Hunterdon: Fun Stuff
The bulk of our work at Hunterdon involves upholding the specific identity guidelines of our many craft beer brands in our advertising and marketing. But occasionally we get the right combination of brand, personalities, events and interests that allow us to play a little more fast and loose with the rules in service of good fun and, often, nerdery.
ALLAGASH BREWING COMPANY
Stosh's Comic Book Night Takeover
ALLAGASH BREWING COMPANY
Stosh's Comic Book Night Takeover
"Comic Book Night Tap Takeover with Allagash." 24x36" printed posters for Stosh's, in Fair Lawn, NJ.
"Comic Book Night Tap Takeover with Allagash." 6x8" printed menus for Stosh's in Fair Lawn, NJ.
As a Marvel Comics fan, when I received the brief requesting posters for a comic books & craft beer night, I knew right away I wanted to recreate an iconic cover. After some research, I chose the classic 1981 “Days of Future Past” X-Men cover by John Byrne and Terry Austin to riff on.
While Allagash White was the clear choice to stand in for fellow fan favorite Wolverine, I had fun choosing some of my favorites from Allagash's back catalog of limited and one-off brews to appear on the poster as "kicked".
In addition to the posters, the account requested drink menus with descriptions of each beer that would be on tap that evening, and I immediately envisioned each description living in its own panel, laid out like a classic comic book page. CMYK were natural color choices -- and how could I resist the chance to put in some super comic book-y "speed line" effects?
A moodboard of iconic comic covers I compiled and considered during the research process. All rights & credit belong to the original artists.
FOUNDERS BREWING COMPANY
Whale Watching
FOUNDERS BREWING COMPANY
Whale Watching
"Whale Watching" 12x18" printed posters and 4x6" folded table tents for Chickie's & Pete's at the Tropicana, Atlantic City, NJ.
What do whales have to do with craft beer? For some beer fans, there’s a beer they’re always looking to get their hands on. Whether it’s out of scarcity, personal curiosity, reputation, or some other reason, many hopheads will stop at nothing to add certain beers to their cellars, or at least their Untappd check-ins. Like Captain Ahab and Moby Dick, these drinkers are looking for their “white whales”. When Chickie’s & Pete’s at the Tropicana in Atlantic City decided to pull out some rare kegs and host a “Whale Watching” event, my mind immediately jumped to the woodcut illustrations I associate with the golden age of American whaling and hefty 19th century novels. I combined illustrations from Shutterstock with my own hand-drawn adornments to create this set of posters and table tents to advertise the event.
NESHAMINY CREEK BREWING COMPANY
Star Wars Nights
NESHAMINY CREEK BREWING COMPANY
Star Wars & Punk Rock
Star Wars Trivia & Tap Takeover 16x24" and 16x20" printed posters for Blend Bar (Hamilton, NJ), Firkin Tavern (Ewing, NJ) and UNO Pizzeria & Grill (Hamilton, NJ).
If you ever have the pleasure to meet Neshaminy's NJ & DE Sales Manager, Kyle Park, it probably won't take too long to figure out he's a big Star Wars fan. Luckily for me, he loves to find ways to channel that into his work. Having an excuse to paint up some illustrations is where I get to have the most fun in my job. I've always loved the style of classic, painted movie posters, and the Star Wars series boasts some of the best. Getting to load them with beer imagery, JP Flexner's distinctive NCBC characters, and inside jokes is a treat.
A Night of Hops to Come
"A Night of Hops to Come." 6x4" printed postcards for Brickwall Tavern + Dining Room in Asbury Park, NJ.
A Refused show on the summer schedule of Asbury Park's famed Stone Pony was the perfect excuse for a thematic tap takeover a few blocks down Cookman Avenue at Brickwall Tavern. Neshaminy Creek's Imperial IPA, The Shape of Hops to Come, is named in honor of Refused's third album and a love letter to their punk roots. Our sales rep requested his own ode to the original album cover with an NCBC spin to act as advertising for the event.
A Night of Hops to Come. With a Refused show on the summer schedule of Asbury Park's famed Stone Pony, the stage was set for the perfect thematic tap takeover a few blocks down Cookman Avenue at Brickwall Tavern. Neshaminy Creek's Imperial IPA, The Shape of Hops to Come, is named in honor of Refused's third album and a love letter to their punk roots. To promote the event, our sales rep requested his own ode to the original album cover with a pinch of character from both Neshaminy and Asbury's own punk rock roots.
"Gig" Posters. A tap takeover artwork request from one sales rep specifically looking for a poster with a "grittier" vibe set me off down a very fun design rabbit hole. Taking inspiration from zines and the bulletin boards of the pre-Photoshop days, I had a blast working on these posters, trying to capture that feeling of piecing things together with just a Sharpie, some scissors, and the library photocopier.
"Gig" Posters
Various "punk rock" tap takeovers. 16x24" and 16x20" printed posters for The Iron Room (Atlantic City, NJ), The Mad Batter (Cape May, NJ) and The Cove (Brigantine, NJ).
With a sales rep’s request for a grittier, more punk rock aesthetic, I took inspiration from zines and the bulletin boards of the pre-Photoshop days, trying to capture that feeling of piecing things together with just a Sharpie, some scissors, and the library photocopier.
A Night of Hops to Come. With a Refused show on the summer schedule of Asbury Park's famed Stone Pony, the stage was set for the perfect thematic tap takeover a few blocks down Cookman Avenue at Brickwall Tavern. Neshaminy Creek's Imperial IPA, The Shape of Hops to Come, is named in honor of Refused's third album and a love letter to their punk roots. To promote the event, our sales rep requested his own ode to the original album cover with a pinch of character from both Neshaminy and Asbury's own punk rock roots.
"Gig" Posters. A tap takeover artwork request from one sales rep specifically looking for a poster with a "grittier" vibe set me off down a very fun design rabbit hole. Taking inspiration from zines and the bulletin boards of the pre-Photoshop days, I had a blast working on these posters, trying to capture that feeling of piecing things together with just a Sharpie, some scissors, and the library photocopier.