“If you’re putting extraordinarily good contents in mediocre packaging, you’re letting yourself down as a producer,” says Sean Harrison, a creative director at Whitespace Creative and one of the judges at South Africa’s inaugural beer label design awards.

Beer labels were judged in two categories: single beer, or beers in a series.

Ten beers received a silver rating at the awards held at the end of March, and only one gold. 

Visit Food24's dedicated craft beer site here. 

These are the beer labels which achieved silver or better at the South African Beer Lable Design awards 2018. 

The Kennel Brewery:
Alesation India Pale Ale, Bierboel Belgian Milkshake, Beernard California Common, Lagedor India Red Lager, Maltyeast Poodle Witbier, Porter Collie Smoked Porter

Gold: Beers in a series
Designer: Peter Fabricius

Clockwork Brewhouse:
English Best Bitter, Golden Elderflower Ale, Märzen German Lager, Schwarzbier, German Lage

Silver: Beers in a series
Designer: Dominic Strauss

Lakeside Brewing Co:
783 Pale Ale, Festival Oktoberfest Lager, Out of Office Belgian Blonde, Summer, Red Session IPA

Silver: Beers in a series
Design firm: Jenny Glazier

Mitchell's:
90 Shilling Ale, Bosun's Pale Ale, Forester's Lager, Milk & Honey Ale, Old Wobbly Strong Lager, Raven Stout

Silver: Beers in a series
Design firm: The Butcher’s Shop

Darling Brew:
Slow Beer

Silver: Single beer
Design firm: Space Design

Devil's Peak:
Up and Away Lager

Silver: Single beer
Design firm: Adam Hill

Poison City:
The Other Bird Czech Dark Lager

Silver: Single beer
Design firm: unagency  

Poison City:
The Punk Rocker English Pale Ale

Silver: Single beer
Design firm: unagency

Soweto Gold

Silver: Single beer
Design firm: At Pace Design & Advertising

The Red Rock Brewing Company:
Rusty Trigger Lager

Silver: Single beer
Design firm: Switch

The Red Rock Brewing Company:
Nine Inch Ale

Silver: Single beer
Design firm: Switch

The judges were Harrison; Winemag.co.za editor Christian Eedes; Woolworths product developer for wine Rebecca Constable; beer judge and writer Lucy Corne; and Carla Kreuser, an independent graphic designer and illustrator. 

Judging criteria included originality of concept, execution, shelf appeal and effectiveness as a piece of communication.

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