[nateo]

I read through the history, and I gotta say- I don't follow it. I think it's entirely too wordy and needs a grammar edit.

Honestly, I took one look at the wall of poorly formatted text and didn't attempt to read it.

[bluesman]

I read through the history, and I gotta say- I don't follow it. I think it's entirely too wordy and needs a grammar edit.

Honestly, I took one look at the wall of poorly formatted text and didn't attempt to read it.

Good point.

Try reformatting the text to make it more reader friendly, and you will attract more readers.

[tonyp]

The reasons for hiring a professional seem to be adding up!

[tschmidlin]

If you want to emphasize the big of big bug, you might consider putting a really small pint glass next to the bug.

Sorry you feel everyone is being overly negative, but you did ask for honest feedback.  People do want breweries to succeed, and the feedback you are getting is to push you in the right direction.  They are not trying to discourage you, they are trying to point out where they think you need to improve.  It is possible that you can still be successful with a logo that some people don't like, with a story that some perceive as poorly written and somewhat nonsensical, or a website some view as unattractive.  There is a lot of good beer in the market, so you need to consider every thing you can do to help yourself.  Or not.

[AmandaK]

I read through the history, and I gotta say- I don't follow it. I think it's entirely too wordy and needs a grammar edit.

Honestly, I took one look at the wall of poorly formatted text and didn't attempt to read it.

That was my first reaction. But then I read the comments about it and forced myself to trudge through it. Basically, it's a nickname of the co-owner. There. Much simpler.

It is possible that you can still be successful with a logo that some people don't like, with a story that some perceive as poorly written and somewhat nonsensical, or a website some view as unattractive. 

Russian River has some of the worst labels. I still fly across the country to buy their beer.

[majorvices]

I do not know.

It is hard to make bad beer these days. There is a lot of info out there. It is not mystery any more.
So solid beers are one of requirements but you need to give your consumer a message why they should buy your beer.

Your name and logo should project what you are all about.
What you can tell me about this one:

Hard to make bad beer? You mean people are trying to make some of this crap?

Sorry, OP, I know you are wanting to turn this back to topic. I've given my .02. I don't think the first one is too bad, and while I agree that people like a story I don't think it is too terribly important, as long as the beer is good. You story can always change, it's business not journalism.

[majorvices]

BTW: Someone mentioned Russian River labels. I like their labels, I like how the Belgian styles look hand drawn and they are obviously trying to look like some of the hand drawn Belgian lable.s.

[AmandaK]

I read through the history, and I gotta say- I don't follow it. I think it's entirely too wordy and needs a grammar edit.

Honestly, I took one look at the wall of poorly formatted text and didn't attempt to read it.

That was my first reaction. But then I read the comments about it and forced myself to trudge through it. Basically, it's a nickname of the co-owner. There. Much simpler.

It is possible that you can still be successful with a logo that some people don't like, with a story that some perceive as poorly written and somewhat nonsensical, or a website some view as unattractive. 

Russian River has some of the worst labels IMO. I still fly across the country to buy their beer.

[nateo]

Please check out the logos posted on our facebook page and leave comments on the logos you like (or hate)!

OP - I'm sorry I hated all of them. I didn't realize that wasn't an option. If I really didn't care about you or your brewery, I wouldn't bother to give my opinion. If you want everyone to tell you how great you are, just keeping making beer in your garage and giving it to your friends.

Once you "go pro" people expect a lot from you, and you become a target for completely untempered criticism. Whether that's fair or not doesn't matter.

It is possible that you can still be successful with a logo that some people don't like, with a story that some perceive as poorly written and somewhat nonsensical, or a website some view as unattractive.  There is a lot of good beer in the market, so you need to consider every thing you can do to help yourself.  Or not.

Exactly. There's no reason to shoot yourself in the foot before you even open the door. IMO a great website won't "fix" a bad brewery, but bad marketing has sunk many breweries that made great beer.

[a10t2]

If you're going to have a non-relevant logo, it needs to have a good story, or be a really good logo. ...
But it's kind of a terrible name and I'd change it before you sink a lot of money/effort into the brand. ...
At least that name is relevant to the place and product, though it's also sort of gibberish.

I thought I wandered into a thread about Dogfish Head for a second...

[denny]

If you're going to have a non-relevant logo, it needs to have a good story, or be a really good logo. ...
But it's kind of a terrible name and I'd change it before you sink a lot of money/effort into the brand. ...
At least that name is relevant to the place and product, though it's also sort of gibberish.

I thought I wandered into a thread about Dogfish Head for a second...

[kylekohlmorgen]

Exactly. There's no reason to shoot yourself in the foot before you even open the door. IMO a great website won't "fix" a bad brewery, but bad marketing has sunk many breweries that made great beer.

This becomes more true as we have more options on the shelf. If I'm blindly trying something new, I'm probably not going to pick a six pack that has a clip art logo.

Spend some time thinking about your brand. Is there significance behind the "Big Bug" name or is it just 'catchy' alliteration? Your brand should give me a glimpse of your motivations to brew beer, and should be created in the same style you create beers. Clip Art logo says 'Copy-and-Paste beer'.

I'm no artist either. I can conceptualize, construct, and produce a beer, but I don't even know where to start on a logo. If you know an artist (even a really poor one), fill them full of your beer and have them sketch you out something. Tattoo artists are especially good at creating art out of ideas, experiences, and interaction with the customer.

[klickitat jim]

Don't overlook the possibility of people claiming that you are trying to target youth. They did it with a tobacco company because they had a cartoon camel

"Friends don't let friends drink bad beer"

[tschmidlin]

Don't overlook the possibility of people claiming that you are trying to target youth. They did it with a tobacco company because they had a cartoon camel

Although internal documents from that tobacco company showed that they were targeting youth.

[nateo]

I thought I wandered into a thread about Dogfish Head for a second...

Step 1) Make a gibberish brand name
Step 2) Make beer that's as good Dogfish Head's
Step 3) ??
Step 4) Profit!

PS - "The brewery takes its name from Dogfish Head, Maine where founder Sam Calagione spent summers as a child."