Do Funny Names Keep Beer Lowbrow?
April 16, 2008 8:53 am Beer MusingsOne of my biggest peeves is the fact that beer isn’t given the same respect that wine is. Both are ancient beverages steeped in history and by in large lovingly produced by people passionate about their craft. So why does it always feel like beer is given the “swill of the working man” feel? After looking over the beer list from the Repeal of Prohibition Festival, Bill Burge has one idea why: Beer names can get a bit goofy.
Beer lovers are always trying to get beer to reach the wine plateau, but are names like Hoptimus Prime Imperial IPA, Rabbid Rabbit, or BORIS the Crusher hurting the cause? For the most part wine is labeled by type of grape used or area of production, or in the case of wines produced outside of France, classic area of production they’re trying to reproduce. But beer isn’t held by the same standards of labeling. Breweries and brewers are given free reign to get creative with their names.
I’m not one to try and stifle creativity of brewers, it is after all the creativity of American brewers that provides us with all of the amazing things they produce. But would beer benefit from going to a wine labeling style? On a local level, I think Schlafly employs a labeling/naming style similar to wine: Schlafly Pale Ale or Schlafly Oatmeal Stout. It’s a clear and concise advertisement (and let’s not forget, that’s what labels really are) of the product contained within.
But what about beers that don’t fall into a clear style (not to mention the argument of there is too much emphasis of style in beer)? That’s where things get a bit tricky and at that point creative monikers may come into play. It’s an interesting idea and I’d love to hear everyone else’s thoughts on it.
Tags: beer names, bill burge, breweries, schlafly
BMock :
Date: April 16, 2008 @ 9:24 am
After the most recent trip to look around for a nice wine, I would say that there are plenty of odd ball names for wine brands, just not for individual grapes. Again, I would say it’s American producers pushing the “animal” or “fun” brands.
scotty p :
Date: April 16, 2008 @ 9:29 am
Personally, I like being seperated. I hate all things wine related. Beer snobs can well, be beer snobs but wine snobs are a whole other level. Don’t get me wrong though, I can enjoy wine (when I am watching the Sopranos). We get snooty when we compare our DFH to bud light but these $200+ bottles of wine are just insane. Then it has to do with the taste and rare purple grape or whatever. Beer can be a working mans beverage or it can be that higher end craft brew but it is still technically affordable. I think the name adds to the fun. There is no fun about wine. you don’t drink wine on your deck in the sun, or playing cards, or while watching a sporting event but you can with a craft beer. Once beer loses the fun, we might as well all start drinking wine coolers. Here’s to you Bartles and Jaymes! *Hangs self*.
Eric Burnley :
Date: April 16, 2008 @ 11:10 am
I don’t necessarily think the fun names are lowbrow; just un-pretentious. Not that calling an Oatmeal Stout an Oatmeal Stout is pretentious, but not being afraid to have fun with your beverage is just fine with me. It’s all marketing, really, and an attempt to reach brand recognition.
An area I do think the differing names are especially applicable is for beers that are not to-style for a specific BJCP category. Granted, most beers can be at least linked to a style or two, but for something like Rabid Rabbit, I’ve heard some describe it as not 100% to style for a saison (little high on the ABV, some other tasting differences) - 3Floyds seem to not really care for guidelines anyway, which I like about them. But their version of the saison, named in that unique fashion, seems almost like a stab at being recognized as something distinct that no one else offers.
Utopias is another examples- there’s not really a style for that, so the different name embodies a completely separate animal people just come to recognize as something unique. It’s good for marketing. Just like Starbucks is a particular notion of coffee that most people think of as unique. If craft beer companies strive to attain that level of brand recognition, I say go for it.
Paul :
Date: April 16, 2008 @ 11:27 am
In the Book “A New Religon in Mecca” Schlafly explains why they made a switch from their first more elogant and classic logo to their present day logo was because a person in the upper class will drink a working mans beer but a person in the lower class won’t necessarily drink an upper class beer.
Shawn, the Beer Philosopher :
Date: April 16, 2008 @ 12:56 pm
I’ve often thought the same thing … I love creativity in naming, and I think it can be done tastefully without having to use a “cookie-cutter” moniker (”Amber” or “Saison”) alone. BUT, what I really dislike is the “cartoon-style” labels, combined with silly names.
For instance, one of my favorite summertime beers is our own O’Fallon Wheach, but I don’t like the name and I can’t stand the label. I recommend the beer often, but always feel obligated to apologize or offer a disclaimer for the label - “trust me, this is a good beer, despite the silly label …”
I’d love to see O’Fallon stick with a classier labeling approach like they use with their year-round offerings for their seasonals as well. I believe they’d be taken much more seriously.
Bottom line, I think brewers can have fun with their beer names, but let’s avoid the silly cartoon figures (that goes for A-B too). Leave that stuff to obscure Belgian brewers, huh …
BMock :
Date: April 16, 2008 @ 3:03 pm
When I first saw Wheach, I thought it was Pac-Man beer. I almost bought it for that reason alone. Come to think of it, if Nintendo licensed their characters to beer makers, I would be the whole line up.
