Every year on May 4th, Star Wars fans celebrate in full force. Movie marathons, cosplay, backyard lightsaber duels, themed beers, and repping their favourite Star Wars shirts are all part of the day.
There are no rules, just fans having fun with something they love.
For me, that celebration collided head on with craft beer culture and a late night idea that would not let me sleep.
Where May the 4th Comes From
May the 4th didn’t start with Lucasfilm or a big marketing push. It started with fans leaning into a simple pun and running with it. “May the 4th be with you.”
Over time, it stuck, spread, and turned into an unofficial holiday that Star Wars fans around the world now celebrate in their own way.
How A New Hop Came Together
As a Star Wars fan and someone who spends far too much time thinking about beer and hops, ideas tend to show up at strange hours.
This one hit late at night. Lying in bed. Mind wandering. Thinking about hop puns.
Then it clicked.
A New Hop.
I jumped out of bed, ran downstairs, and started scribbling notes before the idea disappeared. Once I started, everything came together faster than I expected.
Hops replacing the twin suns of Tatooine.
A mash tun standing in for desert huts.
Fermenters inspired by moisture collectors.
R2 turning into a can.
C3PO becoming a bottle.
The more I sketched, the more the idea built on itself. It just felt natural.
Original Designs Inspired by Craft Beer
A New Hop is clearly a nod to Star Wars and May the 4th, but all of our designs start from the same place: craft beer culture and creativity.
Whether the inspiration comes from beer history, pop culture, or a late night idea, everything is drawn and built from scratch.
One of the coolest parts of this design has been the response. I’ve had grown men run up to my booth thanking me for fusing their two favourite things together. The popularity of the shirt even led to a collaboration beer with Wood Brothers Brewing Company, one of Canada’s top rated breweries.
That kind of reaction never gets old.
Celebrate May the 4th With A New Hop
If you’re a Star Wars fan, a craft beer fan, or someone who just appreciates a good hop pun, this one might be for you.
However you’re celebrating May the 4th, whether it’s a movie marathon, a brewery visit, or just cracking a good beer at home, have fun with it.
May the hops be with you.
Jay
