TOP 10 FINALISTS
The GABS Label Design Awards, presented by Orora, is excited to announce the top 10 finalists, selected by public voting! A big thank you to the thousands of beer and art appreciators who voted for our top 10, listed in alphabetical order.
Now it’s over to the panel of judges who will cast their votes to determine our winner for 2025.
8 Wired
Sleipnir nordic ipa
Simon Courtney
The design for Sleipnir Nordic IPA is inspired by Norse mythology, centering on Sleipnir, Odin’s legendary eight-legged horse. Known for his strength and ability to travel across realms, Sleipnir embodies power and adventure, captured in the bold illustration of the rearing horse. The dark, rune-patterned background adds depth and mystique, evoking ancient Nordic heritage, while the vivid gold lightning bolts inject energy and intensity.
The typography reflects traditional rune-like lettering with a modern twist, complementing the mythological theme while staying true to craft beer aesthetics. These elements create a striking, dynamic design that feels both ancient and electrifying, perfectly reflecting the fearless spirit of the beer inside. Sleipnir Nordic IPA’s artwork invites drinkers to embrace boldness and embark on a legendary flavour journey.
Abandoned Brewery
APA
Aaron McKirdy
In an industry that at times feels like it’s resting on its laurels, our new can designs needed to be not only deep, but something rich and layered with meaning. Something that not only harnesses the brand idea of abandonment, but also creates a transcendent emotional connection with consumers.
We asked ourselves — what if a beer can could trigger a sense of childhood innocence? Refresh a weary mind, worn down with life’s trials and inequity? Remove the mask of judgment and prejudice born out of the struggle to understand the fellow man on anything more than a purely superficial level? Bring people together while raising a middle finger to conventional design sensibilities through embracing childhood nostalgia? And… simultaneously convey the world’s dumbest pun?
Introducing Abandoned Bears — Don’t overthink it.
Alibi Brewing Co.
The shag - hazy ipa
Enneke Vaags
After all the hoots over our Ruru label, we couldn’t resist hatching another bird-inspired design. Meet The Shag – one of the oddball locals who struts around the shoreline like he owns the place. Moody, majestic and a little bit awkward, the Shag felt like the perfect fit for our next can in our bird series. He’s got a beak like a dagger and the kind of stare that says he’s on to you. Perched loud and proud against a neon / metallic colour pop. He’s weird, he’s bold, and he got that big bird energy.
b.effect Brewing Co
b.10 chaos theory
Sean Bremen
This label was a celebration of b.effect’s 10th Birthday and the journey to get there. ChaosTheory has been one of our consumers favourite beers over that period. It was designed to celebrate the past whilst signaling the future possibilities. Rainbows were the perfect link to what is old and hat is new and perfectly represent hope and opportunity. b.10 outlines both our brand and the significant milestone.
Beers
INNER DEMON
tbc
Part of the Scare Beers series, Inner Demon dives into the fears we carry as adults—the ones we don’t talk about but all feel. This label brings that internal battle to life, capturing the voice in your head that holds you back, acts out, or questions everything. It’s not about monsters under the bed—it’s about the one in your own chest. Your flaws, your urges, your messy bits. But that’s the twist: your inner demon is what makes you human. It’s part of you. So the question is, not do you have one—but what is it?
Behemouth Brewing Company
Hop Buddies ryan & hugh
Nick Lurman
With Hop Buddies #40: Ryan & Hugh, we wanted to capture the chaotic charm and irreverent fun of one of pop culture’s most iconic duos. Inspired by the release of Deadpool 2 and the legendary on-screen chemistry of Ryan and Hugh. The label brings Churly into the mix, suited up as these unmistakable heroes.
Black Sands Brewing
it's not a phase - cherry
Doug McHardlane
This one is for all the elder emo millennials out there. Celebrating the 21st birthday of one of the greatest alt rock albums of all time “Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge” by My Chemical Romance.
Brothers Beer
LIMEY B*STARD
Scott Taylor
We thought, ‘what if we took that most British of things, the Lager Topper, and gave it the American craft treatment?’ From there it was an easy step to connect the friendly insult ‘Limey’, a term Americans delight in calling anyone British.
Canyon Brewing
Punk rat - nz double ipa
Mikaela Turner
Punk Rat was brewed with our mates at Pirate Life as they celebrate their 10th birthday and the music that built them. The brief was simple: put punk in a can. We pulled cues from 90s skate-punk posters, DIY zines, sticker-bombed decks and bands that played by their own rules. Think loud type, rough edges and deliberate chaos. The palette nods to Pirate Life, the attitude is pure Canyon. It’s designed to jump off the shelf, scuff a few knees, and quench in a mosh pit. For the rule-breakers and rail-sliders, the ones who like their beer loud and their graphics louder.
Punk Rat beats to its own drum, a gritty little tribute to the bands, backrooms and basement gigs that made us fall in love with this scene.
