forging an iconic identity: branding for a big-thinking brewery

Brew York

Sector
Food & Drink, FMCG

Services
Brand Identity, Packaging Design, Collateral, Campaign Design

Challenge

Brew York first approached us when the brewery was still in the planning stage. They knew they needed to do things a little differently to gain traction in a highly competitive, crowded market.

They asked us to work with them to create an iconic brand identity – one that reflected their passion for beer and unique UK/US hybrid brewing style. They also wanted a visual language that was authentic and scalable enough to match their ambitions for growth.

Context

Brew York is located in the heart of York. Founded by two friends with a passion for great beer and experimental home brewing, Brew York offers customers an inspirational, grass-roots craft beer experience.

Solution

Taking inspiration from Native American and European folklore, we developed a brand identity with four core elements and heaps of playful personality.

Each of the four elements represents a different aspect of the brand’s character and values. The lion and the eagle signify the fusion of British and American brewing techniques. The heart represents the brand’s passion for beer, and the skull refers to the gothic heritage of the brewery’s location.

We then added a guardian-like character and unique colourway for each of the six beers in the core range. This is a potent way to communicate what’s special about each of the beers, reinforce overall brand personality and allow easy identification of product at point of sale.

“The strength of our branding, design and packaging has enabled us to exceed some significant commercial objectives of our 3-5 year business plan, within our first 9 months of brewing and trading.”