LA Times: Beer label art matches the quirky character of the microbrews

Beer label art matches the quirky character of the microbrews
Craft beers use labels to promote their region or maker’s individuality.

True confession: The first bottle of Black Dog Ale I ever bought wasn't for the taste or the price or even the reputation. What separated that six-pack from hundreds of others in the 40-foot-long beer case was the black Labrador retriever on the box. There he was — the noble profile, those silky ears, his golden eyes gazing into the distance. And to clinch the deal, behind him rolled a tree-filled alpine meadow, backed by snowy mountain peaks.

Read on: http://www.latimes.com/features/food/la-fo-0325-beerlabel-20100325,0,5997038.story

That's what we all love about the micros. The spirit and character that the macros don't have the balls to put out there. Plain labels, plain beers, BIG BIG marketing is all that the huge breweries offer us.

For me, a Maryland brew packaging that jumps out is Flying Dog. And the Hunter S. Thompson quote to seal the deal. But wait, there's more! The beer is great too.