
Is there a best time of year to launch your rebrand?
January 1 or on a big anniversary? Rushing to hit an ABP or go live before summer?

Trade secrets: How CODO develops beer names
A step-by-step guide to how CODO names breweries, beers and Bev Alc brands.
089 – 2025 BBT Review Q&A
Cody and Isaac sit down to field audience-submitted questions from this year’s annual Beer Branding Trends report.
088 – How Legacy Breweries can sell more beer
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss the unique headwinds facing Regional and Legacy Breweries (and how to overcome them) in 2025.

How Legacy Breweries can sell more beer
How can an older brewery stay relevant? Here are several strategies we’re seeing work well for courting lapsed fans and younger drinkers alike.

Is cannabis right for your brewery?
Are cannabis beverages an opportunity or a threat? Here’s the straight dope (sorry) on what we’re seeing in our cannabis branding work right now.

First mover or fast follower? When to jump on a trend
Pros and cons to being a first mover, a fast follower or a cautious observer when it comes to launching new categories.

A special CBC preview + You’re Invited
Let’s hang out and discuss all things brewery branding during CBC.

How to future proof your flagships
How to build and maintain a strong foundation for years to come.
087 – Should your brewery launch a cannabis beverage?
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss when it could (or could not) make sense for your brewery to launch a cannabis beverage.
086 – How soon should your brewery jump on a trend?
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss how early (or late) your brewery should consider jumping on a trend.
085 – How to future proof your flagships
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss how your brewery can future proof your flagships.

CODO’s 2025 Beer Branding Trends Review is Live!
Opportunities and strategies to help you build a resilient, thriving brand in today’s challenging beer market.
084 – CODO’s 2025 Beer Branding Trends Report Overview
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss CODO Design’s 2025 Beer Branding Trend Review.

[Case study] How We Rebranded Wachusett Brewing Co.
A deep dive look at how CODO breathed new life into one of Massachusetts’ most beloved legacy brewery brands.
083 – How we rebranded Wachusett Brewing (Feat. Rob Day)
Cody and Isaac sit down with Rob Day to discuss how CODO rebranded the Massachusetts legacy brand, Wachusett Brewing.

You should be making hard cider. Here’s why.
A controversial opinion on cider’s gluten-free claim. Plus, some practical thoughts on apples and provenance and hard cider drinker demographics.
082 – How to Dial In Your Packaging Hierarchy
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss how to organize and prioritize different info types on your brewery’s packaging.

How we Refreshed Malibu Brewing’s Packaging + a Huge Announcement
A package refresh for one of the fastest growing breweries in California.
081 – How CODO refreshed Malibu’s Packaging (feat. Ryan and Jill Ahrens)
Cody and Isaac sit down with Jill and Ryan Ahrens to discuss Malibu Brewing’s recent package refresh.

How we refreshed the Alewerks brand
How we evolved a popular Legacy Brewery’s brand to court lapsed fans and younger drinkers alike.
080 – Refreshing one of Virginia’s largest brewery brands (feat. Michael from Alewerks)
Cody and Isaac sit down with Michael Claar to discuss Alewerks Brewing Co.’s recent brand and package refresh.

What to do when your brand name doesn’t travel
A handful of strategies for working around a geographically-limiting and/or otherwise esoteric brand name.
079 – Endorsed Brand vs. a New Standalone Brand
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss when it makes sense to launch an Endorsed Brand vs. an entirely new, standalone brand.

Build Stronger Brands: Your 2025 Blueprint
A step-by-step guide (+ a template) to map out your brewery’s Brand Architecture.
078 – Why brand your taproom brewery?
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss why branding is important for a taproom-focused brewery, even if you have no intention of ever packaging your beer.

How to Define Your Key Messaging Pillars
A few easy prompts CODO uses to help our clients frame their key messaging during the branding process.
077 – How to Tame Rotation Nation
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss how a brewery that releases hundreds of new beers each year can bring clarity to their packaging.
076 – A Designer & A Lawyer Walk into a Brewery (Intellectual Property feat. Matthew McLaughlin)
Isaac sits down with Matthew McLaughlin to discuss all thing brewery Intellectual Property.

Is a House of Brands right for your brewery?
How can a smaller brewery build a House of Brands without the Big Beer budget?

How we helped AleSmith launch a Hard Cider Brand
A behind the scenes look at how CODO helped AleSmith Brewing launch a new hard cider brand.
075 – How CODO helped AleSmith Brewing launch a Hard Cider brand (feat. AleSmith)
Isaac sits down with Brandon Richards and Kristen Ballinger of AleSmith Brewing to discuss their new hard cider brand development.

