Tap handle designs – feedback requested!
We are in the midst of the all-important tap handle design process. Most future MNB consumers will have one of two first experiences with the brand:
- Seeing a six pack on the shelf
- Seeing a tap at a bar or restaurant
The second experience is arguably the most important because we craft beer drinkers are finicky. I know a lot of us prefer trying new beers on draft. If we like them, we might give the bottled version a try. With all of this in mind, we’ve been working with Tap Handles, Inc. to design and manufacture our tap handles. These things need to be darn near perfect, both in conveying our brand image and in encouraging initial purchase. Here is our favorite from the second round of designs:
Before we start producing these willy-nilly we’d love your feedback. Imagine these in your favorite bar. Imagine these in your least favorite bar. Imagine these were made into nunchucks. What do you like? What would you change? We will be compiling all feedback and adding our own in the next couple of days, so don’t dilly-dally!
(I just wanted to use the phrases “willy-nilly” and “dilly-dally” in the same paragraph)
The one on the left may not have enough contrast. I say this because my ancient computer screen can’t display the blue and the black as different enough that I can read the type.
I’d be worried you might have the same problem in a dark/smoky bar?
Sotomayor wouldn’t crack down on nunchucks if they looked like these…
I like these a lot! The blue one — it feels like it needs to either have lighter blue stripes or a different color text, though I do think the text on both should be a consistent color. It just feels like it needs more contrast.
Shape? Love.
Textured look? Love.
Is there anything on the opposite side of “Weekends are overrated.”? Perhaps room to put your website?
Those look comfortable to pour too!
I feel like the “Monday Night Brewing” logo should be larger (i.e. able to read from ordering a beer across the bar). Maybe the sides? Not sure. If you could get them both next to each other at a bar, the colors/design really stand out. Much more noticeable than many.
Good luck!
Price
I like that they are in the shape of a tie. I was going to suggest making them in the shape of the fist that the dude is holding up…but I think that might get misunderstood hahaha
First of all, they look awesome.
I am looking at the small things. The shape rocks, striping angle and size is perfect.
Will have to agree with Price that the logo should be bigger, have you thought about switching the “logo” at the top with the beer names at the bottom. I think this will give you more room for the “Fist Tie Guy”. Another small thing, is there a reason that the style names read up, but the tag line on the side reads down? I feel they should be oriented the same direction.
Lookin’ good!
Ben
the tie is a great visual, i wonder if it would read better as a tie if you added the white collar…? that way from a distance everyone would know this is weekday beer.
my concern is that it will “fade into the woodwork” because the shape is similar to standard taps. the most iconic taps i can think of right now are newcastle (graphically bold) or magic hat (just plain different).
excitng stuff!
I dig that they are the shape of a tie. I would like to see the name of the beer and the style of beer switched. Also, have you thought about putting the letting so you wouldn’t have to turn your head to read it?
Looking epic though. I am still a bit pissed that you guys are on the opposite side of the country, not fair!
I think the “Seeing a tap at a bar or restaurant” will be a BETTER start.
Restaurants can promote the brand, especially that 1 can SAMPLE the brew 1st & go on from there.
All great comments.
RE: the logo and style name – part of our thought is to make the beer style (“Scotch Ale”) pretty large. Especially as a new brand our hope is that we’d hook ‘em with the tie (visually appealing) and then allow them to quickly identify the style without having to ask the bartender. Personally I hate it when I have to sit there and ask the bartender about each tap I’ve never seen and the styles of beer (I feel bad going down the line until I find the style I’m wanting).
Also Tessa – one cool thing is that it’s not just a textured look but will be fully molded/textured resin to have the fabric texture.
Good work, guys. These seem to fit in perfectly with your brand. I think you should leave the beer names and logos in their place. The logo is at the top, so should draw attention even though it isn’t huge.
I also like how the beer name is featured prominently. The first thing I think when I am ordering a beer is not which brand I’m drinking(until MNB hits the taps, of course), but what type of beer I’m in the mood for.
I like them a lot but I wonder what people not knowing anything about MNB will be able to tell what they are. I really like them though.
These look great. Very different from anything I’ve seen and they really stand out. I wouldn’t change the size of any of the logos, in my experience people want to know what style of beer it is and what to expect flavor-wise. That should be one of the most easily recognizable things. Beyond that, you guys have a really great brand, and that will come across by itself.
The main thing I’d consider changing here is that they look really wide. I work for a brewery and one problem with wide tap handles is they often end up getting turned to the side, which in many cases, makes it difficult to tell what they are. There are a lot of wide handles out there and its obvious that the makers of the handles does not consider what they might look like sideways behind a dark bar, next to some other really big handles, with only an inch or so between taps. Just a consideration. Overall, they look great.
