| Kelly: | I know, the images on the dogfish head label art bother me too. But I had a difficult time articulating why...I'm not sure I can put my finger on what bothers me so much...what are your thoughts on that?
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| Jebin: | Let me see, what bothers me about the label art? Is the stereotypical depiction of the exotic? Naked brown girl in headdress dripping in chocolate...exaggerated pout in a bed of raspberries...doe-eyed exotic girl straddling a big moose. And anime to boot. Is it similar to what aggravates me about Mexican food in the U.S. -all about burritos and tacos and lots o cheese/ or the entirely of Chinese cuisine reduced to bad shrimp lo mein and greasy spring rolIs? Is it the complete lack of subtlety?
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| And is it that I expect more from a craft beer label than Budweiser, i.e. I expect the "you can twist anything into a swimsuit" pitch and layout from anheuser or bud, but not from an alternative brand. As far as label art goes, the images are over-sexualized not sensual. I think college frat boys, bong hits, grungy clothes, not innovative and creative beer. And what is dogfish head anyway? They are a big brewery, right? What's their marketing budget?
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| I went searching to see if anyone else felt this way, but a quick search on theobroma label art yielded nothing but praise. And it seems everyone is friends with Marq Spusta?
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| See: |
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| http: | //drinkwiththewench.com/?p=271
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| http: | //barleyvine.blogspot.com/2010/09/dogfish-head-theobroma.html
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| http: | //in.worldclassbeverages.com/beerspy/product/dogfish-head-theobroma/5965/
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| http: | //beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/10099/41702/?sort=high&start=30
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| Here's some controversy over the Abbey label art that I found intriguing: | http://beerandwhiskeybros.com/2010/10/25/lost-abbey-bows-to-pagan-pressure-changes-witchs-wit-label-with-poll/
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| Jebin: | J. thinks that it shouldn't be taken seriously or literally. That you have to have a sense of humour about it. It's obvious, not subtle. they're hitting you over the head with it, they are not taking it seriously, she's dripping in chocolate for gods sake. He says, they expect you to expect this from a beer ad, after all, it's beer. Which leads me to wonder, what do we expect from our beer ads?
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| J. says it's meant to be more like arrogant bastard ale's tongue in cheek approach. But I think DFH fails in tongue in cheek, entirely. I still think freshman dorm room. And I think the arrogant bastard ale label is brilliant. Again, the question is, what makes good beer art. What are our expectations for the marketing campaigns of craft brewers?
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| Kelly: | Oh, but you haven't seen the best one
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| http: | //t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTzZZTsQLpFGq0cUHHz4X3AA8O0aVHJh1JamVU9k0L8ATpzA1atCA
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| And Yes, DFH is a massive company, I was told the 3rd largest in the country. And their bit is to be creative, so they are a "craft" brewing company and your right, the slogan off -centered beers for off-centered people is certainly trying to reach out to those who think of themselves as alternative. I'm sure their marketing budget is pretty decent, but they don't advertise beyond the internet so maybe not. |
