In 2010, Miller High Life reclaimed its status as the iconic American beer. The strategy was simple, embrace the brand’s quality and rich 100+ year history. After reclaiming its old glory, High Life tests its true colors with this summer’s special edition can. Standing tall in red, white and blue, Miller High Life is perfect for patrons and patriots alike.

Client: MillerCoors
Firm: Landor San Francisco
Creative Director: Tosh Hall
Design Director: Ryin Kobza
Senior Designer: Daniel D’Arcy

This is Laura’s final graphic design project, as presented at the 2011 University of Idaho Art Show. Fantastic execution, down to every last detail. Check out the video at the bottom for a further look at the entire presentation.

(via Andy Sowards)

Bocanegra, a craft beer from Monterrey, Mexico, is “a tribute to all working people.”

Con el objetivo de ganar cuota de mercado y competir con las cervezas negras de importación, se ha rediseñado el packaging de Mahou Negra, utilizando el negro como elemento básico y aglutinador de todo el diseño, junto a un juego tipográfico austero y sin concesiones; resaltando los valores Premium de este nuevo producto.
— Enric Aguilera Asociados

In order to gain market share and compete with imported dark beers, has redesigned the packaging of Mahou Negra, using black as a basic and unifying the whole design together with a typing game austere and uncompromising, highlighting Premium values ​​of this new product.
— Enric Aguilera Asociados

The idea I had was of a company based on historic rivalries. Each six pack of beer would contain two kinds of beer selected to mirror each side of the rivalry for three of each kind.
— Joseph Johnston

Saskatoon, Canada’s Great Western Brewing Co’s eponymous family of beers has been a regional favourite for over 20 years. In advance of moving into new markets, Saint Bernadine Mission Communications was asked to update the brand to better reflect the mainstream flavour profile and positioning and increase shelf presence.

Key messaging included refreshment, heritage, tradition, and dedication to quality, shown by research to be important to core consumers.

The existing logo was reworked to retain key characteristics and improve readability and shelf presence. A die cut label and award seal represent quality, the employee founded statement celebrates heritage, the brewery graphic acknowledges tradition, and the “extra aged” text highlights a true point of difference in their brewing process that results in much smoother beers. As well, a section was provided to enable someone to “dedicate” a case of beer to by way of thanks. The design system needed to accommodate four (and potentially more) flavours.
— St. Bernadine

This beer gets its name from the 16 employees who bought the company when a merger between Carling and Molson threatened to close its doors.

As mainstream breweries entered the craft category and a new generation of drinkers moved to imported beers and cocktails, Full Sail Brewing began to experience significant sales declines. This was bad. Research revealed the brand had lost its relationship with consumers and no longer offered a relevant alternative to its competitors. This was even worse. Our solution was to accentuate Full Sail’s most differentiating qualities: their independent status, their location in the boardsport mecca of Hood River, and their general passion for life. New brand design drew on visual cues from the surf/skate/snow world, imbued with old-school heritage and craftsmanship. Labels and packaging included vintage postcard photos that brought the unique location of the brewery to life, and the brand’s voice expressed an “independent, employee-owned” vibe with equal parts dudespeak, brewer lingo and enlightened entrepreneurship. Following the rebranding, Full Sail experienced a 30% jump in sales, and continues to expand. They personify the spirit of their tagline: Stoked to brew. Brewed to stoke.
— Sandstrom Partners

When we first ran into brewmaster Eric Bean in 2006 at a local coffee shop, he had already been looking for us. He knew that Columbus Brewing Company’s beers were among the city’s best kept secrets, and wanted to relaunch the brand to increase sales and make a regional impact. He had seen our work in a national publication, and was eager to contact us. After a lot of hard work and a substantial amount of Eric’s product, Columbus Brewing and Element successfully launched a new brand. Within weeks of the new products hitting the shelves, sales skyrocketed. Two years and multiple brewery expansions later, consumers are still drinking the stuff faster than Eric can brew it.
— Element

Au yeah!, a Valencian beer with an American style, dixie inspiration, Texas beer hops and an authentic flavour. The mixture of cultures is shown with a touch of humor in the naming, a unique graphic design and a handmade typography.

This brew may be poking fun at Americans, but it’s so well executed that I’m fine with it.

Mike’s Mild Ale (Whitecliffs Brewery) began brewing in 1989 and although its beers were popular in Taranaki, and recognised by BrewNZ (2004 silver, 2007 bronze), International Beer Award (2005 gold, 2006, 2007 bronze), it was still relatively unknown to New Zealand beer drinkers.

In 2007 family members Ron, Jill, Mike and Rene Trigg bought the Brewery. Their vision was to take the business from a backyard enterprise to a nationally recognised professional business producing premium organic beer, available in supermarkets throughout New Zealand.

The new branding produced stunning results. In October 2009 Mike’s new brand won the BrewNZ Beer Awards Supreme Packaging Award, beating of hundreds of national and international entries. This success was in conjunction with a 10 fold increase in turnover to supermarkets. Not only did supermarket sales increase but the number of supermarket outlets also increased which was exactly what the Trigg family was aiming for.

Now, Mike’s is not only the favourite beer of a few passionate locals, but also a best selling organic beer in restaurants and bars all over New Zealand.