There are about 20 thousand breweries in the world. This figure is constantly growing, but even today, it seems impressive. But each such company can have up to a hundred brands for different varieties of the foamy drink. It turns out that it is impossible to determine the exact number of beer brands. At least now, many are known only within one country or region. The giants of the alcohol market are pushing the goods of craft manufacturers from the shelves of stores, supplying their products to all retail chains.
The question arises: why did they manage to become so popular? Perhaps it’s the rich history of their factories or unique beer recipes? Or maybe success came to them thanks to successful marketing and memorable logos? After all, what better characterizes a brewery than an emblem associated with coolness and freshness. It is this effect that creates a cold blue palette. Other producers, on the contrary, use warm golden hues to resemble barley or wheat, which is used to make malt. Although sometimes bold brands experiment with abstract design.
Let’s see which option turned out to be the most advantageous. We will take as an example the logos of the most famous beer brands such as Heineken, Bud Light, or Velkopopovicky Kozel. They belong to different companies and are lined up randomly, regardless of market demand.
Guinness
Guinness is the most popular Irish beer, whose history dates back to 1759. But the roots of its modern logo go back to another century: 1862. It was then that the manufacturer released its first bottle with a harp on the label. It was taken from the country’s coat of arms and turned in the opposite direction to differ from the element of national heraldry. The traditional Irish symbol has to do with the Brian Boru harp. It is believed that the former king of Ireland loved to play this musical instrument, and then the relic was used by his son as atonement for sins. On the modern logo of the beer brand, the harp is presented in gold color, and on one side of the frame contains a white inscription “ESTD 1759”. At the bottom is the black word “GUINNESS” in Agenda URW Light by Phil Martin.
Estrella
Estrella is one of the five most famous Spanish beer brands. Its logo is presented in red and is the embodiment of the name, which is translated from a foreign language as “star.” The five-pointed star depicted on the label is slightly deformed: its lateral peaks are bent in different directions, and the lower-left corner is unnaturally straightened and elongated, unlike the rest of the parts. Because of this, it seems as if it is carved from some plastic material. The front side of the star has a red gradient, and the reverse side is painted in several golden hues. At the bottom is a red quadrangle curving up. Its contours are outlined in two colors: black and gold. And inside is the white word “Estrella” in handwritten script. All elements, including the inscription, look dynamic due to the uneven thickness of the lines.
Velkopopovicky Kozel
In Europe, the Czech brand Velkopopovicky Kozel is also quite well known. Beneath it is a bottom-fermented beer with the funniest label in its segment. Since the word “Kozel” means “goat” in Czech, this farm animal is a central identity element. The artists drew every hair, detailing the horns, eyes, ears, mouth, and nose to make the image as realistic as possible. The logo shows only the front part of the goat’s torso, but it can be assumed that he is standing on his hind legs to make it easier for him to hold a large mug of beer. The animal leans on a wooden signboard, where the brand’s name is presented. It is written in white letters with a black and gold outline. The background is a golden oval with the word “VELKOPOPOVICKY,” the year of the company’s foundation, and two artistically decorated spikelets.
Tuborg
The Danish company Tuborg, which produces the beer of the same name, has a recognizable emblem, which, after a redesign, has become neon green. The color scheme matches the palette of the Carlsberg Group corporation because it is the company that owns the legendary brewery. The logo contains two parts: an inscription and an abstract pattern. The manufacturer’s name is in bold capital type with large serifs. At the same time, the letters’ size is uneven: they gradually decrease closer to the center and increase along the edges. The design consists of several arcuate lines and a large circle that merges into a small oval. The central element is shaped like a bottle opener.
Efes
Among the Turkish brands, one can single out Efes Pilsen, owned by the Anadolu Efes holding. This is the case when the logo is made in two symbolic colors: blue and gold. The first is associated with quenching thirst and with the freshness that chilled beer gives on a hot day. And the second resembles the golden grain used to produce malt. At the same time, miniature spikelets and hop cones are presented on the Efes Pilsen label. They are located at the bottom and decorated the images of the medals won. Above them is a white inscription: the brand’s name, divided into two lines. The upper word is made in capital letters of different sizes: the initial “E” and “S” are enlarged compared to the “F” and “E” located between them. They use bold font with triangular serifs. And for the second part of the inscription, an individual set of glyphs was developed. The logo’s background is a blue figure of indefinite shape with a white, red, and gold outline.
Stella Artois
The Belgian brand Stella Artois can be recognized by its red and white emblem with many elements. The basis of the composition is a figured tablet decorated on the sides with floral ornaments. The name of the beer brand is written in the center, for which the designers created an individual font based on Friz Quadrata, adding triangular serifs to the letters. The phrase is divided into two lines, centered. Above is a hunting or shepherd’s horn with two spikelets and a small branch of hops. Even higher is an eight-pointed star, which is located between the word “ANNO” and the number “1366”.
