Three Pennsylvania breweries have had their labels selected as “Best Looking Beer Cans” of 2022, by design website/firm Ceros and esteemed beer journalist Josh Bernstein.
This annual celebration of beer can design started in 2018 when they say “the can was just starting to become a canvas for artists, illustrators, and designers.”
For the fifth year, they decided to revamp their approach to selection and solicited nominations internationally. They then selected 30 of the best-designed cans that caught their eye in 2022.
Forest & Main – Ambler, PA
Beer – One Seed – 6.7% ABV IPA
About the label – Made to aid children impacted by the war in Ukraine, Forest & Main created this IPA featuring Cashmere, Cascade, and Centennial hops, and donated the proceeds to UNICEF. Owner/Artist Daniel Endicott drew this label, made in the blue and yellow colors of the Ukrainian flag.
“It is a huge honor to be on this list with some of the best label artists around. I’m especially happy that the One Seed label was chosen as it embodies a lot of what we believe in here at Forest & Main; less is more, handmade elements, and the ability to use our products and our platform to help others.” – Daniel Endicott, Owner/Artist at Forest & Main Brewing Company
Necromancer Brewing – Pittsburgh, PA
Beer – Cold Feet – 7.6% ABV Cold IPA
About the label – Conceptualized and illustrated by Top Hat’s Ian George, and typeset by co-founder Aaron Easler, the label features a ghastly bride stricken by a case of cold feet. Ben Butler and Aaron Easler are at the rare intersection of owning both a PA-based design agency with multiple wins and Necromancer.
“With the amount and competitiveness of good design in the craft beer world these days it’s kind of crazy to see three different winners from PA,” – Ben Butler, founder of design agency Top Hat and Necromancer Brewing.
On the origin of the “Cold Feet” label:
“From day one, we’ve embraced the ‘undead’ theme in all of our labels. Most maintain some thread of humor, but ‘Cold Feet’ is probably the most ghastly horror to date. I think it stands out from the portfolio for that reason, as well as just being very visually striking.” – Ben Butler
Pittsburgh Brewing Company – Pittsburgh, PA
Beer – Old German Premium Lager – 4.2% ABV American Lager
About the label – Pittsburgh Brewing’s Old German lager has had the same label for decades, Herman pointing his finger at the beer’s name. Butler and Top Hat joined with Pittsburgh Brewing for a full brand refresh and updated Herman and Old German. Herman is now seen doing a cartwheel on the label and then finishes in his iconic position.
“The Top Hat team gave the Old German brand a historically aligned refreshment. The core of that was breaking the mascot ‘Herman’ from the same, singular pose he’d been locked in for decades. The 24oz can flexes Herman’s new set of poses with a triumphant cartwheel spanning the width of the can. It’s really quite fun.” – Ben Butler
