Introduction

When Great Wilderness Brewing Company set out to launch their brand, they weren’t just brewing craft beer—they were crafting a lifestyle rooted in exploration, nature, and community. But to break into a competitive industry, they needed more than just a good product. They needed a brand that looked as bold as it tasted.

That’s when they partnered with Semper Fi Design, a veteran owned graphic designer with a reputation for delivering mission-focused branding and digital solutions. Built on military discipline, creative strategy, and relentless execution, our team was tasked with turning their vision into a fully integrated brand experience.

From rugged, story-driven beer can designs to a high-performance custom website, social media graphics, and a print-ready in-brewery menu, we delivered a unified identity that speaks to their adventurous customer base.

This case study breaks down how our veteran owned graphic design company helped bring Great Wilderness Brewing Company from concept to fully operational brand—both in-store and online—with the precision, creativity, and accountability you’d expect from a team forged by service.

 

Phase 1: Beer Can Design & Packaging

Mission: Translate the brand’s spirit into shelf-stopping visual art.

When Great Wilderness Brewing approached us, they had bold beer recipes, adventurous names, and a compelling story—but no visual identity. Our first step was to tackle what customers see first: the can.

Discovery & Brand Direction

We conducted in-depth creative strategy sessions with the brewery’s founders to explore their brand vision:

• The thrill of exploration
• The call of the wild
• The brotherhood of sharing a cold one after a long trail

From those conversations, we knew this brand wasn’t about just selling beer—it was about telling a story through every can.

Creative Development

Each beer became its own journey. Our team handcrafted original artwork to reflect the unique personality of every brew:

• Journey Rye IPA: Evokes winding trails and rugged roads with bold typography and dynamic line art.
• Basecamp Lager: Clean, comforting, with an Americana-style illustration of a well-worn camp beneath the stars.
• Trailhead Amber: Earthy tones and natural elements reflect the warmth of sunset hikes and crackling fires.

We also established a modular can layout so each product could stand alone while maintaining a consistent brand identity across the line.

Design Execution & Print Prep

We delivered:

• Fully scalable vector designs
• CMYK color profiles for vibrant print
• TTB-compliant layout files
• High-resolution product mockups for use in marketing and distributor sales decks

Results

The beer can designs didn’t just look good—they worked:

• Local distributors praised the professional look and shelf presence
• Customers began snapping and tagging the artwork on social media, fueling organic buzz
• The brewery immediately saw a stronger retail response compared to their prior generic labels

Phase 2: Custom Website Development

Mission: Elevate the brand with a digital experience built by a veteran owned graphic designer.

After establishing their brand visually through bold beer can designs, Great Wilderness Brewing Company needed a custom website that could bring their identity to life online. They turned to Semper Fi Design—a veteran owned graphic designer known for combining military-grade precision with creative execution.

Objectives & Strategy

Our mission was to develop a high-performance website that reflected the brewery’s adventurous spirit while serving as a powerful marketing and sales tool. As a veteran owned creative partner, we focused on structure, clarity, and maximum impact.

Key goals included:

• Translating the brewery’s wilderness ethos into a visually immersive experience
• Highlighting their beer lineup and taproom offerings
• Driving customer engagement through events, updates, and newsletter growth
• Building a platform that was fast, secure, and easy to manage in-house

What We Delivered

• Custom Homepage Design
  Full-screen visuals, bold typography, and a mission-forward message immediately showcase the brewery’s identity.
• Dynamic Beer Menu
  Interactive product list with ABV, tasting notes, and food pairings. Built to scale with seasonal and limited-edition releases.
• Events & Taproom Info
  Dedicated section for weekly events, brewery hours, and Google Map integration.
• Email Sign-Up + Community Features
  Seamlessly integrated forms to capture leads and grow their fan base.
• Distributor Map
  Geo-located beer finder for customers to locate Great Wilderness Brewing near them.

