SUMMER SIESTA + GRANDHATTAN FLASH | 2023

Janel Young was one of several artists paired up with a local brewery for beer label artwork to spice up the Barrel + Flow beer festival. The festival (previously known as Fresh Fest) is geared toward amplifying Black brewers + breweries. In 2023, Young collaborated with two breweries: Union Brothers Brewing + Love City Brewery.

For Union Brothers, the collaboration was unique in that Young was able to choose the flavor profile + name of the beer being created. She leaned into a summery favorite, with the brewery creating a pineapple mango margarita-inspired beer, visualized by her creative, original take on a tiki glass with the ingredients swarming, topped off with a straw hut. The name alludes to the rest + relaxation of summer vacation, much like “midday summer naps” in Spain.

Love City (based in Philly) + their collaborating team from Alternative Blacks Podcast allowed Janel to reimagine their values in the Manhattan cocktail-inspired beer. This design includes Philly + Pittsburgh skylines, the ABP-inspired yin-yang moon, as well as a nod to the other festival elements (i.e., music). This label also has a 3D augmented reality extension where the cocktail of values is at hand well after the tasty beer has been devoured.