKR. (So much for the “All-American” beer).

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Opinion BY Armin

Carlsberg, Partying Like it’s 2015

First brewed in 1847, Carlsberg beer, a pilsner, is produced by Copenhagen-based Carlsberg Group, the fourth largest brewer in the world behind Anheuser-Busch InBev, SAB Miller, and Heineken… which is what brings us to today’s post. In an effort to double its profits by 2015, Carslberg is being repositioned to “help the brand unleash its full potential.” A new tag line, “That calls for a Carlsberg,” and new advertising will help push the new visual identity designed by San Francisco-based Office.

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Opinion BY Armin

Miller High Life Overhaul

First brewed in the mid nineteenth century by Frederick Miller in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Miller High Life — well, to be clear, Miller High Life wasn’t introduced until 1903 — is one of most well known American beer brands. I have never had a Miller High Life so I can’t attest to its flavor, and it’s probably for the better, so that I don’t derail into a diatribe about my preferred beers. Earlier this year, Miller High Life introduced a whole new look for all of its packaging and graphics designed by the San Francisco office of Landor, with illustration assistance by Chris Mitchell.

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Opinion BY Armin

Twinkle, Twinkle Black Star

Opening later this Summer just a couple miles north of UnderConsideration headquarters is the Black Star Co-Op Pub and Brewery, providing a fresh take on the co-op model. And by fresh I mean it involves beer and a place to eat some pub grub along with it or, as founder Steven Yarak, says “Why shouldn’t you own the pub you drink at?!”. Black Star’s member-owners also have a say in what the beers taste like, participating in tastings with Black Star’s own brewer, Jeff Young, who will be creating beers under three categories: Rational, Irrational, and Infinite. In preparation for their opening, Black Star has a new identity designed by Austin-based Ptarmak.

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