Technical Execution

As a veteran owned graphic designer deeply experienced in web technology, Semper Fi Design deployed:

• Platform: WordPress + Elementor Pro
• Hosting: Google Cloud infrastructure via 10Web
• Security & Speed: Cloudflare firewall, SSL, and site-wide caching
• Mobile Optimization: Fully responsive, UX-optimized across devices
• SEO Strategy: Targeted metadata, optimized image tags, keyword-rich copy, and schema for craft brewery search queries

Results

• Stronger Online Visibility
  Site ranked on page one for “craft brewery [city]” and related searches within 60 days.
• Improved Engagement
  Customers spent more time browsing the beer catalog, checking events, and signing up for updates.
• Professionalism & Brand Cohesion
  Great Wilderness Brewing now had a digital presence that matched the quality of their products and their growing reputation.

“Having a veteran owned graphic designer build our website wasn’t just a cool story—it was a business advantage. Semper Fi Design brought structure, discipline, and insane attention to detail.”

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Phase 4: Taproom Menu Design

Mission: Design a taproom menu that reflects the brand, improves readability, and drives orders.

Once Great Wilderness Brewing Company had strong momentum online and on shelves, it was time to optimize the customer experience inside the brewery. A critical part of that? The menu. As a veteran owned graphic designer, Semper Fi Design understands that even small details—like a well-structured menu—can directly affect sales and perception.

Design Objectives

• Reinforce the rustic adventure brand identity inside the taproom
• Make it easy for guests to quickly choose their beer or food pairing
• Use visual hierarchy to spotlight seasonal releases and bestsellers
• Design a layout that could be printed in-house and displayed digitally

What We Delivered

• Branded Menu Layout
  Featuring rugged textures, woodgrain backgrounds, and clean typography that was both on-brand and easy to read.
• Beer Menu Section
  Organized by style and flavor profile, with tasting notes, ABV, IBU, and icons for food pairings.
• Food Menu Add-On
  Designed custom graphics for items like soft pretzels, sausages, and small plates, including: “A golden-brown pretzel glistening with salt crystals, served with creamy beer cheese and tangy mustard—baked to perfection for the trail-hardened appetite.”
• Seasonal Rotating Section
  Smartly designed template to allow in-house staff to swap in seasonal or limited-edition brews with ease.
• Print & Digital Formats
  Delivered both high-res print-ready PDFs and digital menu files for screens and website integration.

Results

• Improved Guest Experience
  Customers commented on how easy and enjoyable the menu was to read—no more confusion or overcrowded chalkboards.
• Sales Lift on Featured Items
  Strategic layout and visual emphasis on seasonal beers increased sales of limited runs by 22% during the first month.
• Taproom Branding Upgrade
  The menu became an extension of the brand environment, blending seamlessly with wall art, merchandise, and cans.

Results & Conclusion

Mission Accomplished: A Cohesive Brand Built from the Ground Up by a Veteran Owned Graphic Designer

Semper Fi Design didn’t just deliver a few one-off assets—we executed a full-scale creative campaign that launched Great Wilderness Brewing Company into the market with firepower. From can designs that stop shelves to a high-performance website and branded in-house experience, every touchpoint was intentionally built to tell their story and drive revenue.

Measurable Wins

• ✅ Full Brand Identity Created: Visual consistency across cans, web, taproom, and marketing
• ✅ Website Launch + SEO Gains: Ranked on Page 1 for “craft brewery [city]” keywords in under 60 days
• ✅ Social Engagement: 3x increase in likes, shares, and story tags on launch campaigns
• ✅ Sales Growth: Featured beers and merch promoted with our designs saw an average 18–22% sales increase
• ✅ Customer Recognition: Patrons associated the brewery’s look and feel with quality, adventure, and authenticity

Client Feedback

“We knew what we wanted, but we didn’t know how to make it happen—Semper Fi did. As a veteran owned graphic designer, they brought both vision and execution. Everything they touched made us look and feel like a real brand, not a startup.”

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Final Thoughts

Working with Great Wilderness Brewing Company gave us the opportunity to showcase what makes Semper Fi Design different: discipline, creativity, and a mission-first mentality. As a veteran owned graphic designer, we bring more than just aesthetics—we bring leadership, reliability, and results.

Whether you’re launching a brewery, rebranding a company, or scaling your presence, Semper Fi Design is your creative force multiplier. We don’t just build designs. We build legacies.