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TOP FIVE BEERS # 2 | “Top Five Beers with Amazing Artwork”

Like many others, I consider myself to be a visual person. I love packaging of all kinds; whether it’s movies, music, wine, or beer. I also really love art. Therefore it only makes sense that this month’s edition of TOP FIVE BEERS be a list of beer labels and bottles that I find to be the most visually stunning in their artwork, design, or overall appearance. While I could have created a list twenty deep, I have chosen my current top five to share with you. By all means, share your lists in the comments section. I’m sure there are some other greats out there that I (or others reading this) have missed.

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# 1 Grand Cru Bruocsella

Brasserie Cantillon
Artist: Raymond Goffin

Cantillon has always been one of my favorite label makers for beer. Their Rosé de Gambrinus could have easily made this list with its racy depiction of an undressed woman being fondled while drinking a glass of (what many will argue) Rose de Gambrinus. However, it’s the simple and attractive label of the Grand Cru Bruocsella that wins for me. It’s a label that proves art doesn’t have to be flashy to be great. In fact, some of the world’s greatest artists can make a huge statement purely by keeping their work clean and simple. This label, created by Raymond Goffin in 1998, is just that: clean and simple. It is an image of a black, gray, and white cathedral and lamp post. Underneath the image, too, is an almost indecipherable handwritten note with a signature attached. One would really need to be close up to read what it says. But it’s the overstated explosion of the red poppy that sits in the foreground that captures the true essence of the label. All of this is framed nicely at the bottom of a huge green bottle which makes this my favorite label to date.

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# 2 Gratitude

East End Brewing
Artist: Mary Tremonte

People have said for years that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. While I partially agree with this testimonial, I also believe that a book’s cover can sometimes be a good indicator of the care that went into its contents. I have never owned one of these bottles or even had a drink of this American Barleywine by East Brewing out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but it easily does one of the best jobs I’ve seen of tempting its buyer. Each bottle is meticulously wrapped from head-to-toe in a paper grocery bag material and crowned with a different color of wax to represent the year it was released. Every year has also received a different drawing/painting of a different bird by artist Mary Tremonte. With the care that goes into these bottles, you’d almost think that each one was individually hand-painted and delivered to a higher being. The quality and care that has gone in to these is staggering to say the least. I mean I hate to say it, but this is like a 40-ounce wrapped in a brown paper bag that’s fit for only the king of kings…

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# 3 Darkness (2008)

Surly Brewing
Artist: Nic Skrade

The Surly Darkness label from the 2008 release has always been one of my favorite labels. In fact, it was my favorite before I started to consider the creation of this list and began the work to look at as many labels as possible. Surly changes the label every year for this release, which is nice for the collector because it easily tells you which year of the beer you are buying and/or drinking. Skrade is well-known for creating paintings that depict demonic-like figures (as seen here). I have looked at his painting numerous times, and while I like many of them none hold a candle to the work he did for this beer. The three colors are essentially red, yellow, and brown but are set on a stark black background. The image itself is of a demonic hooded demon with long fingernails holding an upside-down skull. There is also the traditional “death metal” font underneath calling out the name of the beer. The wax top adds the final bit of flair here by letting the purchaser know that this bottle can be cellared for many years to come.

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# 4 Draco

Birrificio Montegioco
Artist: Unknown

Italian craft breweries put a lot of emphasis on their beer bottles and labels. As someone who obviously likes some artistry in beer labeling I find this to be a great thing. While many of these Italian bottle shapes are downright quirky, the overall care and attention to detail put into them is not. Unfortunately, along with this typically comes a pretty hefty price tag. Many of the beers I’ve seen stateside will run you at least $20 and can even go as high as $40. With Montegioco specifically, there are at least ten beers in their lineup and each one is similar in style with its outer paper lining that is then twisted at the top to create a “package-like” experience. I’ll admit that the labels that grace the bottles themselves are not necessarily flashy or mind-melting, but again we’re talking packaging here and I believe that this brewery does some of the best in the business. Also check out their beer called Demon Hunter which would not be out of place on this list.

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# 5 Sexual Chocolate

Foothills Brewing
Artist: Unknown

Thanks to people like filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, ’70s culture has held up on the “coolness factor” for the last 30 years. The Blaxploitation-style artwork on the hand-numbered bottles of Foothills Sexual Chocolate Russian Imperial Stout is a prime example of this. It has been a favorite for a while now amongst many beer geeks – myself included. I mean it’s pretty hard to deny the fact that this is just one of the funniest (yet coolest) labels to ever grace a bottle. The name of the beer is pretty amazing, too. Simplicity wins again as this label really only has less than five colors total, yet it still pops off the bottle and gives the buyer something visually enjoyable to look at before (and while) drinking the contents. And while Foothills Brewing doesn’t go much further by waxing the cap or wrapping it in paper like some of the others on this list, they do make a pretty damn bold statement with the label alone.