How to Successfully Refresh Your Brewery’s Packaging
A handful of best practices CODO has learned after handling several dozen package refreshes.
074 – How to Successfully Refresh Your Brewery’s Packaging
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss a handful of best practices CODO has learned after handling several dozen package refreshes.

Package Refreshes vs. Brand Refreshes (vs. Rebrands)
Key differences between package refreshes, brand refreshes and rebrands as well as why these nuances matter.
073 – Package Refreshes vs. Brand Refreshes (vs. Rebrands)
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss the key differences between package refreshes, brand refreshes and rebrands as well as why these nuances matter.

Why are Package Refreshes so Hot Right Now
A deep dive into why breweries across the country are refreshing their packaging right now.
072 – Introducing: The Package Refresh Series
Cody and Isaac sit down to introduce CODO’s new summer BBT newsletter series: The Package Refresh Series. Plus, why *are* package refreshes so hot right now?

Introducing: The Package Refresh Series
A 3-part exclusive Beer Branding Trends Newsletter series on why package refreshes are such an important trend in craft beer today
071 – Make Your Brand Strategy Actionable
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss Brand Essences and how they help to make your Brand Strategy actionable.

What we got Wrong in the Beyond Beer Handbook
A full run down on what we’ve learned about Brand Architecture since publishing the Beyond Beer Handbook.

How to de-risk your brewery’s rebrand
Rebranding your brewery can be a powerful move, but it is not without risk. Here’s how to ensure you’re set up for success ahead of your revamp.

Sub Brand use cases for your brewery
Here are a few compelling Sub / Endorsed Brand use cases we’ve seen in our brewery branding project work over the last year.
070 – What we got wrong in the Beyond Beer Handbook
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss what they’ve learned about Brand Architecture in the two years since publishing The Beyond Beer Handbook.
069 – When to Jettison Your Brand Equity
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss when it can make sense to jettison your visual & Brand Equity.

Why are breweries rebranding right now?
A collection of pain point—and opportunities—we’re seeing in our brewery branding work right now.
068 – CODO’s 2024 CBC Recap
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss their experience at the 2024 Craft Brewers Conference.

Repositioning your parent brand (for better or worse)
On the (many) risks and (few) upsides of accidentally repositioning your Parent Brand.

Are fancifully named beers Sub Brands?
Do all of your labels have to look the same under a Branded House?
067 – 2024 Branding Trends Report Q&A
Cody and Isaac sit down to field subscriber-submitted questions on our 2024 Beer Branding Trends review.
066 – The Year of Craft Lager? (The Year of Craft Lager!)
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss craft lager and how your brewery can nail this positioning challenge.

How we Rebranded NoDa Brewing
A look at how CODO refreshed one North Carolina’s most popular breweries.

BBT Exclusive #4: The Year of Craft Lager?
Why is lager trending? How do you position craft lager? And beautiful examples to inspire your lager’s package design.

BBT Exclusive #3: A Quick & Dirty Guide to Co-branding
A step by step guide to determine who you should partner with, and how you should measure the results.

BBT Exclusive #2: The Regional Brewery Playbook
How Regional Breweries adapting, and winning, in today’s challenging beer market.

BBT Exclusive #1: Defining Your Brand Equity: Fast & Slow
Tools for defining your Brand Equity ahead of a rebrand.

2024 Beer Branding Trends is out now
Exploring opportunities and strategies for building a resilient, thriving brand in today’s challenging beer market.
065 – A Quick & Dirty Guide Co-branding
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss Co-branding in craft beer, and why this is such a fun strategy right now.
064 – Rebranding NoDa Brewing (feat. Jacob Virgil)
Cody and Isaac sit down with Jacob Virgil to discuss their recent rebranding project with NoDa Brewing.
063 – The Regional Brewery Playbook
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss what they’re seeing in their Regional Brewery branding work.
062 – Defining Your Brand Equity: Fast & Slow Podcast
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss how to actually frame your visual and Brand Equity
061 – 2024 Beer Branding Trends Report Overview
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss CODO’s 2024 Beer Branding Trends review.

Let’s talk Hard Cider
Could it make sense for your brewery to release a hard cider this year?

How we built the Cold Drinking Beer brand
A behind-the-scenes look at how we built a Sub Brand that can travel across state lines with Virginia Beer Co.
060 – Let’s talk Hard Cider
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss all things Hard Cider.
059 – How We Built the ‘Cold Drinking Beer’ Brand (feat. Virginia Beer Co.)
Cody and Isaac sit down with The Virginia Beer Co. to discuss their recent collab: Cold Drinking Beer.

