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In one of the closest finishes since it began six years ago, Karbach Brewing Company<\/a> has won the Colored by INX Can Design Contest. Their design entry for Dunkels & Dragons, a German-style dark lager beer, edged out four other competitors<\/a> in public voting last week on INX International\u2019s Facebook and LinkedIn social media pages.<\/p>\n \u201cThe social media voting had us on the edge of our seats until the very last minute. With Dunkels & Dragons and Spacewalker Hazy Double IPA locked in a tie, it all came down to the judges\u2019 scores,\u201d said Jeanie Morris, INX marketing and promotions manager who oversees the contest.<\/p>\n \u201cDunkels & Dragons claimed the victory by just one point. It was an incredibly close finish and a true testament to the creativity and competitive spirit of this year\u2019s entries. From bold concepts to intricate details, every design tells a story. We\u2019re grateful to all of the participating companies and our panel of expert judges who made this year\u2019s competition one of the most inspiring yet.\u201d<\/p>\n The contest rules<\/a> required INX customers to produce a commercial can design using at least one color from the INX Color Catalog. The independent group of five judges representing the brand design, color, and printing communities examined the can<\/a> design entries that were produced prior to January 1, 2025, in order to determine the five finalists.<\/p>\n Entries which made it to the public voting round included those from Great Lakes Brewing Company, the former two-time champion with the Spacewalker Hazy Double IPA design entry. The others were Boulevard Brewing Company\u2019s Quirk Blueberry Slam; Left Hand Brewing Company\u2019s, Meyer Lemon Drop Shandy; and Olberding Brands & Family\/New Belgium Brewing\u2019s, Voodoo Ranger Tropic Force Tropical IPA.<\/p>\n The winning entry was a true team effort by Karbach Brewing Company\u2019s Houston-based crew, including brewmaster Mitchell Sokolis; senior brand manager Emily Rodgers; digital content manager Josh Olalde; and senior graphic designer Greg Jackson. According to Jackson, the can\u2019s concept was rooted in a shared creative vision \u2013 drawing inspiration from Dungeons & Dragons to connect with a passionate niche audience.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom this exploration of an immersive dive into German history and folklore, the concept fused elements of fantasy with the rich cultural heritage of brewing. This created a narrative that is both imaginative and grounded,\u201d explained Jackson. \u201cIt offers a unique experience that resonates with fans of fantasy and beer alike, blending storytelling with craft in a way that feels fresh, fun, and authentic.\u201d<\/p>\n Jackson indicated the INX Color Catalog, which is a vital element of the INX Color Perfection\u00d2 program, played a big part in the early stages of the design process. In the final design, the Karbach team ended up using four of the more than 650 removable color metal swatches from the catalog. Widely acclaimed as the metal decoration industry\u2019s true color standard, it helps speed up the process between the designer, brand owners and metal decorator in getting products on store shelves quicker.<\/p>\n \u201cThe INX Color Catalog allowed the project to move from black and white sketches into color fairly quickly,\u201d Jackson recalled. \u201cIt was important to nail the colors down, especially since they were homage to German heritage in art and design. It also needed to stand out on the shelves and pop, so the gold on the can really helps accomplish that by grabbing your attention.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to bragging rights, the Karbach Brewing Company team will receive their engraved trophy and industry recognition with a feature article in INX\u2019s Color Perfection Magazine later this year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n