Ola Dubh 1991 Craft Beer

Designed by threebrand, Scotland/ United Kingdom.

threebrand unveil packaging design for new artisan craft beer

Creative branding design agency, threebrand, has unveiled its packaging design for Ola Dubh 1991 craft beer.

The Edinburgh based agency was briefed to create full bottle design and adornment for Ola Dubh 1991, an artisan craft beer with a twist.

An extension of the core Ola Dubh range, the product is the first of a new range of craft beers by Harviestoun Brewery where the ale is matured in Highland Park Single Malt whisky casks.

The ale was released on 1 May in limited numbers and confirmed its premium nature by selling out in 48 hours, six weeks before it was packaged. It has captured a discerning consumer, who loves beautifully brewed craft beer, but also appreciates the subtleties offered by the whisky cask maturing process.

threebrand was tasked to create packaging for the beer that reflected the core Ola Dubh brand but signals that although an extension of the core range, it is a different edition.

The ethos of the Highland Park Whisky look and feel were also to be taken into consideration and balanced within the design.

Nick Cadbury, creative director at threebrand, commented: “We’ve worked with Harviestoun Brewery for a while now and were delighted to work on brand development for Ola Dubh 1991.

“It was important to reflect the artisan philosophy of the Ola Dubh brand within the 1991 bottle design. To achieve this we chose a simple craft like design with a clean and almost naïve typography.”

He added: “An equally simple two colour label printed on craft style stock was chosen to reflect the handcrafted nature of the brew and finishing touches such as individually numbered packs and hand labeling were employed to further emphasise this feel.

“To distinguish the 1991 design from the core Ola Dubh range a bottleneck card adornment was added. Here we created a humorous link with world events from 1991, cheekily tying them back to Ola Dubh. For example,”1991 – Over 600 crop circles appeared across Britain. One even materialised in front of the Prime Minister’s country residence, despite constant patrol by the nation’s most vigilant troops. Hoax? Or evidence of aliens? We at Harviestoun see it more as a waste of damn good barley.”

threebrand, based on board Boat 1502U in Edinburgh’s creative district, The Shore, works both in the UK and internationally to produce inspired design solutions and create distinctive brands.

Ewan McCowen, Marketing Manger, at Harviestoun Brewery commented: “threebrand have done a phenomenal job with Ola Dubh 1991!

“We were looking to do something new and exciting with the Ola Dubh brand and the team were enormously helpful in terms of ideas as well as design concepts

“The product was so well received by the market it sold out in 48 hours, six weeks before it was even packaged!”