Can you guess this brand?
I recently wrapped up this little painting late at night, deeming it "good enough" before I ruined it by "overoptimizing" it (a reality in all of my work).
I debated one last tweak -- etching the beer's name on the glass -- before calling it quits.
Then I was reminded of the power of strong brands.
***
You already know this beer.
You recognize its color, the thick frothy head, the shape of the glass.
You know what country it comes from.
And whether you personally like it or not, it likely conjures up memories... maybe of a certain day in March, or of a time with friends at the local pub.
This might be the only beer on the planet that is unmistakable at first glance -- and without a labeled bottle or can nearby.
Can you say that about your favorite pilsner or IPA? I can't.
***
There's plenty of stouts and porters to choose from. And even if this were a different beer, your mind is already locked in on this brand. It lives rent free in your head each time you see it.
That association was built with careful intention, and delivered one pour, one pint glass at time.
That's a strong brand at work -- even when the logo is absent.
Cheers!
(Props to my near 80-year-old neighbor Phil who kindly squares off discarded wood scraps from his workshop and gives them to me as canvases to support my painting habit)