Did Goose Island rip Bourbon County's label off from this?

There's definitely some similarities.... Very interesting.

 

The font of the big "Ruddles/Bourbon County" text are pretty similar (though not identical, look at the Rs for a big difference), as is the leaf/goose head logo's positioning... but Bourbon County's lack of giant horseshoe and differently-colored bar behind the name give it a pretty different look overall, enough that you probably couldn't really call it a ripoff.

It definitely looks like they used a similar font and layout for the main logo, though. Color scheme is a "well, sorta..." kind of similarity since the words on the Bourbon County bottle are a mix of white and goldish rather than just goldish.

I wonder if they were just going for the same general "type" of labeling, and maybe there were several older beer labels that used a similar look (this one included) that were the overall inspiration?

 

Looks like Ruddles needs a Lagunitas lawyer.

 

Definitely looks like an homage to that style of label. Pretty cool.

 

That's kind of reaching, dude. Not exactly a trademark violation.

 

It really don't get much closer than that, to be honest. Right down to the lines above and below and GI's duck that is gold pointed diagonal with it's bill open looks scary similar to the diagonal mark on ruddles.


I don't know why the BCBS pic is scruffy looking. You get the point though.

 

ISO: Ruddles County Brand Stout

 

I'm gonna go with "yes"

 

Yeah man. They are so close it's stupid. I don't want to turn over anyone's apple cart, so I'll say this just as loose, armchair quarterback talk.

There probably is an agreement between the two parties. I'm not accusing anyone of anything.

But, there is more similarities in these two labels than any of the lawsuits and/or c/d letters I've seen. I would assume they were the same company if I saw them in a store. Definitely more than a star next to the number 6 or an ipa label. LOL. Wait! I bet ABinBev owns them too! Let me put my tin foil hat on. ABinBev owns the world now!!!

 

Too soon!

 

Wow, good find. I would be shocked to find out if they weren't related. It's way too similar.

 

It's about time somebody brought up kerning.

 

Really?!?! They are similar enough that I don't think it is reaching at all.

 

I'm pretty sure both breweries were simply going after the bourbon label look. Many whiskey bottles/boxes have used similar designs for decades, if not centuries.

 

I vote no but if you send me some Bourbon County I'll tend to agree with you.

 

That is not a 20-year-old coaster. The Ruddles brand has been around since the mid-19th century, but this artwork is the most recent design of the Ruddles County label.

Here is the label I remember from the late 90's:
http://www.beerlabels.com/labels/labels.pl/2085/ruddles-county-english-ale.html

Here is the next label, which I believe was in use until 2008 or thereabouts:
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/203/1902/

(As evidence, here is a review from 2008 which still shows that version of the label:
http://www.collegebeing.com/booze-reviews-platinum-ruddles-county/ )

Now, here is a review from mid-2009 which shows the horseshoe-branded label:
https://hywelsbiglog.wordpress.com/2009/06/18/beer-review-ruddles-county/

So it looks like the Ruddles County label switched to this version sometime between 2008 and 2009. Goose Island also changed their Bourbon County labels between the 2008 and 2009 vintages. This makes it pretty clear to me that the 2 labels evolved independently, and that the Bourbon County label is NOT a "rip off" of the Ruddles County branding.