Packaging Designed to Stand Out
At ePackageSupply, we believe packaging can do much more than hold a product — it can help a brand get noticed, create a memorable customer experience, and continue working long after the initial purchase. When Monster Brewing wanted an unconventional way to package and promote a case of Jai Alai IPA, the idea went far beyond traditional beer packaging. This is the story of how ePackageSupply helped turn a simple custom bucket into an eye-catching retail package, reusable marketing tool, and concept worth repeating.
🍺 Customer Snapshot
Business Name
Monster Brewing Company
Founded
2015
Industry
Beer & Beverage
Website
Built to Do Things Differently
A case of beer is easy to recognize. A case of beer packaged inside a fully branded 5-gallon bucket is much harder to overlook.
Monster Brewing Company began in 2015 as CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective, bringing together a portfolio of established and independently rooted beverage brands. After Monster Beverage Corporation acquired CANarchy in 2022, the organization officially began operating as Monster Brewing Company in January 2024.
Today, Monster Brewing's portfolio spans recognizable beer, hard seltzer, and flavored malt beverage brands, including Cigar City Brewing's Jai Alai IPA, Oskar Blues' Dale's Pale Ale, Wild Basin, The Beast Unleashed, Nasty Beast Hard Tea, and more. Monster Brewing describes its approach as "Independent Together," combining distinct brewery identities with broader national reach.
That willingness to think differently about how beverage brands reach consumers played directly into the custom bucket project. Instead of limiting Jai Alai to conventional case packaging, Monster Brewing explored a format designed to command attention in large retail environments and give customers something useful beyond the beer itself.
Turning a Big Idea Into Retail-Ready Packaging
Monster Brewing had an unconventional idea: package a case of Jai Alai IPA inside a branded bucket along with additional marketing materials.
The concept was intentionally different from traditional beer packaging. Positioned in large retail stores such as Sam's Club, the bucket could immediately distinguish the product from the familiar boxes and cases surrounding it.
But bringing the idea to life required a packaging partner capable of helping turn the concept into something that could actually be produced on schedule. The project needed to account for:
- Custom bucket branding and artwork
- Pricing and production requirements
- Mockups and design development
- Lead times and retail deadlines
- A finished package capable of creating strong visual impact in stores
Bringing the Bucket Concept to Life
From an Idea to a Retail Marketing Tool
What started as conversations around pricing, lead times, and buckets quickly developed into a collaborative custom packaging project. ePackageSupply worked alongside the Monster Brewing team on the details needed to move the idea forward, from branded concepts and mockups to quotes, production timing, and deadlines.
Hands-On Partnership
Consistent communication helped keep the project moving as ideas developed and production details were finalized.
Designed for Retail Impact
Custom branding transformed an everyday bucket into packaging designed to stand apart from traditional beer cases.
Built Around a Deadline
Pricing, mockups, production requirements, and lead times were coordinated around the goals of the retail launch.
According to the ePackageSupply salesperson involved in the project, the process unfolded over several months of regular phone calls, texts, and emails between the teams. That urgency and consistency helped keep an ambitious idea moving forward until the branded buckets became a physical retail package.
The result wasn't simply a bucket holding beer. It was packaging designed to continue providing value after the purchase. Customers could use the bucket as a cooler, a temporary seat, a storage container, or even a trash can at gatherings — extending the usefulness of the package and keeping the branding visible after the original case was gone.
The Transformation
Before Partnership
- An unconventional packaging concept still in the idea stage
- Traditional beer cases competing for attention in retail
- Production, pricing, artwork, and timing still needed to be worked through
- No previous Monster Brewing bucket program of this kind
After Partnership
- Custom-branded buckets containing cases of Jai Alai IPA
- A distinctive retail presentation used in stores such as Sam's Club
- Reusable packaging that doubled as a marketing tool
- A concept successful enough to inspire another branded bucket program
More Than a Case of Beer
According to the ePackageSupply sales team, the response to the initial Jai Alai bucket program was immediate: the Sam's Club launch sold out.
More importantly, the concept didn't stop with a single launch. The success of the Jai Alai program helped lead to another custom bucket project for Blind Lemon, demonstrating that the idea had potential beyond one product or promotion.
What started as an experiment in unconventional packaging had become a repeatable marketing concept — one that could make a beverage stand out in retail, give consumers additional value, and keep the brand visible after purchase.
From One Idea to the Next
The first Jai Alai bucket launch sold out according to the ePackageSupply sales team — and helped spark the next custom bucket concept for another brand in Monster Brewing's portfolio.
Your Custom Packaging Journey Starts Here
Monster Brewing's project shows that custom packaging doesn't have to follow the expected formula. Whether your goal is to create a memorable retail display, build a promotional product, launch a seasonal campaign, or simply make your brand easier to recognize, ePackageSupply offers multiple custom branding solutions to match your growth stage and budget:
| Method | Perfect For | Minimum Order | Investment Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure-Sensitive Labels | Startups, seasonal products, testing designs | 60 labels | Budget-Friendly |
| Heat Transfer Labels | Durable branding, promotional products, reusable packaging | 792 units | Mid-Range |
| Dry-Offset Printing | Retail distribution, grocery chains, established brands needing shelf-ready products | 3,000 units | Premium |
| In-Mold Labeling | National brands, high-volume operations | 10,000 units | Premium+ |
| Pouch Printing | Flexible packaging, stand-up pouches | 2,500–5,000 units | Varies |
| Box Printing | Shipping boxes, retail packaging | 1 pallet | Varies |
📦 Why Businesses Choose ePackageSupply
FREE Design Services
Included with every custom order — our team optimizes your artwork
Fast Shipping
Most orders ship within 1–2 business days from our Evansville, IN facility
Flexible Minimums
From 60 labels to 10,000+ units, we scale at your pace
Made in the USA
Quality you can trust, proudly manufactured in America
Expert Support
Dedicated team to guide you from concept to delivery
Proven Results
Trusted by thousands of growing businesses nationwide
Have a Custom Packaging Idea?
From creative retail displays to fully branded buckets, let's turn your packaging idea into something customers remember.
📞 Questions? Call us at (888) 631-0888
