STRANGE BEASTS is a craft beer company owned by Joe and Linda Millers. Aside from running a brewery, the Millers are avid stargazers and nature lovers. As such, STRANGE BEASTS draws inspiration from the Millers’ beloved hobbies; each variety features a different species of animal and their respective constellations. Many of the designs are inspired by Linda Miller’s poetry, and others by experiences the two have had. Above all else, they wanted to emphasize the wonder of nature, and perhaps to pose a question; if animals believed in heaven, what would it look like to them?

The packaging appears simple, but every variety offered comes with a unique look that emphasizes the whimsical nature of the STRANGE BEASTS brand. The logo is hand-lettered, and wraps around every illustration in order to give more of a playful feel to the design. In addition to a unique logo, each variety is associated with a constellation related to the animal represented on the can. Twice As Creamy has a particularly special design: the stars double over each other, emphasizing how the two-headed calf might see double the stars in the sky. In order to give the constellations a shiny effect, the stars are cut out of the label to expose the metal below. These labels are made of a thick paper in order to emphasize these stars further, and so the consumer can feel where they are while holding the can. All cans are made with recycled materials, and they can be recycled again once consumed.

Strange Beasts, Procreate/Photoshop, Packaging, 2023