Featured image for Halyard Brewing Company's Cans Feature Nautical Nods And Island Vibes

Halyard Brewing Company's Cans Feature Nautical Nods And Island Vibes

by Chloe Gordon on 04/23/2021 | 4 Minute Read

Based in Burlington, Vermont, Halyard Brewing Company has released their alcoholic ginger beer with packaging by designer Brendan Fossi. With fruity and island-inspired flavors, the brand needed packaging that could match the aesthetic. The Breeze can features a retro-island font, while the Volcano Juice can sticks to a more classic Sans-serif typeface. Halyard Brewing Company's cans are perfectly colorful and nautical, and now that it's almost summer, I can easily imagine these cans by my side whether I'm sitting with my feet dipped in the pool or after a long grueling hike.


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Halyard Brewing Co in Burlington, Vermont is reviving the lost art of alcoholic ginger beer, now offering its American craft ginger beer throughout the U.S. in naturally gluten free, low sugar and delicious flavors like The Breeze with hibiscus and fresh lime; Nicole’s Extra with fresh ginger heat + island aromatics; and the shandy-inspired Volcano Juice with organic lemons.  

Built upon recipes that date back to the 1750s, founder and head brewer Kenneth Richards is reviving a pre-prohibition era ferment, using organic and fair-trade ingredients to brew alcoholic ginger beer, perfect for sipping all spring + summer long. Introducing a lesser-known category to both the modern craft beer drinker and wellness-driven consumer of hard seltzer and kombucha, Halyard pulls its origins from the colonial spice trade, where ginger from southeast Asia and cane-sugar from the Caribbean were fermented to produce a mildly alcoholic and wildly popular drink, the “original” ginger beer.  

In the 1920’s, the US Prohibition against alcohol put a stop to the production and sale of ginger brew, leaving it largely forgotten until now. Founded in 2016, Halyard has worked tirelessly to rediscover the craft and lost art, and is growing its footprint to make this arcane yet exceptional beverage available to a wider audience. Named after the rope used for raising and lowering a sail in sailing, Halyard speaks to the brand’s passion for adventure and the cultural journey of the fiery rhizome: ginger. 

Available on-and-off premise throughout New England, Halyard is now distributing on shelves in additional markets including New Jersey, Maryland, North Florida, Colorado, and coming soon: California + New York City. 

Halyard’s brews can be enjoyed on their own, on ice with a squeeze of lime, or in a hand fashioned cocktail. Highlights include: 

  • Nicole’s Extra (6.0% ABV) a Caribbean style ginger beer with fresh ginger heat and Island aromatics 
  • The Breeze (4.5% ABV) a slightly tart ginger beer brewed with hibiscus flowers and fresh lime juice 
  • Volcano Juice (4.1% ABV) a refreshing ginger beer shandy brewed with organic lemons. Slightly sweet with a crisp and gingery lemon bite 
  • Mountain-Aid (4.5% abv) a black currant ginger beer brewed for life in the Green Mountain state. Tart and juicy with a mellow ginger finish  

"As makers, travelers, and adventurous folk, we are fascinated by the opportunity to revive a forgotten ferment," says Richards, speaking about his small and dedicated team. "How can something that was apparently so ubiquitous 150 years ago, be almost completely absent today? I am both daunted and excited by the chance to lead the company that reintroduces American craft ginger beer to the U.S. market.  I want to set the bar really high. This is why we use organic ingredients, U.S. grown evaporated cane sugar (you know, the good stuff), and naturally ferment our ginger beer in the craft beverage tradition." 

Halyard brews from its original brewery in South Burlington, VT, producing year-round, seasonal and collaboration brews. This year, they are partnering with SingleCut Beersmiths and Shacksbury Cider, utilizing their facilities to expand production. Halyard can be found at retail partners (in the aforementioned markets) including Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Publix, Hannaford and more. 

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