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Rooted firmly in Manchester, Ensemble and Blackjack have joined forces to uncover the untold tales of the lost neighborhood Angel Meadow through a distinctive rebrand.

A firm favorite among the traditional Manchester scene, Blackjack sought a brand that aligned with their strengths, positioned perfectly between the traditional world of CAMRA pubs—with floral pump clips and metal tankards—and the increasingly saturated world of progressive craft beer.

The visual aesthetic celebrates the meeting point of tradition and modernity. While the previous incarnation was much loved by local customers, it was less recognized among stacked bottle room fridges. This, combined with a desire to distance from any associations with casinos or gambling, provided an opportunity to reestablish and celebrate the Jack—both as a face card and a pivotal character of folklore, bringing to life the stories shared over a beer.

As a brewery proudly founded in the historical yet forgotten part of Manchester, Angel Meadow, Blackjack has a heritage story that many breweries lack—not just about beer, but about the neighborhood itself.

The rebranding process began by documenting, recreating, and regenerating the found typography of the area, from the decorative headstones in the meadow’s burial field and the Victorian stonework of the Ragged School to the street signs and the hand-painted signage of Blackjack’s taproom. This inspired the creation of a bespoke typeface, BlackJack Meadow, a condensed sans serif with quirks and nuances of the past, designed to add texture to the tales of the Jack.

Stories from the area, both known and untold, are woven into the branding of the core beer range, paired with a new naming system that celebrates the very cobbled streets where Blackjack was founded.

The opportunity to celebrate the heritage of Angel Meadow through typography and storytelling was embraced, providing not only a narrative but also a design language rooted in the brewery’s foundations.

With over 42 beers produced annually, the final design solution needed to be versatile, allowing for the quick production of at least two new beers per month. A clean, concise design system was created to maintain diversity across the ranges while simplifying the creation of new can designs. Each design remains distinct yet cohesive within the brand.

The new brand has now been rolled out across the core range and venues, with bottles beginning to appear in shops soon.