This week I worked on a logo for a restaurant and bar called “Beardslee Alehouse”. This was extra exciting for me to work on because it’s by my parent’s house in Bothell! It’s exciting that they’re expanding the entertainment choices in Bothell. This place was apparently supposed to be open September 2014, but I think it’s actually been delayed till January. It’s a John Howie restaurant. Here’s a little blurb about the place:

The ale house will feature the finest of local craft brews in guest taps. Beardslee Alehouse’s restaurant will operate under a “farm to table” philosophy, with everything made in-house. The restaurant will grind its own meat, bake fresh bread, and feature a “locker” for aging housemade charcuterie. Burgers, brats, and flatbreads will be highlighted, and housemade charcuterie, cheese and pickled vegetables will compliment the menu. There will be a full-service bar, with popular local wineries on tap.

The environment of Beardslee Alehouse will reflect the local concept of the menu. Every table in the restaurant/brewery will be made from a giant red sequoia that was harvested from the property. The base of the tree will make for a large exterior fireplace, sitting on the west facing patio. The bar will include an indoor fireplace, with casual seating. Additionally, two large community tables will enhance the neighborhood atmosphere of the restaurant.

When I was working on the logo, I wanted to convey a place that was a little rough around the edges, hard-working, hand-crafted and welcoming. I spent time trying to learn how to put texture into text with photoshop and illustrator. I took more time than I wanted to watching videos and reading tutorials, but I learned something, so that’s good, right? Here are the rough sketches I started with:

And the digital sketches I ended up with: