Pelican Brewing Company’s investment in a brand refresh a few years ago is now reaping award-winning benefits for its bold and spirited style. Pelican’s creative and branding team at Coates Kokes was recently honored with eight packaging awards for Kiwanda Cream Ale and the brewery’s innovative Barrel-aged Series at the Beer Tasting Institute Beer Packaging Awards.
Pelican packaging received four medals for the Kiwanda Cream Ale six pack carrier including a Platinum medal in the Graphics Category, Gold medal in the Style Category, Silver medal in the Creative Category and Bronze medal in the Form Category. Pelican also was honored for its creativity in its Barrel-aged beer label series winning three Platinum medals for Graphic Design, Form and Style. The team also took Gold in the Creative Category.
At the end of each year, the Beverage Testing Institute offers the opportunity for breweries and design firms to showcase their brands’ designs. The institute calls upon the most seasoned drinks trade panelists to analyze and rate hundreds of beer bottles, labels, six packs, cases, and gift boxes and determine who excelled in the important area of packaging.
“Everything Pelican does is done with purpose—there’s a consistent quality and pride in what we do. And like our beer, the packaging was designed to embody that heart and soul,” says Jim Prinzing, chief executive officer, Pelican Brewing Company. “The team at Coates Kokes did an incredible job capturing the essence of our brand and it is really fantastic to see their design honored in this way. They are truly fantastic partners and we are fortunate to have them on our team.”
Just three years ago while craft beer brands duked it out on crowded beer aisles, Pelican set out to bring a refreshing calm to the escalating ‘carrier wars.’ Oregon’s iconic craft brewery introduced a packaging refresh to showcase its coastal roots and playful personality—all while staying true to its flavorful, honest, well-crafted beer.
The result? Award-winning creativity with a twist! Pelican likes to do things a little differently so they turned to the expert branding talent of Coates Kokes who offered a few innovations like vertical labeling in a refreshing design that clearly reflects the brewery’s direct nature:
- Bigger, bolder Pelican logo
- Stronger, contemporary mixed typefaces and sizes
- Vertical presentation of the beer names
- Crisper, richer, more saturated colors
- Flavor notes and characteristics displayed
- Unique label treatment for tactile experience
- Candid, genuine communication and packaging
“We are thrilled that Pelican’s new simple, bold look is now making a splash in the beer packaging design awards! At the end of the day the Pelican brand had to be held together by who they are and their brand position—born at the beach, authentic, not frilly or frivolous,” says Jeanie Coates, founder and chief executive officer, Coates Kokes. “Across the board people love the Pelican logo so we gave him a vivid refreshed presence as well as packaging to mirror who the Pelican founders are: they value hard work, people, their place on the coast, the history of beer and creating quality and memorable brews and experiences.” 
About Pelican Brewing Company
Pelican Brewing Company was founded in 1996 by Jeff Schons and Mary Jones in Pacific City with Oregon’s only oceanfront brewpub. Celebrating its 22nd year, the brewing company has created masterpieces like Kiwanda Cream Ale, Beak Breaker Double IPA, Sea ‘N Red Irish-Style Red Ale, Five Fin West Coast Pilsner, and Tsunami Stout. With the vision, creativity and brewing expertise of founding brewmaster Darron Welch, Pelican Brewing has won over 450 awards including a Silver Medal at the 2016 Great American Beer Festival, 2014 World Beer Cup© Champion Small Brewing Company and Brewmaster of the Year. Pelican Brewing currently distributes 22oz bottles, 12oz bottles in 6-packs, a new mixed 12-pack, and 50 liter and 20-liter kegs via a network of distributors in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, and Hawaii. The company operates brewing and brewpub facilities in Pacific City, Tillamook and Cannon Beach.
For more information, visit Pelican Brewing Company.
Contact: Claudia Johnson, Public Relations, 503-799-2220.
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