The garage brewery

For a bit of context, one of my friends decided to try his hand at brewing his own beer during his second year at university. He set up a little brewing operation in his student house, and I had the chance to see it in action—and, of course, to try the finished product. To my surprise, it was actually pretty good. It had a distinct character, and one of its most memorable features was a rich, dark sediment at the bottom of the bottle, which we affectionately dubbed the “yummy black sediment.” That quirky, standout feature eventually became the inspiration for the beer’s name: Riverside Reserve.

I decided to create some branding around it, just for fun, but also to see how I could give this homemade brew an identity that matched its unique charm. I envisioned Riverside Reserve as something you might stumble upon in a cosy village pub, the kind of place with mismatched wooden chairs, a roaring fireplace, and a chalkboard menu. I wanted the branding to evoke that same warm, familiar feeling—something approachable, nostalgic, and a little rustic.

For the label design, my goal was to keep it minimal while still capturing the essence of the beer itself. I wanted it to reflect the earthy, handmade quality of the brew, with subtle nods to its origin and personality. The design needed to feel authentic—something that wouldn’t look out of place on a hand-pulled pint in the quiet corner of a country pub.

here is the design of the bottle and the logo