Duncan's Brewing
San Málà, Blueberry Szechuan & Chilli Smoothie Sour
Dan Foothead, Apostle & Wai Familton
A collab brew between Duncan’s and Apostle Hot Sauce that blends the aesthetic of each brand. Duncan’s resident artist Dan Foothead took inspiration from Apostle’s resident artist Juju, to create a beer version of Apostle’s infamous hot sauces. Duncan’s very own Beer Saint, San Málà is depicted morphing into a smoothie sour concoction of blueberry, szechuan & chilli.
Eddyline Brewery
HOPLANTIS WEST COAST IPA
Michiel Heynekamp
In the ancient brewing capital of Hoplantis, golden IPAs once flowed like rivers, their bitter clarity a tribute to Lupulus, the Greek God of Hops. But the brewers grew bold, forsaking crisp bitter and clear perfection for murky, juicy & hazy IPAs. Enraged, Lupulus descended, his verdant wrath shaking the vats. “You’ve betrayed the sacred hops!” he thundered, sinking Hoplantis beneath a flood of flavourless beers! Legends, passed on from generation of brewers, says its ruins lie deep, where only the purest IPAs still bubble, a reminder of Lupulus’s divine brew.
We brewed this beer as a tribute to those finest bitter and bold IPAs in the hopes that Hoplantis will remerge from the saturated market of hazy and gooey modern IPAs.
Emerson's Brewery
Emerson's Pride of the Plains Riwaka Pilsner
Collaboration between Luke Johnson, BrandAid and Dunedin
The vision behind the artwork of Emerson’s Pride of the Plains Riwaka Pilsner was one of nostalgia. Pride of the Plains is a nod back to the original Emerson’s Pilsner, first released in June 2005. The retro imagery is similar to the original label depicting and image of the Southern Alps towering over the Canterbury Plains.
The original Emerson’s Pilsner was brewed for the NZ Biograins Society located in Ashburton in the heart of the Canterbury Plains.
Garage Project
Good Things Come To Those Who Wait
Adam Macauley
Good Things Come To Those Who Wait was a special brew, the first proper commercial release of a beer using NZ02, the first new hop variety to come out of the Hāpi Research breeding program that we have been involved in with Freestyle Farms. This release was the culmination of over five years of hard work. We wanted a label that spoke to the idea of hidden treasure finally discovered. It’s a lengthy name for a beer (to say the least), so we needed an artist who was comfortable incorporating text as well as images. We also wanted them to fill the art with hidden ‘easter eggs’ and references for the drinker to find. The artist, Adam Macauley, definitely delivered with a riotous label filled with fun and hidden GP references.
Good George
OLD SCHOOL LEMONADE
Allan Cave
Good George Old School Lemonade takes its cue from the kind of lemonade your grandma used to make the real deal. Think back to lazy summer afternoons, the tang of freshly squeezed lemons, and the clink of ice in a tall glass on the veranda. We wanted to capture that simple, homemade magic, so we kept it honest: zesty citrus, a touch of sweetness, and a refreshing bite that takes you straight back to the good old days. The artwork nods to that nostalgic charm warm, hand-crafted, and a little cheeky just like a visit to Grandma’s.
Heyday Beer Co
Japanese Rice lager
Hannah Blackwood
This Japanese Rice Lager is one scene in our Lager Series by Heyday Beer Co, a two-year run of lagers sharing a single cinematic universe. Each beer is a frame from a film that doesn’t exist, featuring symmetry, muted colours & that offbeat Wes Anderson feel. This is our Japan scene: calm, charming & with a touch of Heyday signature… a cat, of course. Built on a consistent design system, the series evolves organically, making every release both familiar & fresh. It’s not just a beer label, it’s a frame from the world of Heyday.
Morningcider
Pavlova cider
Louise Giles
Loved the artwork by Kelly Gilleran, and worked together to make this super fun, Pavlova Cider label!
North End Brewery
B.D.H - Belgian Hazy IPA
Alex Brimmicombe
Blanc de Houblon – ‘The White Hop’, or B.D.H. as we call it – was a big one for us: our first official hazy brew.
A combination of old-world Belgian witbier and new-world IPA, our design took the same blended approach – finding inspiration in old-world iconography and illustration, while putting our new-world spin on it.
In Kāpiti, you’d be lucky to go a day without seeing our trusty North End Brewery van buzzing around the coast. We re-envisioned the van in an art deco style with an aggressive stance and plonked it right under the iconic Bolton Street flyover in the heart of the Wellington CBD. True to this revolutionary and lavish era, we adorned the label with matte gold details, vibrant colours, and a sense of movement. Inspired by Europe, fermented in Waikanae.
Panhead Custom Ales
the mule
Inject Design Team
The Custom Can Range is Panhead’s brew salute to some of the wildest rods and racers in the country—machines built with grit, and the legends who brought them to life.
