In one of the closest finishes since it began six years ago, Karbach Brewing Company has won the Colored by INX Can Design Contest. Its design entry for Dunkels & Dragons, a German-style dark lager beer, edged out four other competitors in public voting last week on INX International’s Facebook and LinkedIn social media pages.

“The 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’ scores,” says Jeanie Morris, INX marketing and promotions manager, who oversees the contest.

“Dunkels & Dragons claimed the victory by just one point,” she adds. “It was an incredibly close finish and a true testament to the creativity and competitive spirit of this year’s entries. From bold concepts to intricate details, every design tells a story. We’re grateful to all of the participating companies and our panel of expert judges, who made this year’s competition one of the most inspiring yet.”

The contest rules 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 design entries that were produced prior to January 1, 2025, in order to determine the five finalists.

Entries that 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’s Quirk Blueberry Slam; Left Hand Brewing Company’s, Meyer Lemon Drop Shandy; and Olberding Brands & Family/New Belgium Brewing’s, Voodoo Ranger Tropic Force Tropical IPA.  

A team effort

The winning entry was a true team effort by Karbach Brewing Company’s 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’s concept was rooted in a shared creative vision – drawing inspiration from Dungeons & Dragons to connect with a passionate niche audience.

“From 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,” explains Jackson. “It 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.”

Jackson indicated the INX Color Catalog, which is a vital element of the INX Color Perfection 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.

“The INX Color Catalog allowed the project to move from black and white sketches into color fairly quickly,” Jackson recalls. “It 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.”