Crafting an Identity for the Strands Brewing and Distilling
Discover the modern brand identity for Strands Brewing & Distilling. A blend of sleek typography, strategic colour palettes, and bold minimalism, capturing a rugged spirit of the Lake District.
SHOWCASING:
- CREATIVE DESIGN
- TYPOGRAPHY
- LABEL DESIGN
When Strands Brewing & Distilling approached us to craft their complete brand identity, our objective was clear: capture the rugged, unpretentious spirit of the Lake District while creating a striking, contemporary visual presence across bottle labels, logos, and pump clips. Operating from the heart of the lakes, the brand needed to communicate its heritage instantly without falling into the predictable trap of overly rustic design tropes. Instead, we developed a cohesive visual system that bridges classic craftsmanship and modern, bold minimalism. The resulting brandmark and assets establish a compelling story on the shelf and at the bar, grounding the brewery firmly in its iconic geography while projecting a forward-thinking craft identity.
For the core bottle labels spanning the light amber session ale Errmmm, the premium red ale Red Screes, and the punchy West Coast Double Rotor IPA, the design layout prioritises clean typography and a highly structured, scannable architecture. Each label balances precise, geometric blocks with playful, characterful details, ensuring that essential technical information such as style profiles, ABV, and tasting notes remains effortlessly legible to the consumer. By blending sleek, modern layouts with subtle nods to the surrounding landscape, the visuals achieve a dual sense of premium quality and approachable charm. The structured typography serves as an anchor, allowing each beverage’s personality to shine through while maintaining an unmistakable family resemblance across the product range.
Colour palette selection played a pivotal role in distinguishing each brew while maintaining a unified portfolio. For Errmmm, a softer, balanced palette was selected to complement its light amber session characteristics and light-hearted “Beer for the Undecided” ethos. In contrast, Red Screes embraces rich, autumnal warmth, utilising deep tones that pay direct tribute to the atmospheric, bonfire-lit nights and the distinct caramel, toasted bread, and liquorice complexities of the English ale. Double Rotor IPA takes a vibrant turn, using sharp visual cues that mirror the crisp, golden straw appearance and the intense grapefruit and pine-needle sharpness of its triple-hopped West Coast profile. This strategic use of colour serves as an immediate visual shorthand for the flavour profile inside, guiding the drinker’s palate before the bottle is opened.
Translating this identity seamlessly from 500ml glass bottles to the high-stakes environment of cellar pump clips required careful spatial planning and impact optimisation. The bold, centralised branding and clear flavour-naming conventions ensure maximum visibility in a crowded bar, drawing the eye naturally to the Strands’ identity. Every element, from the hand-crafted Lake District messaging to the explicit allergen and ingredient details, was designed to scale flawlessly without losing its distinct character. This holistic approach ensures that whether a customer encounters Strands through a bottle on a retail shelf or a clip on a bustling pub handpull, the experience is unified, premium, and memorable.
What our customers say…
Working with Lemontop to develop our brand and marketing materials for the brewery & distillery that we recently took over has been a great experience. The team at Lemontop really understood the concept and image that we were aiming to create and worked with us to pull off a transition from an old, worn out brand to a new vibrant one. We would highly recommend Lemontop for any creative needs. Quick quality work, great positive approach, and nothing is too much to ask for.
Dave Keeler