Staropramen
Staropramen is another famous Czech beer brand. It belongs to the brewery of the same name and uses its logo, elements created by illustrator Frantisek Tichy. Over time, the design has changed, but the essence remains the same. The main decoration of the label is a golden wreath of hop branch and barley ear tied with a red ribbon. The dark green letter “S” occupies the inner space with small leaves. And it says “A” and “P.” Next to the wreath is the year of the company’s foundation: on the left – “18”, on the right – “69”. The dark green word “Staropramen” is located at the bottom diagonally, in cursive script, and underlined by a long stripe emerging from the last “n.”
Paulaner
The Paulaner logo looks like a medallion with a portrait of the founder of the monastic order, whose representatives opened a brewery in Munich. Its roots go deep into the centuries, going back to 1634. Therefore, the first thing that catches your eye when looking at the emblem is the proud profile of a bearded man in a toga with a high collar. The image is made with thin blue strokes and painted in beige and gold. The background is a red circle, taken in rings of white and golden colors. They are followed by a wide dark blue stripe, which shows the name of the company and its location. There is a thick frame on the outside. The inscriptions are made in capital letters in upper case. Another name is located under the graphic icon. This text consists of massive blue glyphs with a gold outline and subtle shadows that make the letters appear to be floating in the air. At the same time, the designers highlighted the central “A,” drawing a curve at the top of it and aligning it in height with the “P.”
Corona Extra
Corona Extra is a Mexican brand, the undisputed leader in the number of sales in the pale lagers market. Its visual identity is based on the concept of a beach mood. The choice of colors is connected with this because blue and yellow are associated not only with soft drinks and cereals but also with other things, such as the sky and the sun or with the sea and sandy beaches. On top is a yellow crown illustrating the brand name, which is written at the bottom in blue letters. The gothic style of the text emphasizes the originality of the beer. It indirectly hints that the brand was named after the crown from the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Bud Light
The American brand Bud Light introduced a light beer that was formerly known as Budweiser Light. Its current logo is very similar to the one used in 1984-1990: it also contains blue two-level lettering against a white rounded rectangle with a blue border. Only now, the color of the main elements has become light to be associated with coolness and freshness, and the edging has taken on a clearer shape. The designers kept the bold sans-serif but reduced its contrast by increasing the thickness of some of the strokes. This grotesque belongs to the Univers Next family.
Spaten
The brewing company Spaten sells alcohol under the brand of the same name, which is especially popular in its homeland – Germany. Since the word “Spaten” is translated from German as “shovel,” she is the logo’s star. The fact is that the brewery got its current name in 1622 when the malt was mixed with shovels. The artists painted the working part of the instrument, turning it upside down with sharp edges. Below it, on both sides, the letters “G” and “S” are written – the initials of the brewer Gabriel Sedlmayr. The central elements are placed in a red coat of arms with a round base. He is inside another shield but already white. And the latter contains the dark green word “SPATEN,” the red phrase “PREMIUM LAGER,” and the light gray inscriptions “brewed in MUNICH GERMANY” and “since 1397”. There is also a composition of barley spikelets, hop leaves, and cones. The logo is outlined with a wide gold stripe.
Warka
Polish beer Warka is in demand in Europe, and outside it is inferior to other more popular brands. But its logo is easy to remember because it contains white lettering with broken gold outlines and black shadows. This is just one word – the name of the brand, which is in bold font with triangular serifs. All letters, except for the first “W,” are connected to each other; however, the absence of intervals does not impair readability. The background is a red hexagon, complemented by gold stripes above and below. The gradient makes the image three-dimensional; it seems that the middle of the emblem is slightly convex.
Coors Light
The Coors Light American beer logo is perhaps one of the most famous on this list. After all, the manufacturer decided not only to depict a mountain landscape but also to make it an indicator of temperature: the pattern on cans and bottle labels changes color when it gets cold. The composition contains two connected blue triangles representing a simplified “2D model” of the Colorado Rockies. Underneath the polygonal shape is the red word “Coors,” and below it is the gray word “LIGHT.” For the first, an elegant cursive font is used; for the second, an individual sans serif with cut horizontal lines. They are designed by Turner Duckworth.
