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A beer label’s look matters. It’s both a doorway into the drinking experience and an invitation to the brewer’s art. And just like with movies, beer labels have grown their own sub-genres over time.
We recently showcased a series of artful dog-forward labels, but there’s also this skeleton school of beer labels that are fun in a weird kind of way.
Without getting too heavy let’s acknowledge the obvious, that the use of skeletons in art and design references the darker side of things like death, danger and the unknown.
Many skeleton beer labels take the lead from Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) art which is generally more upbeat and playful. Others live in the world of metal music and tattoo art…and here are some skeleton beer labels we’ve enjoyed.
Day of the Dead Beers (above)
Introduced by Cerveceria Mexicana, a brewery which we’re not even sure is still in business, this line of incredibly artful labels were evidently more tasteful than the beers since they’re no longer in production.
8 Skeleton Blues
Edinburgh Scotland’s Stewart Brewing has done many a great label over the years but this late night bluesy “skeleton crew” is one of their best.
Gone to Helles
We’re unclear if this mock beer variation which Kate O’Hara did for Great Basin Brewing ever saw the light of day, but if it didn’t, it should have!
Trooper Beer Labels
Iron Maiden collaborated with Robinsons Brewery on a number of branded beers that utilized their skeletal mascot “trooper” ably and artfully.
Old Cellar Dweller
In spite of what we think about Barleywine as a style, this label that was designed by Hired Guns Creative for Driftwood Brewery is pretty remarkable.
