Press Release: Real Ale Brewing Company Gets a New Look

Austin, TX – Real Ale Brewing Company, one of the first craft breweries in Texas, today revealed an updated look for the company’s logo, packaging, and website. By combining elements of the brand’s heritage, with the stories and imagery that make each Real Ale beer so unique, the new look reflects the individual character of each beer and the people who make it.

This brand evolution unifies the diverse catalog of beers that the brewery has added to its roster over the past 19 years.

“We often hear people say they’ve been drinking one of our beers for years and didn’t realize it was Real Ale. We decided it was time to make it a little easier on our customers to see and try the beers we offer, as well as understand who its coming from,” said Real Ale’s owner and operator, Brad Farbstein.

The new logo includes three components that are meaningful to the company: the hop, the sprocket, and the characters “TX 96”. The hop pays homage to the previous logo, which consisted of the company name and a simple hop graphic for most of the brewery’s history. The sprocket is a nod to the original tap handle and label of its bestselling year-round beer, Firemans #4. The inclusion of “TX 96” around the new hop/sprocket is a reference to the company’s roots and where they come from.

Real Ale was founded by Philip and Diane Conner in Blanco, Texas, in 1996. Brad purchased the company two years later with the proceeds from a small investment in a little-known grocer called Whole Foods. At the time, Real Ale was among just a handful of craft breweries operating in Texas, including Saint Arnold Brewing Company where Brad got his start in craft beer.

While the new look hints to the brewery’s continued evolution, one thing has always remained constant for Brad and his team – the belief that minimal processing provides maximum flavor for Real Ale beers. The team remains deeply committed to producing unfiltered and unpasteurized beers, which is uncommon for a brewery of its size.

“Our philosophy of minimal processing does require more time for our beer to be ready, but we feel that this makes all the difference in taste and quality,” says Brewmaster, Erik Ogershok.

This focus on quality and freshness also means that Real Ale only distributes its beer in Texas. “We are deeply committed to making some of Texas’ best beer, not the most beer,” says Brad. As an independent, family-owned brewery, Real Ale is not tied to outside investor demands.

The brand evolution was designed by Butler Bros, a creative communication company based in Austin. “Butler Bros really took the time to understand what we’re all about and what we were looking for. They are passionate about what they do, just like we are. They are Texans who enjoy good beer, so it has been a great fit and we are thrilled with the results,” said Tyler Linton, Creative Director for Real Ale.

Real Ale unveiled its brand evolution last night (February 16th) at an industry appreciation party in Austin. The new look will hit the streets in Austin and San Antonio this March, with other markets to follow later in the spring.

About Real Ale Brewing Co.

Working in the Hill Country since 1996 from a foundation of time-honored brewing tradition, Real Ale believes minimal processing produces maximum flavor. In addition to making beer that is unfiltered and unpasteurized, we never use preservatives or artificial colors. We believe doing less to the beer actually creates more complexity, aroma and flavor.