Bad beer labels that deter you from buying?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by fleurdelou, Mar 30, 2014.

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  1. marleyr

    marleyr Initiate (0) Feb 25, 2014 South Carolina

    I've met Scott. Isn't Edward and Morgan on the label as well. I don't know/haven't met the rest. Who is that guy Lil' B? I do love Evil Twin Lil' B?
     
    #81 marleyr, Mar 31, 2014
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  2. keithmurray

    keithmurray Pooh-Bah (2,967) Oct 7, 2009 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah

    I'm with you, their 'label art' to me is just absurd
     
    #82 keithmurray, Mar 31, 2014
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  3. HRamz3

    HRamz3 Initiate (0) Feb 9, 2010 Pitcairn

    Maine Brewing Co.

    Way too much going on, confusing, hard to tell what style.
     
    #83 HRamz3, Mar 31, 2014
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  4. LambicPentameter

    LambicPentameter Initiate (0) Aug 29, 2012 Nebraska

    For the most part, label art doesn't deter me from buying. Case in point: I didn't used to be a huge fan of Founders' labels, and as I've become a bigger and bigger fan of their beer, I've come to appreciate their labels more and more. In fact, I think that in many cases, their labels are done to mimic various periods of high art in terms of style and feel:

    Pale Ale and IPA = Art Noveau
    Double Trouble = Surrealism
    Reds Rye and Dirty Bastard = Impressionism
    Porter = Romanticism
    FBS = Rockwell(ian)
    Curmudgeon = Neoclassicism
    Rubaeus = Botanical Illustration style

    But there is always an exception to the rule. There are beers that I haven't and probably won't try anytime soon because the labels are off-putting enough to be lower on the list in such a vast sea of beers to try. If the industry was like it was 15-20 years ago, with fewer offerings, the situation might be different. But as long as there is a huge selection from which to choose, labeling will continue to matter to some degree.

    Case in point: I haven't tried anything from Hoppin' Frog, mostly I have a hard time bringing myself to buy beers that are so pricey that have such cheap-looking labels.
     
    #84 LambicPentameter, Mar 31, 2014
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  5. JISurfer

    JISurfer Grand Pooh-Bah (3,006) Dec 10, 2002 Utah
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I know Rich and Scott are on there, as well as Edward and Morgan. Not sure the others.
     
    #85 JISurfer, Mar 31, 2014
  6. fleurdelou

    fleurdelou Initiate (0) Nov 11, 2013 Kentucky

    #86 fleurdelou, Mar 31, 2014
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  7. marleyr

    marleyr Initiate (0) Feb 25, 2014 South Carolina

    #87 marleyr, Mar 31, 2014
  8. balinor

    balinor Initiate (0) Jul 12, 2013 Connecticut

    The contrary can also be true. I swear some of these guys spend more money on graphic design than they do cleaning out their tanks between batches.
     
    #88 balinor, Mar 31, 2014
  9. fleurdelou

    fleurdelou Initiate (0) Nov 11, 2013 Kentucky

    Eh?
     
    #89 fleurdelou, Mar 31, 2014
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  10. marleyr

    marleyr Initiate (0) Feb 25, 2014 South Carolina

    THAT! Eh?
     
    #90 marleyr, Mar 31, 2014
  11. fleurdelou

    fleurdelou Initiate (0) Nov 11, 2013 Kentucky

    Ah, you were quoted additionall y by mistake sir. I apologize. Though, in response. Yes I understand it was on purpose, but it could have been more eloquently assembled even for a mock piece. That is just my personal opinion.
     
    #91 fleurdelou, Mar 31, 2014
  12. punxsybob

    punxsybob Initiate (0) Mar 9, 2014 Pennsylvania

    Ballast Point has cool labels, especially Sea Monster. Great Stout too!
     
    #92 punxsybob, Mar 31, 2014
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  13. Kanger

    Kanger Initiate (0) Sep 3, 2013 New York

    Granted bad labels means they could have spent more time on the beer...
     
    #93 Kanger, Mar 31, 2014
  14. HoppyDazed

    HoppyDazed Initiate (0) Feb 5, 2014 California

    I cant imagine not trying a beer because you dont like the label. You dont consume the label. To me, that is beyond absurd, especially because most labels are dumb looking, plain-jane or dont make any sense anyways. By that logic you can only frequent establishments and consume brands that invest in a level of art that meets your refined and sophisticated level of acceptance, right?
     
    #94 HoppyDazed, Mar 31, 2014
  15. larryi86

    larryi86 Grand Pooh-Bah (5,118) Apr 4, 2010 Delaware
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    For the longest time I won't try Weyerbacher because their old labels were so bad, but once I tried their beer I was able to forgive them for having bad labels.
     
    #95 larryi86, Apr 1, 2014
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  16. GCBrewery

    GCBrewery Initiate (0) Jan 18, 2014 Connecticut

    A good beer can make a bad label look sexy
     
    #96 GCBrewery, Apr 1, 2014
  17. cestlavie

    cestlavie Initiate (0) Oct 27, 2011 New York

    DARK HORSE. The worst offenders, and just AMAZING beer. Sits on the shelf here in NY bc of it, but draft flies. Perfect example...
     
    #97 cestlavie, Apr 1, 2014
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  18. nchophead

    nchophead Initiate (0) May 25, 2011 North Carolina

    I love the simple graphic labels - Brewdog, Foothills, etc. I think Smuttynose labels look like something out of those stores that sell hunting paintings for grandparents. You know what I'm talking about, "Farrington's Fine Art" in downtown nowhere. It took a friend's recommendation to ever try their beers.
     
    #98 nchophead, Apr 1, 2014
  19. Djpillowtalk

    Djpillowtalk Initiate (0) Nov 18, 2013 Oklahoma

    I always walked right by Firestone. Their labels are poorly colored and I just overlooked them. Soild beers though. Also, I'm an Okie, The Prairie labels are amazing.
     
    #99 Djpillowtalk, Apr 1, 2014
  20. fleurdelou

    fleurdelou Initiate (0) Nov 11, 2013 Kentucky

    Let me clarify for you my definition of "bad labels." Firstly, labels are an extension of a company's brand. It is very important for a brand to develop it's self in a way that is appealing to your desired consumer base. Now, with that said, do I require that each brand meet my individual styles and tastes? No, certainly not. I openly embrace differences in label art and the fact that some of them are geared toward different target groups. That, to me bodes well for the craft beer industry and frankly, what is good for beer is good for me. What I will not accept or tolerate when choosing a product (in this case beer) is lazy, half-assed, or under thought design in their packaging. This includes pixelated images (ex. Dark Horse), designs that do not flow well together (ex. ET Justin Blabaer, new Green Flash labels), or designs that look too cheap or armature (ex. Hoppin' Frog). In closing, I hope you can understand that I do not require any company to meet my pretentious ultra-refined tastes, I merely require that they put forth enough effort that I don't blatantly notice that they did not put forth any at all.
     
    #100 fleurdelou, Apr 1, 2014
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