Advice From The Trail: Cara Nosek on Packaging Design and (Re)Branding

Photo of and courtesy Cara Nosek

Each volume of Craft Marketing showcases a Featured RadCrafter – a craft marketing professional who is crafting content, telling stories, and curating resources about the beer industry. RadCrafters are helping to shape and share the culture that is craft beer. 

Ska Brewing – an iconic brand based on a comic book and inspired by all waves of Ska music – recently underwent a brand refresh. We called Cara Nosek, Queen of Graphics at Ska since 2013, to weigh in on how brands can evolve so gracefully too. 

Ska Brewing Announces Brand Refresh; Rolls Out New Cans

DURANGO, CO— Fresh renditions of Ska Brewing Modus Hoperandi, Modus Mandarina, True Blonde Ale, Rue B. Soho, and Pink Vapor Stew cans are now hitting shelves across Ska’s distribution footprint as part of the company’s 2020 brand refresh.

Since Ska Brewing launched its brand 25 years ago, the comic book has always represented the company’s core values and mission. The company slogan characters brewing beers with character has come to life on Ska’s packaged brands, each can representing a different snippet of that original comic book story… until The Hazy IPA came along. 

When Ska debuted its first hazy beer in a can in 2019, they designed the artwork without a character or a punny name associated with the beer style as they have other year-round brands. Instead the artwork pops with bold colors and Ska’s trademark checkerboard stripe— a nod to the 2 Tone wave of Ska music— that wraps the can. These comic book elements ultimately inspired Ska’s entire can refresh, and can also be found on the design of Ska’s new canned seltzer line. 

Consistent with much of Ska’s other branding, the signature checkerboard stripe is included on each new can. While new cans will not feature characters from comic books, they will retain classic comic book elements such as the blamo and bold colors to really stand out on shelves. The new look will help provide a consistent and recognizable look across Ska’s family of brands. 

“We’ll never “rebrand” altogether because we feel branding is an evolution,” says Ska Brewing co-founder and CEO Dave Thibodeau. “We’ve been changing our brand since day one, but we’ll never stray too far from what it means to be Ska.” 

Find the same great Modus Hoperandi, Modus Mandarina, True Blonde Ale, Rue B. Soho, and Pink Vapor Stew recipes in new cans wherever you buy Ska beer. The brewery will announce more can artwork updates in coming months. 

For more information about Ska Brewing, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT SKA BREWING

Based in Durango, Colorado, Ska Brewing was founded in 1995 and produces more than a dozen award- winning beers fueled with Ska music, and lots of it. Pioneers in the canned craft beer movement, Ska Brewing is known for an array of styles in 12 oz cans that include Mexican Logger, Modus Hoperandi, and Rue B. Soho. For information (a lot of it), more music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.

Lone Tree Brewing Company Launches Rebrand with cans of Peach Pale Ale and Mexican Lager

LONE TREE, CO — Lone Tree Brewing Company rolls out its rebrand this month with new Peach Pale Ale and Mexican Lager cans that are now available across Colorado. The brewery’s new look is clean and compelling, just like its beers.

Lone Tree enlisted Boulder-based design agency Anthem Branding to refine its logo, packaging artwork, apparel, and swag. This rebrand also includes updated design elements in the brewery’s tasting room, on its website, and across its social media platforms. 

Lone Tree and Anthem began working together two years ago on merchandise. “Specifically the Hop Zombie t-shirts that they designed were very creative and really impressed us,” says Lone Tree’s Sales and Event Director Bridgette Geiger. “Anthem’s ability to really understand who we are as a company played an important part in the creation of our rebrand. They understood the vibe of Colorado and community and put them together in a way that conveys such.” 

“Lone Tree embodies a persona that we feel should exemplify craft beer culture – as a company, they are collaborative, community driven, and down-to-earth,” says Anthem Branding’s Art Director Monte Mitchell. “They understand the nature of being Coloradoan; committed to friendliness, approachability, and a general love for the outdoors. We love what they’re doing and brewing.” 

New cans of Lone Tree Brewing Peach Pale Ale and Mexican Lager (that will replace Mountain Mama Helles on the brewery’s core line of beers) are now available across the state of Colorado. The Branching Out series bombers have a new look as well. Each one will feature a different variety of flower embedded in its artwork. 

For more information about Lone Tree’s rebrand, or with any other media inquiries, feel free to contact RadCraft at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT LONE TREE BREWING COMPANY

Lone Tree Brewing Company was the first brewery in Lone Tree, Colorado that opened near Park Meadows Mall in 2011. The neighborhood-focused, family-friendly brewery and tasting room regularly hosts community events that gather around a stylistically diverse lineup of flagship, seasonal, and limited release beers. Lone Tree's cans and 22-ounce bombers are sold across the state of Colorado, as well as Kansas and Nebraska. Its draft beer is poured at many bars and restaurants in its distribution footprint as well. Find the brewery online at lonetreebrewingco.com.

ABOUT ANTHEM BRANDING

Anthem Branding is a promotional products and design agency based in Boulder, Colorado. We partner with industry leaders in the craft brewery space to amplify the ethos of their brand and help them reach new audiences in an authentic way. We believe your brand can be a powerful tactile experience. Our portfolio of services ranges from eye-catching retail packaging design, premium custom merchandise, and impactful branding.