Behind the Label - Christmas
Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at the branding at Starr Hill Brewery with our Marketing & Creative Manager, BJ Swing. This is the ninth post of a series spotlighting the inspiration and process behind our designs. Our last post featured Grateful. If you like what you see, we have released some of our most popular labels as prints on heavy-weight, uncoated poster paper. Every sale supports the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and Starr Hill will match the funds raised. More info below. Be sure to join our newsletter and follow us on social to stay up-to-date with these posts.
BJ Swing, Marketing & Creative Manager
Thursday, December 7, 2023
This has been quite a journey. These posts started with fundraising for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and have grown into another endeavor. We’ve found a remarkable way to connect with you, recount some of the brewery’s history, and give an inside look at the new art. While my fundraiser will end this month, we’ll continue to dive into the stories behind the Starr Hill art this coming year.
It’s only a few weeks away from Christmas! (Have you finished your shopping?) Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is in full rotation. Every ornament and knick-knack is out on display. You’ve watched at least one or two Holiday-themed movies.
We love the nostalgia and we’re also on the hunt for the new thing. We surround ourselves with what we cherish from the past. We curate new traditions along the way. This year we released three new holiday-inspired beers with simple nods to what we love about Christmas.
Christmas Ale was influenced by mid-century wrapping paper patterns and the 1966 classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. This label is a seamless, repeating pattern. You might have seen it used for wrapping. There is an icy blue Skylark pattern in the background with red, blue, and green ornaments hung about. The shapes are familiar to the glass-blown decorations of the 50s and 60s. The color palette would be at home in “Who-ville” with the muted Christmas tones. The design is whimsical and playful. A perfectly pre-wrapped gift for all the who’s who on your list.
Holiday Road pulls inspiration from family quilts and the movie “National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation”. We need a bit more warmth in this cold season. This 9.4% Eggnog Cream Ale will put a little rose in your cheeks like that treasured blanket. The squares feature classic seasonal icons and retro shapes. The colors are traditional for Christmas but also include creams and browns alluding to Eggnog, Nutmeg, and wood-paneled station wagons.
Northern Lights visits the North Pole this year with a special IPA brewed with fresh spruce tips. Our Northern Lights design is decorated for the holidays. Warm, glowing lights among the trees, a light show in the sky of red and white and a single star tops our largest tree. This new take on a familiar classic rounds out our ode to joyful beer this year.
On a final note, I truly appreciate the support throughout this project. Those who have reached out, and participated in my fundraiser, and everyone who’s been following along. I wish the best to you and yours through this holiday season and into the next year. Be safe and take care of each other.
Cheers!
If you are interested in a print of our artwork, they are available in the brewery’s online shop. Your purchase supports the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. If you would like to learn more or donate to my campaign directly, you can visit https://finest.cff.org/Charlottesville/bjswing.
Have a question or want to drop me a note? You can contact me here.
The sales from this event will be donated directly to the CF Foundation, whose mission is to cure Cystic Fibrosis and provide all people with CF the opportunity to lead long fulfilling lives. Funds go directly to support research and drug development. Starr Hill Brewery will also match these proceeds up to $1,500 during this fundraising period.
This fundraiser will end on or before 12/31/2023. This fundraiser is not sponsored or administered by CF Foundation. All rights reserved.
