Craft brewers are artists, and their beers are their masterpieces. So isn’t it fitting that what’s on the outside of the can matches the quality of what’s on the inside?

This series is about celebrating the artistry and creativity that goes into can design, five beers at a time. This first instalment brings together five can designs joined by one theme: HOT.

_________________________ 

Frexi - Smokey Sour

It was hard to pick just one of Frexi’s cans - all of their designs are eye-catching, and there are a few that radiate heat like the sun over the Yucatan Peninsula.

But their Smokey Sour takes my breath away. The hot pink Mexico sunset contrasts so starkly with the solid black on the can. The flamingo that can’t be contained in the photo is like the sourness from the lime and tamarind jumping out of the beer, and the predatory jaguar is like the creeping smoke that shows no mercy. An untamed Mezcal cocktail inspired sour like this needs a wild can design, and this one is spot on. (Jaguar pun intended.)

Lost Palms - Talle Daze

Bring it back from Central America to South East Queensland; specifically Tallebudgera Creek, which is the muse for Lost Palms’ Talle Daze.

This idyllic spot inspired the name and the can design - the clean artwork somehow captures this gorgeous place with just a few bright colours, making you want to swim in the sun and sleep on the sand. As the Lost Palms Crew say, “We set out to brew our dream beer for a lazy afternoon watching the waves crash on the bar as boats and paddle boarders cruise past, a shady spot a couple of meters away from crystal blue waters.”

One glance at the artwork and one sip of juicy Talle Daze, and you’re right there.

Modus - Cerveza

Now to blend Mexico and Australia together! Take the cactus from Smokey Sour and the palm tree from Talle Daze, and you’ve got Modus’ Cerveza.

But rather than electric colours and far-out flavours, or even big tropical hops, we get a snapshot of the best kind of simplicity. This Mexican style lager is made to do one thing, and do it well - refresh you in the heat. The image on the warm orange can shows the heat - whether you’re surround by the hot sands of a Mexican desert, or the golden sands of Sydney’s Northern Beaches - and when you crack the can open, you find the solution to the heat.

Bells Beach - Endless Summer

Bells Beach Brewing holds fast to the slogan, ‘Where Thirst Follows Surf’. So when it comes to their thirst-quenching lager, it’s a no-brainer that they named it after The Endless Summer, a fun-loving documentary from 1966 about surfers who travel the world, chasing hot days and perfect waves. The image of a can recreates the iconic poster from the film: a surfer carrying his board and staring into the sun, silhouetted against a neon pink California sky.

The vibe of the picture takes you right there. I admit I'm a little conflicted - the movie Endless Summer is all about travelling across hemispheres to find the best waves to surf, and here we are talking a beer called Endless Summer that can be delivered to your front door. Maybe the best thing you can do when you look at this stunning can is be inspired to do what it takes to find the things you love in life.

Social Bandit - Pinch Me

If that got too deep, then let Social Bandit’s Pinch Me lighten things up a bit. 

It’s not getting philosophical or telling you how to make the most of life. It’s just using the comic book style, which is usually reserved for totally unreal stories about superheroes, to show something very real and achievable - a blue sky, a deck chair, and a cold drink.

If that ever feels too good to be true, and you’re wondering if it’s a dream, get someone to pinch you. Or even better - get a Pinch Me Sour.

_________________________

Which is your favourite? Grab a case from Only Craft Beer and share it around - just like beer, art is always more enjoyable when shared with friends.