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Since today is President’s Day and most of you are just goofing off…we thought we’d showcase (and grade) some of craft beer’s more entertaining presidential beer labels from back in the day…So now you can tell your neighbors that you actually did something patriotic to celebrate.
In an effort to keep things positive we deliberately stayed away from the more recent anti-Trump beer labels, (that’s another article altogether), however he does make an appearance, as does Hillary, on beer that the now closed Half Moon Brewing did in 2016.
And with the exception of two labels by the 21st Amendment Brewery these beers and beer labels are long gone, but that didn’t stop us from grading them…
(Courtesy Blue Point Brewing
Blue Point Colonial Ale
Blue Point Brewing took a traditional track with the label for their historically accurate recreation a brown ale recipe that was unearthed in George Washington’s military manuals. We find the label design to be a bit sedate and almost respectful to a fault. Unfortunately the beer wasn’t great either (Presidential Label Grade: C+)
(Courtesy Avery Brewing)
Avery Ale to the Chief!
Originally brewed back in 2009 to celebrate Inauguration Day, and smartly returned several times after that, Boulder, Colorado-based Avery Brewing also took a traditional approach to its imaging, but had the good sense to insert a little contemporary humor (the Avery stamp seen as part of the Founding Father’s Declaration of Independence). It was also a very decent beer so we’re upping our grade. (Presidential Label Grade: B+)
Half Moon Alection
In 2016 Half Moon Bay Brewing released a pre-election IPA with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on competing labels that allowed its fan’s to indirectly cast a vote…(Presidential Label Grade: Concept B+, Execution C+)
(Courtesy 21st Amendment Brewing)
21st Amendment Brew Free or Die IPA
From concept to execution 21st Amendment’s family of politically themed beer and the artwork that still grace their cans pretty much sets the standard for melding craft beer’s creative ethos with brilliantly humorous presidential imagery. Orchestrated by the team at TBD Advertising, the graphic design for their Brew Free or Die IPA is the best of the best! (Presidential Label Grade: A+)
(Courtesy 21st Amendment Brewing)
21st Amendment Brew Fireside Chat
Another great example of 21st Amendment’s political and graphic sensibility is Fireside Chat, a delicious spiced winter ale. (Presidential Label Grade: A)
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