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From the inexplicable to the abhorrent, the world of real ale is beset by profoundly ill-advised branding. Jeff Pickthall of Pumpclip Parade rounds up some prime examples

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/ ... -pumpclips" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/ ... -pumpclips" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Personally, I think this person needs to relax. It's all in good fun. If "it makes the product undesirable to many potential customers" then the brewery can either change it or accept that people with a stick up their ass won't buy their beer. I'd lean towards the latter if it were me.

X, does that mean you aren't going to brew up a 'Drew Peacock' clone?

I think a lot of people need to relax - but probably not the author of this piece so much I figure if he bothered to write the piece he probably sees the humor.

Still, he's got a point - and it isn't limited to "real ale". American craft brewers have notoriously poor taste in labeling. They even have to get permission for every label they use, but it seems that the only thing that isn't legislated on the label is taste.

There are certain beers that flourish with odd names, like moose drool a very popular craft beer.

I took a look at some of his examples, and I guess it's all in the eye of the beholder.

I figure a good (or even better, bad) pun is a selling feature, not a turn-off, and the Christmas "stocking filler" was surprisingly tasteful, but I can do without the amazing number of bare butts (all variations on the theme of "moon" ) and the one that I really couldn't stand was "Parson,s Pledge" which is just an abuse of the English language (put the apostrophe where it belongs, and I rather like it).

akr71 wrote:

X, does that mean you aren't going to brew up a 'Drew Peacock' clone?

Interestingly, there's more than one English brewery making a "Drew Peacock".

That's just bad...

[quote="derek"]I think a lot of people need to relax - but probably not the author of this piece so much

Thinly veiled insult to me nothwithstanding, I'm not exactly worked up about this. Merely having a discussion about an article. Yes, some of labels are silly/poorly drawn. If they bother you, don't buy beer from said brewery. Me personally, I've got more important things to worry about than looking for such inane things to get worked up about. There's an awful lot of people looking for things to complain about these days. I wouldn't expect a brewery to change just because I don't like something about their packaging. Same issue with the Clown Shoes brewery thing if you've followed that. I figure if I'd make a different beer label than someone else, that's hardly an issue of any real concern. Vive la difference!

BBrianBoogie wrote:

derek wrote:I think a lot of people need to relax - but probably not the author of this piece so much

Thinly veiled insult to me nothwithstanding,...

Whoa! There was no insult to you, veiled or otherwise. I agreed people need to relax about this sort of thing. I just don't think that anybody who dedicates an entire blog to these designs can be terribly upset by them, himself.

derek wrote:

BBrianBoogie wrote:

derek wrote:I think a lot of people need to relax - but probably not the author of this piece so much

Thinly veiled insult to me nothwithstanding,...

Whoa! There was no insult to you, veiled or otherwise. I agreed people need to relax about this sort of thing. I just don't think that anybody who dedicates an entire blog to these designs can be terribly upset by them, himself.

Cool, no hard feelings.