Cape Collective, a craft beer brand, emerged as the big winner at the seventh annual Beer Label Design Awards held in Cape Town on November 27, 2024. The prestigious event, organized by Winemag.co.za, honors exceptional beer and wine label designs. The competition was sponsored by Rotolabel, with secondary support from Avery Dennison, Synchron, and Kemtek|HP Indigo.
The partnership between Cape Collective co-founders Dane Raath, a beer and wine marketer, and designer Janneman Solms, along with Saggy Stone Brewing Co., proved to be a winning formula. This collaboration not only produced award-winning beers but also garnered recognition for their standout label designs. In addition to his work with Cape Collective, Dane Raath is also part of the Bomb Squad beer team, where he introduced rugby players Steven Kitshoff and Malcolm Marx to both Saggy Stone and Solms, leading to further success.
Cape Collective’s label series, designed by Janneman Solms, secured the Gold award in the “beer as a series” category and was honored with the coveted Grand Prix award. The brand also claimed the People’s Choice award for beer. Additionally, the Bomb Squad Pilsner, produced by Saggy Stone Brewing Co. and designed by Solms, won Gold in the “single label” category.
Dane Raath expressed his excitement, saying, “Our win is one for the books for Cape Collective. Janneman blew everyone away with his incredible creations, and we are very proud of our achievements. We extend our thanks to Winemag.co.za for hosting such an amazing event, and a big thank you to Saggy Stone for believing in us and supporting all our beer projects.”
Janneman Solms reflected on the journey, noting, “When life handed us a 2020 lockdown, Dane and I, with our decades of wine industry connections, collaborated on exporting wine and then teamed up with Saggy Stone to create our Cape Collective ‘palate cleansing’ beers. Design is my passion, as is good wine and beer, and I’m elated with the outcome of the awards. It’s incredible to see how far our brand has come.”
The Beer Label Design Awards are judged in two categories: single labels and labels forming a series. Criteria for evaluation include originality, execution, shelf appeal, and the overall effectiveness of the label as a communication tool. To qualify, beers must be produced in South Africa, commercially available, and have a minimum stock requirement of 50 six-bottle cases.
The competition’s primary goal is to recognize the impact of outstanding design on consumer choices in the beer and wine industries, while also providing an opportunity for South African design studios to showcase their work.
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