Carlow Brewing Company

artvandelay48

Long time lurker here.

I think the beers on offer from the Carlow brewing company are very strong and Curim has to be my favourite irish craft beer.

Having said that, I think they are seriously shooting themselves in the foot with their branding. On some beers the name oharas I quite prominent and others, like Curim, it's not on the label at all. In all cases, Carlow brewing company is hard to spot on the label. The confusion between oharas brewery and Carlow brewing company hurts them, IMO. Also, the look of the brand doesn't really stand out and is outdated. I really think they suffer from a lack of consistency and simplicity in their branding. Personally, I think people like 8 degrees, college green, and Galway bay have it right; simple, modern looking branding.

Anyone else agree?

Ravelleman

I disagree. A lot of O'Hara's revenue has historically come from exports. An Irish surname like O'Hara is a lot more recognizable to Americans than the likes of 'Carlow Brewery' - a name coming from region of Ireland of which they have surely never heard.

Curim was also one of their first beers, if not the first. I imagine that they keep using the name as a nod to their history here. Curim has been branded as O'Hara's Celtic Wheat Beer outside of Ireland in the past. I'm not sure if they still do but this was certainly reflected in their old website, pre-redesign.

BeerNut

Not really bothered, TBH. I don't buy them for the labels.

They are aware of the inconsistency, it's been a slow evolution from the time when O'Hara's was just the name of the stout, the red was Molings and Curim was the wheat beer. I've heard Seamus say that it's only a matter of time before the company renames itself as "O'Hara's", since that what it mostly calls itself. A couple of years ago there was new artwork for Curim, branding it as "O'Hara's Irish Wheat Ale" on menus in the Porterhouse but it doesn't seem to have made it as far as the bottles.

artvandelay48

BeerNut wrote: »

Not really bothered, TBH. I don't buy them for the labels.

They are aware of the inconsistency, it's been a slow evolution from the time when O'Hara's was just the name of the stout, the red was Molings and Curim was the wheat beer. I've heard Seamus say that it's only a matter of time before the company renames itself as "O'Hara's", since that what it mostly calls itself. A couple of years ago there was new artwork for Curim, branding it as "O'Hara's Irish Wheat Ale" on menus in the Porterhouse but it doesn't seem to have made it as far as the bottles.

You may not buy for the labels but people new to the craft scene will. Currently, I don't see much to attract someone who's not familiar with the brand who's just browsing beers in Tesco. I think the inconsistency is the main thing, it should all be labelled as O'Hara's, or not.

drumswan

I would agree that presentation is more important than some people think when it comes to beer bottles, especially when newbies are choosing among craft beers instead of choosing craft over Heineken or something.

That said, I like O'Haras labels.

symbolic

I wouldn't be a fan of their labels. But Leann Follain is my favourite Stout, so I forgive them. I know what you mean. But I guess it makes sense if they are marketing abroad so much, as stated above. It's too Irishy for me.

They should go the Flying Dog route. Maybe get some Irish street artist to do them :-) The hip folk (myself included!) would love it.

BMJD

Whatever about the names, I think their labels are quite poor and amateurish looking. They could learn a thing or two from 8 degrees or Dungarvan imo. Same could be said fir Galway Bay.

strobe

I dunno, must be doing something right. They've had the best market penetration of any Irish craft brewery by a long long way from what I can see.

BaZmO*

artvandelay48 wrote: »

Long time lurker here.

I think the beers on offer from the Carlow brewing company are very strong and Curim has to be my favourite irish craft beer.

Having said that, I think they are seriously shooting themselves in the foot with their branding. On some beers the name oharas I quite prominent and others, like Curim, it's not on the label at all. In all cases, Carlow brewing company is hard to spot on the label. The confusion between oharas brewery and Carlow brewing company hurts them, IMO. Also, the look of the brand doesn't really stand out and is outdated. I really think they suffer from a lack of consistency and simplicity in their branding. Personally, I think people like 8 degrees, college green, and Galway bay have it right; simple, modern looking branding.

Anyone else agree?

What's your marketing experience?

artvandelay48

BaZmO* wrote: »

What's your marketing experience?

None.

Is that now a prerequisite for voicing an opinion on an open forum?

BaZmO*

artvandelay48 wrote: »

None.

Is that now a prerequisite for voicing an opinion on an open forum?

Of course not, but I'd imagine Carlow probably know what they are doing.

adamski8

I like their branding etc i would change their curim to match the rest alright.

artvandelay48

BaZmO* wrote: »

Of course not, but I'd imagine Carlow probably know what they are doing.

Yes, they probably do. I don't expect them to rewrite their marketing strategy based on my boards posts. I was expressing an opinion to discuss a favourite beer of mine.

For the record, I did in fact do some extensive polling (myself and Mrs Vandelay) to support said opinion.

alastair

BaZmO* wrote: »

Of course not, but I'd imagine Carlow probably know what they are doing.

Speaking as a graphic designer, they aren't representing their brand to best advantage with the labels. Their market share and growth might well be good, but it's in spite of their labels, not because of them. Ryanair have fantastic growth, and awful graphic design, but at least they're strategically representing themselves as a yellowpack operation - the beer shouldn't look like some own brand cheapy product, if it's not that.

The validity of the 'oirish' aspect of their branding might make sense for export markets, but the tackiness just looks, eh tacky.

The Brown Bag Project work on the other hand is right on the button (though some of the paper stock is a bit iffy - presumably because of the different producers/bottling plants?) - because they brought on board good graphic designers who interrogated the specific context and audience the beers were for.

earlytobed

O Hara's bottles can always be seen in The Station bar on Fair City.
Don't know if this is good or bad for business:)

Grudaire

alastair wrote: »

The validity of the 'oirish' aspect of their branding might make sense for export markets, but the tackiness just looks, tacky

In fairness I think a lot of craft new drinkers choose irish. I'd anything is a weakness of some of the other craft beers that is not clear where they are brewed..

Thundercats Ho

If their labels are all they have to worry about, they can't be doing too badly in fairness.
I couldn't give a b0llix what the label looks like, so long as the beer is quality. fwiw I like the LF label.

I also dislike when Irish people complain about 'oirish' or 'oirishness'.
For one thing it's a stupid stupid term, and also, are we not allowed to be proud of our country anymore, or are a company not allowed to focus on a great selling point.

symbolic

Thundercats Ho wrote: »

I also dislike when Irish people complain about 'oirish' or 'oirishness'.
For one thing it's a stupid stupid term, and also, are we not allowed to be proud of our country anymore, or are a company not allowed to focus on a great selling point.

Of course they are. And I'm allowed to dislike it. It's a great world we live in.

I for one dislike the diddly eye shenanigans going on down in temple bar, but more power to them.