Custom Car – The Mule:
Kevin Middlemiss’s Dodge Dart Gasser was built for one thing—speed. Starting as a rolling shell from the States, Kevin and The Toy Shed turned it into a monster. First it ran a 10.2 sec @ 128mph on AV gas. Now? With Hilborn injection and alcohol fueling the fire, it’s hitting 9.4 sec @ 146mph—and still chasing faster.
Beer – The Mule:
A Ginger Citrus Pale Ale inspired by a Moscow Mule. Think malt-based ginger beer, zesty citrus hops, a spicy edge, and smooth caramel finish. It kicks like it should.
Check out the Series:
Stream the short film by Cal Thorley and sip the story that inspired the brew:
www.inject.co.nz/work/panhead-shed-heads
Punk Heads Brewing
Richard Cranium Hazy IPA
Fiona Clark
We enjoy a good bit of humour, so we try to install some on each label we produce. We have had an Egg Head, a Radio Head, a Safety Pin Head, a Pot Head, a Red Head & a Petrol Head. So why not a Richard Cranium?
It takes three components to make a successful beer, each of them equally important:
1) What’s in the can.
2) The price point of the can.
3) What’s on the outside of the can.
With a bit of luck (or design), our can packaging at least puts a smile on a face or two. 🙂 So vote for Richard. All hail Richard Cranium.
Rhyme and Reason Brewery
Fresh Lines NZ Hazy IPA
Cara Diffey
We love working with Graphic Design genius Cara Diffey, she has brought many of our can design ideas to life and all while keeping true to her style. Fresh Lines Can art was inspired by the local ski fields and the snow culture that comes with that. Snow Sharks and Yetis? Yeah why not!
For us the weirder and more eye catching the better.
Rudis Beer
Rudis butterfly cider
Mike Stodart & Michael from Product Renders
Staying true to the iconic look of our past cans, the Butterfly Cider design keeps the classic Rudi’s feel alive—bold, clean, and instantly recognisable. This time, we’ve taken it up a notch by giving the Rudi’s logo the spotlight it deserves and introducing a splash of vibrant colour and artistic flair.
Featuring striking imagery that reflects the creativity our cans are known for, this design is a celebration of both tradition and fresh energy—just like the cider inside.
Shining Peak Brewing
Charlie the cockatoo
Anton Hart
A celebration of Charlie, the Cockatoo who graced the local botanical gardens in New Plymouth for many years. All our beers celebrate a story, identity or artefact of our region, Taranaki.
Shortjaw Brewing
VIVID SUN
Emma Bemrose
We wanted to capture the sunsets of the West Coast, and the range of colours we see each night. It needed to live within our “Sun” range of IPAs, and reflect the fresh Feijoa added into the beer. It also needed to look simple, classic, and timeless.
Small Gods
Gargoyle
Luke White
We have a series of IPAs that are all named for monsters and cryptids. This beer was heavily inspired by the Californian IPAs that changed everything in the 90s and one in particular. Gargoyle is our homage to the iconic Stone IPA. The label references the colour scheme of that beer and the art is our take on their gargoyle logo.
The minimalist execution and rough strokes continue a style I’ve enjoyed illustrating for other beers in the series including Hoofman, Mothman, and Chichuna. Among all the wonderfully colourful and complex labels we see in beer fridges, I often enjoy seeing how monochrome and minimal I can go while still having a striking image.
Sprig + Fern Brewing Co
CODENAME 076 HAZY
Corey Harbrow
The Sprig + Fern CODENAME 076 Hazy label draws inspiration from classic detective noir with a playful, modern twist — a visual nod to the mysterious origins of a brand-new hop variety. The design centers on a detective’s pinboard, packed with clues and Easter eggs that unravel the story of CIP-076, the trial hop at the heart of this beer. Each detail — from coordinates of the hop’s birthplace to mugshots of the Clayton Hops team — helps decode its bold flavour profile of citrus, melon, stone fruit, and lychee. The aim was to capture the intrigue and excitement of discovery, much like uncovering a secret weapon in a mystery case. Just like the beer itself, the artwork invites you to dig deeper — and maybe have a little fun doing it!
Sunshine Brewery
AEGIR WCIPA 2025
Kahu Jakicevich
The Ægir WCIPA 25 can design channels the Norse sea god Ægir. Master of the ocean’s power and motion, drawing a parallel with our own ethos at Sunshine: living by the tides, riding waves, and brewing with the same bold energy that defines the coast. The artwork blends mythology with modern sharpness, evoking strength, movement, and clarity. Just as Ægir ruled the surf, we embrace the ocean’s rhythm in Gisborne, bringing that coastal spirit into a beer that’s unapologetically West Coast in character. More than a label, this design is a statement piece for the WCIPA Challenge, celebrating myth, surf, and Sunshine.
Urbanaut Brewing Co
NEW WAVE 05 - ZONA ROSA HAZY IPA
Pablo Espinosa
Our NEW WAVE series embraces the future of beer using new and experimental hops and our label reflects that futuristic vision with a neo-tech ‘cyberpunk’ look and feel. The future is now!
