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(Courtesy Anderson Valley)
Maybe it was COVID-19, which closed down restaurants and bars across the nation, shifting the beer sales emphasis to already crowded retail shelves. Standing out at retail became even more crucial and some heritage breweries struggled to be noticed.
Anchor Brewing replaced its iconic branding with a simplified logo and label that many hated, while Booneville, CA-based Anderson Valley Brewing may have successfully pulled things off.
For over thirty years, Anderson Valley has been brewing serious craft beer in Northern California’s famed Anderson Valley region. In 2019 the McGee family acquired the company and brought in their son Kevin McGee, a lawyer who also ran a bonded small garage brewery for 13 years, to helm the much larger operation.
(Courtesy Anderson Valley Brewing)
That was the beginning of an ongoing revitalization that has led to exciting concepts like Anderson Valley’s massive new beer park, and now new branding…
“We knew from the very beginning when the family purchased the brewery that one of our first major projects was going to be redesigning the packaging and branding. In doing this we made sure to prioritize its history and spirit at every step,” said Katee McGee, creative director of Anderson Valley Brewing…
“The process itself has taken over a year and an enormous amount of our energy because we have an obligation to do it right. We owe it to this brand and all the work put in by the people who came before us to make sure that we were making a thoughtful and respectful update. Making great beer is really the hardest part and the team here has been nailing that for literally decades. Our new look really is the recognition and celebration of those efforts.”
(Courtesy Anderson Valley Brewing)
The brewery’s new style was developed in partnership with renowned international design and branding firm Stranger & Stranger, highlighting of the brewery’s history while updating and refining the brand’s image and artwork.
As part of the new branding, consumers will recognize Anderson Valley’s beloved mascot, “Barkley the Beer.”
Barkley is a nod to the early days of the brewery, its personality and the people that make up the brewery. AVBC’s tagline “The Legendary Boonville Beer” references not only the award-winning brewery’s historic achievements but also the old joke “what do you get when you cross a bear and a deer – a beer!”
(Courtesy Anderson Valley Brewing)
Inspired by a mythical colony of antlered bears said to make Anderson Valley their home, the brewery has playfully updated Barkley’s look and brought their mythical mascot centerstage.
Anderson Valley Brewing’s sleek new packaging, prominently featuring Barkley and 100% recycled (and endlessly recyclable) cardboard cartons and aluminum cans, is expected to begin hitting retail shelves around Memorial Day.
