{"id":5382,"date":"2013-08-28T11:24:18","date_gmt":"2013-08-28T10:24:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thedomesticsoundscape.com\/wordpress\/?p=5382"},"modified":"2013-08-28T13:08:45","modified_gmt":"2013-08-28T12:08:45","slug":"summer-lightning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/thedomesticsoundscape.com\/wordpress\/?p=5382","title":{"rendered":"Summer Lightning"},"content":{"rendered":"

A pub in town has walls smothered in old beer pump clips. Mark and I have spent enough evenings reviewing the different designs of these that I proposed one evening back in June that we select a contender to inspire one of my Quotidian Colourwork designs. (Please forgive shoddy ‘phone photos…)<\/p>\n

\"Bar_Pumps_02\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I love<\/em> the aesthetic of (some) pump clips*, and how this genre of design contains everything from extremely homemade designs clearly composed using old versions of Microsoft Word, through to sophisticated, classic imagery. I enjoy how some of the homemade designs are more charming than their expensively designed counterparts, suggestive of domestic and small-scale production, and there is much pleasure to be had in analysing the different font choices and colours selected by different beer-makers for selling their wares. The themes and motifs that dominate appeal to my own tastes immensely, but then who does not enjoy curling hop vines, small woodland animals, and other inferences of sylvan landscapes where the ingredients for making beer grow in hedonistic profusion?<\/p>\n

\"Bar_Pumps_IPA\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Bar_Pumps_WeeStoater\"<\/a><\/p>\n

There are many pagan motifs<\/a> scattered throughout the design of beer pump clips, too, as though non-judgemental, benevolent Gods of nature watch over you as you drink the beer; as though beer is a spiritual libation rather than an immoral scourge<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"Bar_Pumps_CornDolly\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Too, there is something self-conciously macho<\/em> in the design of beer pump clips; in solid, no-nonsense typefaces and references to ‘manly’ professions like sailing<\/em> and fighting<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"Bar_Pumps_TeaClipper\"<\/a><\/p>\n

However, as Mark and I perused the many examples of beer pump clip art and discussed these fine points of design, Mark made the clever suggestion that – really, because it’s the beer we have the biggest personal connection with – I should work with the label for Summer Lightning. <\/p>\n

\"Bar_Pumps_SummerLIghtning\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Summer Lightning<\/a> is a great beer. It’s slightly on the strong side at 5% and I’ve paid for overindulgence on several occasions but it tastes pleasingly tangy and hoppy, and you can buy a 4 pint jug of it at our local pub for just over a tenner. Our local pub has a lovely atmosphere, it’s never too crowded, they play old rock music not too loud, and the bar staff always ask after our ‘other half’ if either of us go in unaccompanied. <\/p>\n

listen to ‘Down the local’ on Audioboo<\/a><\/div>\n