The Glass Jug Beer Lab - Gusto Design Co.

The Glass Jug Beer Lab

SYNOPSIS: A tasty rebrand for a Durham, NC brewery and bottle shop.

OVERVIEW:

The Glass Jug Beer Lab is a bottle shop and microbrewery producing small-batch beers available on-site and at the best craft beer bars, bottle shops, and restaurants across North Carolina. The "Beer Lab" operates at the intersection of art and science—functioning much like a working laboratory, where experimental ingredients and curious minds come together to craft exciting, one-of-a-kind flavors in every batch. They are thought-leaders and advocates for craft beer in North Carolina.

TASK:

Known simply as The Glass Jug before the rebrand, the brewery was transitioning from a bar and bottle shop into a full-fledged brewing operation. They needed an updated name, logo, and label system to match their ambitions. The ask: honor the scientists and experimenters of the nearby Research Triangle Park while celebrating the craft and curiosity behind small-batch brewing.

EXECUTION:

Gusto designed a new logo and brand identity inspired by the signage of science labratories. This evolved into a distinctive design system for their beer labels, featuring a signature "label turn" that flips each side across a bold center diagonal. One-off labels maintain their own personality while staying grounded in the same symmetrical grid. Swag, glassware, and even holiday advent calendar beer boxes were later created.

The Glass Jug Beer Lab moved into a larger RTP location off NC-55 and expanded to a second taproom in downtown Durham. With great beer, a recognizable identity, and welcoming family-friendly spaces, they've become a popular destination for beer aficionados the area.