Bad beer labels that deter you from buying?

Off the top of my head, I don't like Abita's labels. I haven't had any of their beer but they just look like soda labels (I might have had their Root Beer and I want to try the Grapefruit Harvest IPA). There is just no common thread between them at all. It just seems like an amateur graphic designer tried to make as many labels as he could that were completely different.

 

I'll admit that I usually do research while in a bottle shop on something I've never heard of, but I'll also admit that I'm more likely to do research on something with an awesome label, lol.

When you think about it, DFH has some really cheap looking labels (here's looking at you, 60/90 minute).

 

Definitely missing out!!

 

You and I have very different tastes in label artwork, my friend.

Our taste in beer, however, seems to be quite similar.

 

I steer clear of Hoppin Frog because they only produce high $$$ bombers. Give me a 4/6 pack. Something. Label art is way down the list of important criteria for me...

 

People who refuse to even try a particular beer because they don't like the artwork confuse me to no end.

Thankfully, there's a solution: just get it on tap. No ugly bottle. Problem solved!

 

I am more bothered by crooked/poorly applied labels than subpar art because it shows a lack of attention to detail which is likely (but not always) represented in their beer too. I have a limited beer budget and I'm not about to give a shot to a new brewery I haven't had before if they can't even demonstrate they can properly apply a label.

 

Maybe the Porter label, but the Imp Stout logo is great. Guarantee someone is wearing that as a tattoo somewhere...

 

yeah - I don't touch bullshit like Clown Shoes or Flying Dog

 

Gahndi Bot is one of the worst labels I can think of and one of the best beers...

 

If PtE was sold in a plastic bag with felt marker stickynote label I'd buy it.
I don't even look at most labels past the name. When it's open and in a glass I might look, so no I don't care at all about label art I guess

 

lmao!! Biff with his crooked label hatred, classic.

 

As far as artwork goes, I'm a big fan of Revolution and Flying Dog, kinda off-the-wall stuff.
Founders (minus KBS and Imperial Stout) are just not my taste.

I like KBS because it is nice and simple, western looking. Sort of like Lagunitas, which I am also a fan of

 

Knee Deep.

Putting aside the price point, which is on the higher side for a brewery I've yet to try, and the fact that I'm not sure of their bottling dates (are they dated? I honestly have no idea), their label art is just enough of a turn off to keep me from finally taking the plunge. I hear I'm missing out on some amazing brews, true... but I see them and think "pass."

...yet give me a bottle of something with a label in comic sans font and I'll praise you for a week. Go figure.

 

Those are old labels, they recently redid their line to have a common design thread (see here).

Not that does anything about the quality of the beer though...

 

Finestkind. I'd tip a few with Cy and Paul anytime at all

 

For me there is nothing attractive about Smuttynose. The name is bad, the labels are bad.... but the beer is so good. Labels be damned (sorry wanted to tap into the religious vibe of this thread) Suttynose has some good beers

 

For the most part I'm sure I and most of you try to research and let the beer inside do the talking. I mean, we're all users of this website, right? But I admit there are a few breweries whose labels I just can't get past.

Some, like Clown Shoes, may have great beer, but I may never know. Their name and labels just give an impression of trying too hard to be quirky and determined to not be mainstream. But they don't give me an impression that they'll take their brewing seriously enough to make me want to buy a bottle on impulse.

Flying Dog in Maryland is a unique case. I've had some fine tasting beer from them, but I just reached the point where I no longer wanted to reward them with my business based purely on their label art. I'm not a prude, but I just can't stand to look at even one more stomach-churning, garish, sadistic illustration from them. It looks like they found an artist coming down off an acid trip, fed him PCP while playing violent scenes from Animal Planet on the TV in his studio, and turned him loose with some crayons. Why would bizarre doggy zombies or distorted doggy sexual organs be a selling point for well-made beer?

 

Because some of us are Hunter Thompson / Ralph Steadman fans and the art is a draw.

 

i despise russian rivers sour artwork along with pliny...im sure there are 100 labels that are worse but for such great beers i wish they would redo the labels...i guess simplicity is what theyre going for