This content was originally published by The Hop Review, a digital magazine that joined the Hop Culture family in March 2020.
This piece was written by Jack Muldowney.
Beer geeks know Danish brewer, Mikkeller, for their collaborative spirit. Identity and branding nerds may know Swedish design house, Bedow, for their stripped-down approach. Together, they’ve combined for a collaboration anyone would want to get their hands on. And in the spirit of Spring, we dip into the archives to take a look at these 2012 limited releases from the two producers.
Their Pale Spring Ale is the first of four seasonal releases for that year. And undoubtedly, it takes a page right out of the minimalist design handbook. Massimo Vignelli would drink this beer, no doubt. Simple line-work illustration and classic sans serif type combine with a brilliant, thoughtful heat sensitive printing technique. Think Coors ‘cold activated’ indicator, except purposeful and intelligent. When activated by touch, the snowflake motif fades to make way for a sun illustration. That’s just damn smart (& this theme carries on throughout the whole seasonal set of bottles). Typophiles will get their fix from the pared down typography – with it’s restrained alignment and grid-abiding nature.
A smart, memorable solution from two respected producers. Minimalist, thoughtful, drinkable. How Scandinavian.
TYPOGRAPHY: A
ILLUSTRATION: A
PRINTING: A+
BOTTLING: B+
OVERALL DESIGN: A
Hats off to Mikkeller for constant innovation, and Bedow for their bold approach.
Images borrowed from Bedow’s site.