While you’re still initially trying to capture new fans of MNB, I think that “Monday Night Brewery” needs to be more involved on these. I like the front, agree with the comments on the blue/contrast, and all that, but what about taking a bold “MONDAY NIGHT BREWING” stamp on both sides of the taps? That way, people could see what other MNB stuff is on tap and potentially recognize the taps as being MNB if they’re on the other side of the bar and see the tap. “Weekends are overrated” is a good thing to throw in there… but I think it’s secondary to slamming “MONDAY NIGHT BREWING” in their face whenever possible.
In closing, use your tap to slam MNB in their face.
They look awesumz though.
These are fantastic guys. I haven’t seen something like this in a bar. It would defintely stand out. I’d say it’s the best but I still have to go with
http://www.drunkenpolack.com/?p=269
I mean come on, it has sparkles!!
Hah but seriously I love those tap handles guys.
I love the ties, it looks great I agree on the logo being perhaps a bit bigger if possible but it’s a great starting point.
Great design that definitely stands out. Id love to see the brewery name larger however given how unique the design is, I think from a brand perspective it will be quite memorable and identifiable. The fact that the style of the beer is listed on the handle is brilliant. I think that will reduce friction to the trying a new beer.
Bottom line is that you have managed to pack a lot of information in the handle without compromising simplicity, which I like.
I second when Rhettanator said. They’re pretty rad, but I don’t know that I’d get that they are ties if I wasn’t already familiar with the brand.
Have you considered using more than one tie pattern? There’s probably 4 or 5 patterns that would be instantly recognized as a tie. Might give each one a more unique identity, while keeping with the unifying theme. I remain impressed with the rigour you bring to brand image. Not surprised, just impressed.
Don’t forget to make a few available in the store. For the hardcore beer nerds with kegerators!
I second all sentiment that “Monday Night Brewing” is too small. I agree with the idea of having the style large enough to read w/o asking the bartender, but branding is a big effing deal. You really want the fact that it’s Monday Night beer to be blatantly obvious. It would be hard to see with the current design.
Find a way to make your brewery name bigger.
Another Dave: an excellent point, and one that is not lost on us. We can definitely move towards different patterns, but for our first beers we really want to keep the look consistent. The stripes on the ties are reminiscent of the sun going down on our labels and 6-pack carriers, Once we’ve become an established brand and don’t have to rely on as many visual cues for people to recognize us, we’ll have the freedom to experiment with different tie patterns and/or shapes. Bow Tie Barleywine, anyone?
I really like ht tap handles as is. They somewhat remind me of light houses. http://www.memorable-beach-vacations.com/image-files/florida-st-augustine-beaches-historic-st-augustine-lighthouse-500h-9709et.jpg
I like the designs. The striped tie definitely gives consitency for the brand – and is a great trademark to attach to a beer label (so that nobody else could use a similar shape to designate a beer – marketing OR tap handles). The MNB logo and name is small – but the whole tap’s shape represents the brewery. Think of the famous Nike “swoosh” – nowhere does it have the brand’s name, but everyone knows what it is. (May we hope you get that big and don’t forget the rest of us!)
Between having the brew’s type on there, and schmoozing bartenders to talk up your brews (I for one always ask the ‘tender what’s new on tap) – I think the smaller logo will work fine.
Next work on some MNB pint glasses – which will get much more notice when someone’s walking around/sitting at a bar, and they want to know what you’re drinking…
[...] been working on our 6-pack carrier, in addition to the tap handles. While we have made a couple minor changes since mocking it up, this is essentially where we stand. [...]
These are really neat. Iconic. To me, the “Scotch Ale” and “India Pale Ale” look upside down, though — the lettering on a book spine, which for me is the most common lettering that I have to read “sideways,” is oriented in the reverse direction (like “Weekends Are Overrated”).
To fix possible contrast issues on the blue one, you could try the the text in white instead of black.
Also, I think having “Weekends are Overrated” on the side would actually be good in situations where the handles have been rotated to the skinny side. It will arise curiosity from bar patrons along the lines of “what is that beer telling me weekends are overrated…”. Conversation starter. Boom. Intrigue.
Definitely want to keep logo at the bottom. Lots of times that’s the only part of the handle most people can see.
Laura, great thought. I actually had to do some research looking at other tap handles and it looks like the way we’ve oriented our text is pretty standard in tap handles. So while our tap handles would look out of place on a book shelf, they should be easy to read amidst other tap handles.
Digging the look of the handles. Maybe a flashier color on the blue one… Lime green maybe?
[...] those sweet tap handles! I was glad to hear they were done by the same guys we’re using for our tap handles, Tap Handles [...]