The unique additive of maple syrup inspired the design direction.
– Craig Valentino
The Brew No. 2 Maple Porter from F&S Home Brewing Co. is the type of beer to which you’d naturally sidle up to at the bar and coo, “Hey good looking, can I buy you a drink?” And really who could blame you?
Its Canadian aesthetic notwithstanding, this beer’s packaging is all about American handmade craftsmanship. New Windsor, NY designer Craig Valentino transformed Bazzill Basics Paper’s kraft cover and CMYK printing into an intoxicating brew for the eyes. In the process, he overcame the challenge of learning “how to properly tone ink colors to get the desired result when using kraft paper” beautifully – something that is apparent in every detail.
Compare, for example, the red-on-white maple leaf on the neck label to its mirror image white-on-red hang tag. And the main labels – applied by hand – use the texture of the paper itself as a natural backdrop for the “No. 2.” And fear not, you’re not suffering from the DTs – that is indeed a faded red F&S indicia hovering behind the 2.
Yet it’s only when this bottle is fully assembled – complete with cap-to-base printed ribbon, hang tag and maple leaf bottle cap – that you truly appreciate what’s been achieved here.
Though this craft beer was brewed in-house and given away as a limited-run for the 2014/2015 holiday season, the bottles themselves doubtless remained the object of admiration long after the last office-party apology was offered and accepted.
