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my humble and correct opinion
As far as radical label re-designs go, Westvleteren has probably caused a stir by simply adding labels on all of their bottles.
Why? It is for the first time in 75 years. Personally, I think the round splash of color is distinctive and classy and different from bottles out there.
I wonder the reaction if the ever decide to can Westy 12.
I guess walking on water is passe when you can walk on beer? But man these sneakers ain’t pretty to my eyes so I would hope to sink.
Here is the snippet from Adweek, “The company used a specialized surgical injection method to inject Heineken Silver into the soles, aiming to create a ‘smooth’ sensation when walking in the shoes that supposedly mirrors the taste profile of the beer.”
Needed ? – No on the beer inside which is probably skunked and no on the generic Italian flag color scheme.
Breweries seem to be leaning back into flagships as inspiration for brand extending. Think Two Hearted or Ja Alai and their siblings.
It should come as no surprise then that Dogfish Head and Sam Adams are leveraging Utopias now as well….
To be honest, this sounds like an interesting treatment and if given a bottle would profusely thank the giver but will that be the same with the next beer in this possible series?
Retro. Obviously said in a Scooby Doo voice. It is usually the domain of the big breweries or even faded regionals like….
But many craft breweries have cycled through multiple branding exercises. Some better than others. So maybe four-packs if the same beer with different logos could be something for smaller breweries to try out.
Sierra Nevada used their Pale Ale labels in such a way and I thought the effect was great. You could also highlight the artist or PR firm that executed the design. Or conduct a vote as to the people’s choice of design for an informal poll.
Another OR or two here, you could have future designs as well to see which resonates with customers. Or reach into the past and design your label using a 50’s or 70’s look.
First, I suggest you take a quick read of Bart Watson’s take on the first half sales numbers for 2022. You can click right HERE for that.
Now what leapt out at me wasn’t so much the numbers for on premise or OpenTable reservation data but a term that was new to me, channel shift.
Now it is just a fancy way of saying that people bought beer from different places but it is quite interesting to see how the swirling will they-won’t they of Covid restrictions and lessening thereof has thrown things out of whack.
Pivoting is good and was practically required of breweries but it does making reading the tea leaves much harder. Toss in supply chain snafus and airline flight cancellations and each year becomes an unenviable sorting task for Watson.
Beer documentaries are always welcome to me which is why I hope the year in a Lambic life movie, Bottle Conditioned is on my list to find. Below is the blurb from the production…
“This film chronicles an entire year of lambic production, while getting to know the brewers and blenders in the Zenne River Valley of Belgium. Bound by a common passion for lambic beer, their approach and ideologies differ when it comes to upholding traditional methods of brewing and protecting this heritage. Moreover, with the recent rush in demand for this beer, new lambic brewers and blenders are emerging- something inconceiveable ten years ago- and they’re pushing the bounderies of tradition. This leaves the question: what does the future hold for this community, in a region defined by its traditions?”
English Football is moving from pre-season to regular season and, as opposed to American stadiums and arenas, the beer prices ain’t bad.
12. Manchester United – £5.10
= West Ham – £5
= Tottenham – £5
11. Brighton – £4.95
10. Leicester – £4.75
9. Aston Villa – £4.60
8. Chelsea – £4.40
7. Arsenal – £4.30
6. Crystal Palace – £4.20
5. Liverpool – £4
= Everton – £4
= Southampton – £4
= Fulham – £4
4. Nottingham Forest – £3.70
= Wolves – £3.70
3. Newcastle – £3.60
= Leeds United – £3.60
2. Brentford – £3.50
1. Manchester City – £3.40
Of course, there are more restrictions to when and where you can drink but a session beer is grand.
NEWBrew from Singapore has a new blonde ale. How is that news, you say? It is brewed using recycled sewage. You read that correctly.
It is a joint effort between Brewerkz, a local craft brewery, and Singapore’s national water agency.
To keep the all caps NEW going, NEWBrew uses NEWater. According to an article at FoodBeast, “NEWater is made using ultraviolet light to disinfect sewage followed by passing the liquid through advanced membranes and removing contaminant particles. What remains after the process, the brand asserts, is simply clean water.”
Considering that many breweries alter water based on their supply or a particular beer style, if this NEWater is neutral and has proof of no other issues, it might be worth trying.
New Jersey breweries are now limited to the following:
• Hosting only 25 on-site activities per year (Events such as trivia, live music, etc.)
• Host only 52 private parties per year
• Attend only 12 off premises events per year
In addition to the above, this ruling also prohibits breweries from the following:
• Selling coffee on site
• Collaborating/ coordinating with food vendors/ trucks
• Selling food or operating a restaurant
• Selling specialty cocktails using malt alcohol
• Offering a free drink to any guest
• Offer Happy Hour pricing
You can read more about it right HERE and it is not good for beer. And it just seems to be yet another instance where one industry that should be tight with beer seem to want to knock them down a peg.
Why can’t restaurants work “with” breweries? Why can’t a coffee roaster create a special beer with a brewery and sell their coffee at the taproom? How does limiting 12 off premises events help anyone? Especially charities that get funds from beer festivals.
Other beer writing voices have chimed in on this with exasperation and I expect that New Jersey will water down these rules or selectively enforce them. What may also happen is that breweries go into the restaurant business to work around some of these rules.
As a show of solidarity, I will be highlighting New Jersey breweries all next month.
Firestone Walker has hit a major brewing milestone….
But don’t go running to their store in Venice just yet, this special batch will be Double DBA and will arrive in 2023. You can read more about this, right HERE.