Labels and Names

I am a sucker for catchy advertising for sure. I have bought many a beer because of funny/witty names or really sharp or unique label design. It doesn't always work out, but I have never ended up with anything I absolutely couldn't drink because of it. I have grown a little more picky over the past year and this happens less and less for me now.

 

So many labels and names try to be so clever or weird. It's pretty much a crapshoot

 

I'm a big fan of the labels on Lagunitas bottles. Very entertaining, but that doesn't drive my purchase.

 

I'm a graphic designer/advertising guy by trade so of course I look more for attractive labels and clever ideas. I wish that that sexy labels always meant incredible beers. But no, they don't always...

 

If I haven't had it and its a style I like a I will try it regardless of the label. Westy 12 has no label and its one of the best!

 

I love the parchment paper bottles the feel so classy in your hand has you pour just look sexy imo especially with the foil lettering of Bourbon County on them.

 

It's interesting that you bring that up. I used to shun clown shoes because the art on the bottle seemed "too busy" for it to be a "distinguished" beer that I'd pay $10 for. Now I'm an E.O.D. (Equal Opportunity Drinker)!

 

Names and labels don't mean much to me. If I see a beer I've not yet had, I simply Google it on my phone to get Ba scores and reviews. I love smart phones and good beer

 

It plays a bigger role than I'd probably like to think, but hey if it wasn't effective they wouldn't put money into marketing, right?

There are some beers that I've passed on many times simply because if the label. Took about two years of walking right by Two Hearted Ale before I finally tried it. And if I hadn't heard so many great things about Smuttynose I probably would've passed on it

 

That's funny, I did the same thing with Clown Shoes. I'm not often influenced by labels but for some reason I was so turned off by theirs that I always overlooked them. Now I only shun their bombers because bombers are overpriced in general, but will buy 4- or 6-packs.

 

Honestly it's never the label per -se that convinces me to buy a beer or not, although I have a funny story about ten fidy. For a very long time I would walk by ten fidy in the grocery because it resembles a can of motor oil and to my girlie eyes, that might not be so good. Then I tried one, and I laughed because it pours like motor oil and tastes fantastic! Anyway, the point being that the label might convince me not to buy for many reasons like brown notes label. Not buying that because of the label. The labels that convince me to buy a beer proudly and clearly disply the style of beer and the bottled on date.

 

When we first got into craft, we would often impulse buy based on these things. We found one of our favorite maibocks to this day that way:

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/754/17841/

Now, as some have echoed above, it is harder and harder to do this with so much incredible product to sift through.

 

I have never bought a beer because of a label but have bought beers to try because of cool names. Beers like Raging Bitch and Sweet Baby Jesus come to mind. Of course if they ain't any good, I will only buy it once. Conversely, I think Heady Topper and Sucks are stupid names, but it won't stop me from trying to get my hands on them any time I can.

 

With 50 thousand Ipa's out there you have to draw attention to your product somehow.
Honestly some of the label art and names are getting close to be borderline offensive.
If you make a good beer they will come.

 

The name and label have little influence on whether I choose to buy a beer, but a fair bit of influence on whether I notice the beer at all.

 

I am sure nice art and a catchy name put it into my vision to buy. I would like to think that I am then completely objective on what I buy out of the many beers that catch my eye. Being human I also know that is not true.

 

My new beer buying is influenced by:
95% WBAYDN thread
4.9% word of mouth
0.1% other factors, including maybe bottle art.

That being said I do appreciate a cool label

 

Right on! My percentages on the first two may be slightly different, but that's where I come from, too. BA has been incredibly helpful to me in navigating the scene ever since I have been on here. It's not so much the ratings as it is the general chit-chat that will point me towards certain things I may have otherwise missed out on.

Then again, it also has led me to go out in the snow to get some Hopslam, just to see what the hell everyone is talking about.

 

I think most craft labels are just too busy or too scary or too vague....and damn it give me a story!....tell me what I'm drinking,what's in it,and how did you brew it...Thank You!