new grainbelt labels

Took a little digging but here is a pic I found via FB,


looks clean but the type of Grain Belt is hard to find at first, it'll be interesting to see what the packaging looks like.
Nordeast 24pk bottles maybe too?? or just wishful thinking

 

I dig it. Seems kind of retro even though grain belt always seems retro.

 

While I like the new retro labels, I would have preferred a look for Premium like the gold Grain Belt Premium silo cans.

I also prefer the old Nordeast label over the new Nordeast label. It just doesn't look like Nordeast to me but I'll get used to it.

 

Cans too, I wonder?

 

I'm pretty sure I've seen Nordeast 24-packs, but maybe I was mistaken. Paging Chaz

 

That package is widespread. A quick search shows it in stock at South Lyndale (aka just "Lyndale" 'round here) and SAV - Silver Lake. I also see it at MGM, Big Top, Sid's... usually on sale for about $17.99.

 

Interesting, I have never seen a 24pk of Nordeast bottles, Premium is all over but none of my beloved Nordy. I'll have to make a trip to Lyndale soon it looks like.

No word on can designs though so maybe this is bottles only for now..

 

Grain Belt labels - I guess "regular" [brown] and "Premium" [clear]? - circa early 1970s, so, pre-Heileman, from the Grain Belt Breweries, Inc. era.

 

Let's start with fairly-recent history and work backwards (and yes, there will be time for a q & a, later.)

When the August Schell Brewing Company acquired the GB brand/family, only Grain Belt Premium was brewed, initially -- Grain Belt Light was first brewed in New Ulm a little while later. Also, the recipe was slightly-tweaked from the one brewed at Minnesota Brewing, which was in turn slightly different than the recipes preceding it.

Circa this timeframe there is sometimes some confusion about one of the 'missing links' from Minnesota Brewing, and below is a rudimentary product shot of the last Grain Belt family line-extension which was brewed by 'MNBrew' before they went out of business (in fact, it was within a year of their closing.) Schell never brewed it:

http://www.socialgrocery.com/products/Grain-Belt/Archive-Series-Amber-Lager-Beers

Frankly, Archive Series Amber Lager* was a nicer beer than it has ever been given credit for being, and many locals passed on it at the time, never giving it a try as it was set at a higher price point than both Premium and Golden -- and most everyone I knew or saw buying beer back then was chasin' hoppy ales, of course.

Schell never brewed "Grain Belt Golden*", and in fact it was the very same recipe as was used for "Pig's Eye", and "Hauenstein", and later "Minnesota's Brew" -- all budget brands, the last of these only packaged in cans.

To be continued...

* If you like, you can even read the commercial description here.
** See also: "Landmark Beer" -- yep, 'twas the very same recipe. References available upon request.

 

Here are our new cans. It will be a gradual change starting this spring as we run out of our existing packaging and change to the new. Drink Friendly!

 

Truly superb!

 

Nice! I waited around long enough that my original Grain Belt glassware is now officially back in style.

 

I saw via the Twitterverse that the new Grain Belt cans were being packaged today. Has anyone seen the new bottles, which apparently began being packaged a couple weeks ago, around the cities yet?

 

Not in the Cities just yet. Still en route to wholesalers:

 

I always have liked grain belt. Looks like ill have to get used to the new labeling

 

Still one of the best corn lagers available! Kudos Schells!