Mario = Euro pilsner (think Peroni)
Help me figure out the rest…
BMock :
Date: April 16, 2008 @ 3:24 pm
Since I was bored…
Samus = Metroid IPA
Diddy Kong = Diddy Dubbel
Donkey Kong = Kong Tripel
Link = Legend of Zelda ESB
Princess Peach = Imperial Wheat
Yoshi = Razzleberry Lambic
Wario = Wicked Wine (Barleywine)
Pikachu = Thundershock APA
Luigi = 2nd Best Porter
Bowser = Bowser’s Black (Schwarzbier)
Derek Bean :
Date: April 16, 2008 @ 8:00 pm
I agree with Scotty P that wine snobs are an entirely different level than beer snobs. And, BMock is dead-on about current wine offerings–from London Cab to Big House to Woop Woop and so on and soon, et all. Gimmicky names were the rage with “craft” brewers in the 90’s and it helped to be the downfall of certain brands. But, now, I’d venture to bet that there are certainly more gimmicky wine names out there than beer brands.
Frankly, I think beer is mistakenly given the rank of “working man’s swill” because many people are just plain stupid, and overly influenced by marketing/ public perception/ peer pressure. There are many, many people who when they think of “beer” they automatically think of fizzy, yellow, American lager. This, by no means, is exclusive to St. Louis. My future in-laws are from Minneapolis, upper middle class, well-educated and well-traveled. Yet, when they think of beer, they think of Michelob Golden Draft Light and Michelob Ultra. Yet, they will order one of the most expensive bottles of wine offered at some high-end restaurant when they go out.
Does the average consumer really know as much or more about wine than they do beer? I doubt it. But, somehow, they’ve been convinced that at certain times and certain settings wine is more appropriate and more sophisticated. And, regarding true wine connoisseurs, somehow, someway, sometime, they are certain with some sort of moral and intellectual superiority that beer is an inferior beverage. I don’t know how many times I’ve had an owner of a wine shop tell me that they’ve turned someone on to a certain beer, who previous to tasting it, the person swore that they “hated” beer.
The good news, however, is that consumers knowledge and taste-buds really are expanding. Six years ago when I left Schlafly, I spent much of my time having to explain “pale ale” and “unfiltered wheat” to retailers, distributors and consumers. Now, at O’Fallon Brewery, our 5-Day IPA is our best selling brand–and this is in the exact same market in which I used to have to explain pale ale! This is an amazing shift in the overall level of knowledge in consumers! Craft beer has been the fastest growing segment in the entire alcohol beverage industry–eclipsing the growth of wine & spirits–for 4 years straight now! Now, when I do tastings, the number of home-brewers I meet has increased dramatically!
I think we are witnessing a transformation in which we are all a part of. So, thanks to everyone involved and all you are doing to make this transformation happen!
Drew Huerter :
Date: April 17, 2008 @ 5:21 am
5 Day is now O’Fallon’s top brand? Excellent!
I also happen to be a fan of that name, in addition to World Wide Stout, Pliney the Elder, Ruination, Maudite, Bob’s ‘47, The Abyss and The Darkness. If the name can help the brewer get someone to try the beer and buy the beer, then they should go for it. If the name expains something about brew or its history, then even better. I see nothing wrong with clever names…offensive names on the other hand, I’m no fan of, but that choice is up to the brewery.
- Drew
PS Link’s beer should be Triforce Golden Strong
Jim Zavist :
Date: April 17, 2008 @ 5:33 am
No.
One, it can and does make craft beer less intimidating and more fun and approachable, especially to the novice.
Two, when done well, creativity can be really amusing, and helps sales.
But three, creativity can’t come at the exclusion of a traditional descriptor - I now know the difference between an APA and an IPA, and I don’t want have to search the label to discover what it is.
Michael :
Date: April 18, 2008 @ 12:09 am
I think the same spirit that motivates micros to buck the system and thumb their collective noses at the mega brewers also influences what they decide to call their beer. The fact that they are often creating new styles that transcend the classic styles, as mike pointed out, also has something do to with this. Belgium brewers famously play with words in naming the beers they brew. As for appealing to the masses or making the beers more accessible to the average joe through a uniform and systematic classification system similar to that used by wine, I don’t see an upside to that strategy. Who cares if some people might not take beer seriously because of funny wording? These kind of people will never get it, regardless of the marketing or whatever you want to call it. The demand for Stone exceeds the supply even with the playful names and funny stories on each bottle. Obviously the people buying the stuff knows it’s serious beer in spite of the names. Craft beer is taken seriously, StL is just woefully behind the trend on the west and east coast where more often than not the hip restaurants have a good selection of beer. On the other, I can’t stand the name Wheach. Total turn off, way too cute and predictable. Kind of reminds me of sammich or psghties or whatever the hell it’s called.
BMock :
Date: April 18, 2008 @ 9:52 am
Another stupid name…
Massive After-Bock