Asahi
The Japanese beer brand Asahi chose an oriental logo. Asian motifs are clearly seen in the cursive font with elongated tops of the letters, reminiscent of Arabic characters. All elements in them are diagonal – from the cuts at the ends to the crossbars in the intra-letter space. Because of this feature, each detail has a rhombic shape: in some characters, it is clear; in others, it is remotely similar. At the same time, the thickness of the lines is different, which adds an Asian charm to the text, emphasizing the company’s regional affiliation. At the same time, the glyphs are fluid, soft, and even mysterious. They are located on a white background and painted in ultramarine color. This also shows the desire of the beer manufacturer to stand out from the competition.
Carlsberg
Carlsberg is the flagship brand of the Carlsberg Group, one of Denmark’s most renowned breweries. Its iconic logo features recognizable lettering in dark green. Each letter is unique in its way: “C” resembles a hook in outline, “l” and “s” merge into one abstract figure, “b” has an unconventional shape, and a wavy strip extends from the last “g” to the left side, which looks like on a flowing ribbon. Above the “r” is a small hop leaf stylized as an Irish shamrock. And in general, the wordmark is made in the Irish style – perhaps because the cult of beer is widespread in Ireland, especially during the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.
Miller Beer
The American Miller Brewing Company has many brands that start with “Miller.” They all have different logos. The manufacturer himself uses a dark red sign in the form of a quadrangular “cushion” with rounded corners and concave sides for his identification. A white line is drawn inside with a slight indent from the edge. Its thickness increases in the places of deflections and, on the contrary, decreases on the protrusions. In the center is the first word from the name of the brewery. It is also white because this color is best seen on a dark background. The inscription goes up and is underlined by a speedline in the form of a stylized arrow. To make the emblem dynamic, the designers developed a cursive font with a pronounced right-hand slant and embellished the letter “M” with an elegant swirl.
Carling
Carling premium beer is named after the company that produces it. Moreover, both the lager and the brewery have the same logo: a black inscription, complemented by the same black stripe with a small red triangle depicting a bent corner. The font used for the word is Carling Regular, created by typographers from the British design studio BrandOpus. The basis for this grotesque was Trade Gothic Bold Condensed. The developers slightly corrected the glyphs by adding through holes in some lines. These gaps emphasize the internal dynamics of the letters. As for the polygon at the top, it looks like a diagonal parallelogram with a bent corner. The figure looks stylish and modern; besides, it is not at all associated with beer.
Lowenbrau
The German brand Lowenbrau belongs to one of the oldest breweries in the world. Its history (according to the company itself) dates back to the 1380s, although all the facts indicate that the company was created a little later – in 1524. But it is 1383 that is indicated on the beer labels. It also shows the iconic logo with a heraldic lion, which is turned to the left. It is believed that this image was taken from an old fresco that adorned the building where beer production began in 1524. That is, the animal symbolizes the rich heritage of the brand. The lion is drawn in the style of a coat of arms and painted in gold, but not completely: its tongue is bright red. The base is a dark blue square with rounded corners, placed in a gold frame. And below is the word “LÖWENBRÄU.” It consists of bold letters with barely noticeable serifs.
Budweiser
Budweiser’s iconic bow tie logo has been redesigned many times before becoming minimalist. Now the symbol of the American beer brand consists of two dark red triangles connected by sharp ends. The name of the alcohol brand is written across. Especially for this, designer Michael Hagemann developed a special version of the handwritten font based on the already existing Brewmaster. The word turned out to be elegant, with harmonious proportions and a slight inclination to the right. The lettering uses white color, which makes it look like part of the negative space. At the same time, the extreme letters protrude slightly beyond the “bow tie” and, in those places, acquire a broken red outline.
Krusovice
The list of beer brands with the most famous logos included another representative of the Czech Republic – Krusovice. This brand is owned by the Dutch corporation Heineken through its parent company Royal Brewery of Krusovice. Many connoisseurs of Czech lager are well aware of its emblem: a red ribbon adorned with gold edging and complemented by a large crown. Below are the awards that the manufacturer received. And to the right and left of the crown are the numbers “15” and “81”, which add up to the year the brewery was founded. The word “KRUŠOVICE” is written in large white letters on the ribbon. Below is the phrase “KRÁLOVSKÝ PIVOVAR” in gold color. In the first case, a custom font with sharp serifs is used; in the second case, a sans serif similar to Vera Humana 95 Bold from BX Fonts.
Holsten
This beer brand from Germany strictly adheres to traditions; therefore, it respects the continuity of generations in everything. In existence since 1879, it has come to the conclusion that the best visual identity is traditional. As a result, the Holsten logo is characterized by a classic design. He is characterized by a shield, which is held in his hand by a knight on horseback. On the other hand, the warrior has a long, straight sword raised high above his head. The rider is depicted from the side and directed to the left side. The horse and the knight are drawn with thin white lines and colored black. The shield is red, three-dimensional, and large. This is done so that “H” is clearly visible on it – the first letter of the brand name. Below is the full name of the company. The inscription is typed in geometric antiqua.
