Don't get me wrong, I do look at the labels and I can see everyones point. A beer like Old Leghumper with it's label is obviously gonna grab my attention. Even one with a very attractive design like some of the Christmas ales. But give me a beer from a bottle with a plain ordinary label that tastes awesome, over a brew that is awful with a label that's a work of art anyday!

quote: Originally posted by Oiznop But give me a beer from a bottle with a plain ordinary label that tastes awesome, over a brew with a label that's a work of art that is awful anyday!

quote: Originally posted by Flashpro Notice the new poll [:D]

As it is clear because of my beer caps obsession I very often look at beer caps and there are thousands of them so beautiful... But as regards labels there must be said that attractive label can be a mean of hooking up person and influencing him to buy that particular beer. Beauty and originality attracts. But the good beer promotes himself without any additional tricks.

whoa....is that a coincidence...i see the new poll.....but i can only say 'usually' if i have no prior knowledge of a prospective beer. Then, looks are the only thing to consider........................and my 100th post o yeah

quote: Originally posted by Freebird I found out a long time ago that you can never judge a beer by it's label. I do however read the label for the description, brewery, ABV, etc., which may or may not influence me to purchase a particular beer.

I shouldn't judge a book by its cover but...I do like an original, artful label. I'd like to think the quality of the label reflects what's inside. Sadly, not always the way it plays out.

I just realized the Brooklyn Pilsner I recently had has a baseball on the label. I like it better already...

I cant' say never simmply because the label (and name) was what I considered when I bought a "Holy Grail" ale. I can say never again. What a f'n disappointment! Average at best. It should be rated on content, not the art. Someone mentioned generic beer earlier and the fact that it no longer exists. I don't think that's based on the label, but the fact that no multi-million dollar ad campaign was launched. If memory serves me correctly, it was just as good (or no worse than, depending on perspective) than the macro brews. The other end of the spectrum as far as relatively plain labels has already been pointed out: Chimay. Nothing really fancy about the label, but just about as good as it gets content wise.

Sometimes the label entices me into buying the bottle. Today I was in the Finger Lakes Beverage Center in Ithaca and picked up some new items. A couple of the labels looked pretty inviting so into the basket they went.....others had interesting names....and still others were things I hadn't tried. I find myself looking less at the label's design and more for something new and different. I have found that some of the most inviting labels, or with the most interesting names, have held some pretty awful brews.