Brand Architecture for a Newer Brewery
Understanding your Brand Architecture is crucial for the growing brewery. But how about for a newer brewery or a brewery in planning?

Can you Line Extend to a different style?
Some thoughts on how far you can take Line Extensions while maintaining your audience’s trust.

Get Your Packaging Hierarchy Dialed In
Some tips to make your packaging work harder for you this year.

Endorsed Brand vs. New Brand
When should you endorse a brand vs. launch a new one altogether?
058 – Can you rebrand in-house? Plus, what do we think about the BA’s independent seal
Cody and Isaac sit down to field our latest round of listener-submitted questions.
057 – All Rebrands Should Lead to Growth
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss qualitative and quantitive reasons for rebranding a brewery, and why all roads ultimately lead to increasing revenue.
056 – In Defense of the Branded House
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss the merits of a Branded House Brand and why this could be an important part of your brewery’s portfolio.
055 – Rebrands vs. Brand Refreshes, Revisited
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss the nuances between a rebrand and a brand refresh (and why your intent matters more than anything).

Year End Action Items to Make 2024 Your Best Year Ever
Year end action items to set your brewery up for a strong start to your year.
054 – Year End Action Items
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss action items to set yourself up for a strong 2024.

How to Make Your Brand Strategy Actionable
A look at how Brand Essences and Mood Boards make your Brand Strategy actionable.
053 – What is a Legacy Brewery?
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss Legacy Breweries: What are they and what unique challenges do they face today?
052 – Embracing the Staggered Rebrand Launch
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss why the way we help our clients launch their rebrands has shifted so dramatically over the last few years.

In Defense of the Branded House
Could a Branded House model make sense for your brewery’s portfolio? Let’s discuss the pros and cons of this Brand Architecture approach.
051 – How to Design Better Merch
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss how to design better merch and merch programs and make millions of dollars along the way.

When to Jettison your Brand Equity
Building on your Brand Equity is a crucial component of successfully rebranding your brewery. Until it isn’t.
050 – Designer Q&A!
Cody and Isaac sit down to field questions from in-house designers, freelancers and marketing pros from around the beer industry.

Organizing your internal team ahead of a rebrand
Let’s discuss how to get the right people at the table to ensure a successful rebrand (or new product launch).
How to Future Proof Your Brand
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss timeless brands. What makes a brand timeless and what lessons can we can apply to new branding projects?

Why Brand Your Brewpub?
Do you need a beautiful brand identity system when your beer and taproom experience itself is what will keep people coming back?
Managing the In-House / External Agency Dynamic
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss best practices for getting the most out of your in-house team and external agency relationship.

How You Can Tame Rotation Nation
Here are a few strategies for wrangling your brewery’s intense packaging schedule
Best Practices for Remote Work with a Branding Firm
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss best practices for remote work with a branding agency that might be a state, a time zone or half a world away.

How to Scale the Sub Brand Ladder
Introducing the Sub Brand Ladder: a step-by-step guide for launching and scaling your brewery’s next Sub Brand.
046 – How to Scale the Sub Brand Ladder (Sub Brand Summer Ep. 03)
Cody and Isaac sit down to introduce their “Sub Brand Ladder” framework. Are you interested in building a Sub Brand at your brewery? Start here.

Sub Brands vs. Endorsed Brands (A Closer Look)
Let’s explore the subtle (but important) differences between Sub Brands and Endorsed Brands.
045 – Sub Brands vs. Endorsed Brands (Sub Brand Summer Ep. 02)
Cody and Isaac sit down to discuss the subtle (but important) differences between Sub Brands and Endorsed Brands.

Why are Sub Brands So Hot Right Now?
Why are breweries, big and small, building brands within their portfolio and what does this mean for the beer industry moving forward?
044 – Why Are Sub Brands So Hot Right Now? (Sub Brand Summer Ep. 01)
Cody and Isaac sit down to introduce CODO’s Sub Brand Summer Series and answer the question: “Why are Sub Brands so hot right now?”

Introducing Sub Brand Summer
A 3-part series exploring why Sub Brands are so important right now, what types of Sub Brands your brewery can build and how to actually build one.

What is a Legacy Brewery?
How has the definition for Legacy Breweries shifted over time and what unique headwinds are these groups facing today?
When to Refresh Your Packaging
When (and why) should a brewery consider a package refresh?

Exploring Fernson Brewing’s Package Refresh
Let’s discuss the importance of developing Sub Brands as a long term brand building platform.