Beck’s
Beck’s is one of the few beer brands to use a key in their logo. The fact is that this trademark appeared in Germany in the city of Bremen, on the coat of arms of which the same tool for opening locks is depicted. On alcohol labels, it is placed inside a bright red-figured shield with a double outline: white and black. Below the bottom, the word “BECK’S” is written in capital letters. The base of each glyph is white, and the outlines are black. Additional lines drawn in some places create a 3D effect. The selected font is called Serpentine Sans Serif. Short triangular serifs characterize it.
Hoegaarden
The symbols on the logo of the Belgian beer Hoegaarden are related to the historical past of the brewery that produces it. Two blue rectangular shields with a pointed base contain images of hands holding various attributes. In the first case, a staff with a spiral tip is presented – a tribute to the bishops who began to brew beer in the monastery. It is also a sign of patronage of the Bishopric of Liege. A spatula with holes was once used to stir the wort on the far shield. Both hands with tools are painted gold and outlined in black outlines. The brand’s name is written at the bottom in white letters with a dark blue stroke. The font is similar to AurelisADFNo2Std-Regular.
Anheuser Busch
Anheuser-Busch is an American company that is part of the Belgian-Brazilian corporation InBev and owns many international and national beer brands. The colorful and multi-component logo of the manufacturer contains a large letter “A” of a non-standard shape. Its main body is red, and the contours are outlined in different shades of gold, which creates a three-dimensional effect. The ends are decorated with small rounded protrusions. A bald eagle standing on a heraldic shield and three arrows peep out of the intra-letter gap. One wing of the bird is also threaded through the hole in “A,” while the second is on the other side along with the tail and body. At the top of the letter rises a five-pointed golden star.
Leffe
The Anheuser-Busch brewing company has an international brand, Leffe, which is produced in Belgium. This is the so-called abbey beer – ale brewed especially and containing a high percentage of alcohol. Therefore, its logo was used to depict the building of Notre-Dame de Leffe in the form of a multi-colored stained-glass window because the brand’s creators bought the right from the monks to use the history of the Catholic monastery for visual identification. After a redesign in the 2010s, only the gothic style of the large black inscription “Leffe” and the phrase “Bière Belge d’Abbaye Belgisch Abdijbier” reminds us of the connection with the ancient abbey. In the brand name, the letters are asymmetrical: the second “f” is slightly smaller than the first, even though they share a common horizontal stroke. The text is located against the background of a bright yellow coat of arms.
Bavaria
Bavaria is one of the many Royal Swinkels Family Brewer’s brands, formerly known as Bavaria Brewery. Even though the beer maker is named after the German federal state, it is Dutch. Its head office is located in the Netherlands, in the small but picturesque village of Lieshout. The Bavaria trademark can be recognized by the compass logo displayed inside a blue triangular shield. At the bottom is the same blue plate with the brand name, which is written in white letters with serifs. The second line contains the phrase “LIESHOUT HOLLAND,” and the third – contains the number “1719”. In addition, two golden spikelets are drawn right under the compass shield.
Kronenbourg 1664
Premium pale lager Kronenbourg 1664 is made in France from local hops. 1664 – the year of the foundation of the brewery that produces it. It is reflected not only in the brand’s name but also in its logo, occupying a central place inside the white oval. Above the dark blue numbers is the cursive word “Kronenbourg” in the same color. And below them are two awards received for the high quality of the product. The oval is placed in a silvery ring and topped with an image of two heraldic lions holding a shield over which a crown hangs. This element was taken from the coat of arms of the locality where the brewing company moved in 1850. In the background are two intersecting red ribbons.
Amstel
Amstel is another Dutch brewery brand. Production has been moved to Heineken factories, where several types of beer are being prepared. They are united by a logo: a circle placed in a golden frame with the text “AMSTEL BIEREN VOLGENS DE AMSTEL TRADITIE GEBROUWEN”. Inside the circle, which is divided into two halves (red and white), the name of the trademark is written. It is also two-color: the top word is black, and the bottom word is white. A little higher is the year the brewery was founded: 1870. Above it is a blue shield with two heraldic lions holding the letter “A.”
Heineken
The last in this list, but not the last in terms of importance and popularity, is the logo of the Dutch brand Heineken. Here is the name of the beer brand, which is painted in the color of bottle glass. The inscription is made in the signature Heineken Serif font. Designers from Eden used the Horizon typeface to create it. To the left of the word is a red five-pointed star, the brewery’s longstanding symbol, first appearing on the emblem in 1884.
