I'm glad this was broken off into a new thread. It's a bigger topic than just NB's labels and whether or not you agree with their 'marketing', I think it's best discussed in a bigger sense. So here are my 2 sense
I never gave much thought to NB's packaging, since I don't even recall coming across it at the LCBO. I have enjoyed their beers many times on tap and at festivals. It was actually this thread that made me think, "hmm, does my local LCBO stock this and what do those cans actually look like". So I went to check it out.
So here is what I found. Yes they are juvenile in my opinion. I have complete immunity to being offended by anything, but I could see how they are demeaning to some and pretty dumb to me. Would I shut them down over this? No, but I didn't buy any when I was there either.
However, just as they are juvenile (sorry to offend younger readers here), they are also terrible graphic design.
It actually took me quite a while to find and differentiate NB's products from a number of others in the cooler. (perhaps that's why I haven't bought any cans from them before), Why? Shitty package design, offensive graphics are only a small part of the problem.
I guess I never noticed this problem creep into Ontario until this situation. When I travel to the US (where this is a particular problem) and visit beer stores to check out what's local and new, I so often find myself staring at display cases of illegible packaging with overwrought amateurish graphics. Who made the beer? What's it called? What style? Where is it from? All questions hard to discern from the kids doodles on the packaging.
I now see so much more of this garbage in Ontario. NB is definitely in need of better graphic design and well, obviously, an adult conversation about symbolism. I understand they are on a good growth curve, most likely driven by product quality, but this amateurish mess of labeling, offensive and frat/funny or not, will hold them back when potential customers are looking at a wall of products in a store.
This question applies to more than just them. Flying Monkey's made their doodle scribble labeling work for them, mostly by adopting it ahead of the others, using wild cartoon colors and of course, constancy. You can also make out the brand and the product name on their packages relatively easily. NB just blends in with the rest of the messy labels on the shelf.
I guess what I'm trying to say as a privileged middle aged, middle classed white guy is, while I may be a shrinking part of your 'demo'. I'm still part of it and if you want MY business, grow up and drop the misogyny, make good beer and for crapsake make legible and identifiable labels, especially for us old blind farts.
Also, fellow BTRs, please stop the hate...
Brands are for cattle.
Fans are cash cows.
The herd will consume until consumed.