The popularity of craft beers in the US has grown tremendously over the past few years, giving rise to some inspired, small craft brewers around the nation.
Everything has a beginning. When my son told me that he and some close associates were starting a craft-brewery I could not have been more excited. I knew their group had spent the last several months creating, revising and testing recipes and as I had been part of their test-group I knew their product was both superior and unique. When he asked for my help designing their brew facility and bringing their brand to market I couldn’t have been more pleased to help.

By definition a Craft Brewer is a small, independent, and traditional operator. They hand-craft beer in small batches, less than 25% of the brewery is owned or controlled by an ABI member who is not themselves a craft brewer, and the brewer must either be an all-malt flagship or at least 50% of it’s beers must be all-malt beers. Their other brews can use adjuncts to enhance the beers character but never to artificially lighten it.

Newly emerged in the craft brew marketplace is Barnacle Brewery located near Culver City, California. It’s colorful moniker is based on a family nick-name and it’s mission is to create beers with character and depth using the simplest and purest of methodologies. Brewer Kristofor Barnes states “we never filter or pasteurize our beers. All of our brews gain carbonation through bottle conditioning, allowing carbonation to occur naturally. We strive to use authentic, whole and honerable ingredients and we go organic when ever possible”.

One of Barnacle Brewery’s first offerings is a Saison; a Belgian farmhouse-style ale. This is a beer of subtlety and complexity with malted barley, spicy coriander, round yeast notes and a distinctive malt structure. As is true of all good Saisons, the beer is distinctively different fresh and when aged. Limited 12oz. bottlings will soon be available locally with 700ml bottlings available later this year. This impressive brew boasts an ABV: 7.1%, IBU: 28, SRM: 11.89. Very tasty!

Barnacle Brewery’s brand design effectively taps into the emerging market demand for a more sophisticated approach to craft brews. Modern graphics and a fresh color pallette are paired with custom typography that does a nice job of blending both historic and contemporary letterforms. While many craft brews try to look like they have been around for centuries, the Barnacle brand takes a mature and honest stance. “We’re not in the 1800’s” says Barnacle co-founder Kristofor Barnes “so why try to look like we are. We’re new and we’ve got something unique and new to offer, something the marketplace has been waiting for. We may find our traditions in the past but we are all about the future!”

Ken Barnes is an expert in brand design, retail strategy and branded architecture. His experience in cultivating a brand’s specific points of difference consistently builds increased sales and creates effective positioning at retail for his clients.