Case study · Craft brewery · Eugene, Oregon
Ninkasi Brewing
Since 2006 Ninkasi has grown from a local favorite to a multi-state brewer. They wanted a look that matched the playful, art-forward spirit of the founders, so we rebuilt the packaging around original illustration.
- Client
- Ninkasi Brewing Co.
- Services
- Packaging rebrand, illustration, trade marketing, apparel
- Location
- Eugene, Oregon
What we did
Fun, quality and craft
Packaging
Every label scaled to bottles, 6, 12 and 24-pack carriers, mother cartons, keg collars and dozens more assets.
Illustration
Over 30 unique labels, created with Eugene gig-poster artist Neal Williams.
Marketing
Sales decks, pitch kits, release calendars, regional posters and merch.
Packaging
Planned from the start
Art was built to adapt to every package, so the rollout was seamless.
Illustration
Sketch first, always
Sketches are refined into vector art that works on posters, labels, tasting cards, truck wraps and apparel.
Specialty packaging
Special beer, special box
Ground Control and the 10th anniversary N10 came in custom boxes with sculpted embossing and holographic foil.
Marketing & apparel
Regional, and wearable
On-premise posters that celebrate each region while staying on-brand, plus merch for the taproom and online shop.
From the client
“The forward-thinking use of artwork in the creative has been a significant factor in the success of our brand.”
Jon RogersFormer CMO, Ninkasi Brewing
Ninkasi Brewing Co.
Ninkasi Brewing, a craft brewery based in Eugene, Oregon, has been operating since 2006. They have expanded from a local favorite to a multi-facility brewer shipping to multiple surrounding states.
Packaging Rebrand
Ninkasi Brewing was wanting to freshen up its look to reflect the playful, art-forward nature of the founders and the brand.
Packaging
Every label design needed to not only decorate the bottle but also all the 6, 12, and 24 pack carriers, mother cartons, keg collars, and dozens of other packaging assets. Great care and strong planning were taken in creating the art from the beginning so the transition could be seamless.
Trade Marketing
Having well-branded sales decks, pitch kits and release calendars helped Ninkasi get placements in additional stores supporting their growth.
Wade Long | Co-Owner / Art Director, Manifest Creative
"You’re not drinking Zombies, but you get the idea that this is kind of a fun beer. This is a cool name for a beer (Dawn of the Red). All of that plays into the way consumers experience the beer. The quality we put into the labels speaks to the quality of Ninkasi’s beer.”
Illustration
To create the unique look and feel of the new labels Nick and Wade worked with Eugene-based gig poster and graphic artist Neal Williams to design over 30 unique labels.
Our process always starts with a sketch. Sketches are refined and vector art is created to easily adapt to multiple applications: posters, postcards, labels, tasting cards, truck wraps, environmental design, and apparel to name a few.
Nick Yarger | Co-Owner / Creative Director, Manifest Creative
"Our priorities are always to embody the core values of Ninkasi; fun, quality, and craft. We wanted to reflect Ninkasi’s growth and nuance in the branding and art.”
Specialty Packaging
A special beer required a package. Ninkasi’s space themed beer, Ground Control, and their tenth anniversary beer, N10 made use of a custom box featuring sculpted embossing and holographic foil.
Marketing
When Ninkasi wanted on-premise posters for stores where their beer was sold we created a campaign that highlighted their distinct regions while maintaining a consistent look.
Apparel
Ninkasi had a variety of merchandise needs from simple swag items for giveaways, to branded apparel they sell online and in their tasting room. Our expertise in pre-production made sure their branding looked good enough to wear.
Jon Rogers | Former CMO, Ninkasi Brewing
“The forward-thinking use of artwork in the creative has been a significant factor in the success of our brand.”
