Each year when Art of Tröegs submissions start rolling in, we’re consistently blown away by the creativity of our fans. This year, we’d like to congratulate our 2026 grand prize winner, Alison Jester, whose mixed media diorama titled “Canned Smiles” stood above the rest.
Her first year entering the contest, she admitted that crafting her PA Lager-inspired piece was a very time-consuming process that in the end was worth it. “I thought I was a little crazy in the beginning,” says Jester. “But it all just kind of came to life with each step. It really was a labor of love.”
The piece captures the hustle and bustle of our day-to-day operations at the brewery by incorporating the whimsical characters we created to tell the story of our latest year round beer. In the end, her vision came to life through all of the intricate miniature elements, including hand-painted characters, copper tanks, and the carefully sculpted metalwork of the outer beer can display. “I wanted to showcase the hard work the goes behind the scenes at the brewery while keeping the retro aesthetic of the beer and those fun characters,” she added. “I took great pride in crafting a piece that reflects my appreciation for Tröegs’ commitment to craftsmanship and continued success.”
Our first runner up, Erin Hayes, believes that every great beer has a story. In her mixed media piece titled “Things Worth Carrying,” the Connecticut-based artist crafted a curious, slow-moving snail who wanders through the brewery collecting keepsakes from every tasty beer along the way. Stamps, patches and hops become souvenirs of shared pours and favorite brews. “The snail’s shell celebrates the many tastes, stories and moments that make every journey through Tröegs worth remembering,” says Hayes. “Just like our favorite Tröegs beer that we return to again and again, some experiences are worth carrying with us.”
For our second runner up titled “Carved and Colorful,” Sarah Fogg crafted an intricate glazed ceramic sculpture meant to mimic an oversized beer can. Before firing the clay, the Harrisburg, PA-based artist painted and carved a variety of our beer logos and brand-related symbols into the surface. The result is a colorful representation of our may different styles of beers. “Troegs has developed many recognizable and colorful branding elements,” says Fogg. “I believe the shelves of beer stores would be far less visually engaging without the bold, vibrant, and distinctive packaging that Tröegs is known for.”
And don’t forget to mark your calendars for our Art of Tröegs gallery opening and 3rd Annual Art Market, which takes place at the brewery on Saturday, September 12. See you there!