ALABASTER- The Shelby County Arts Council awarded Trey Murphy as the winner of their contest to select the business logo for Siluria Brewing Company at Buck Creek Pizza and Wings on the evening of Monday, Feb. 6. According to a press release from the SCAC, Murphy’s logo will serve as the “central brand image of this new company.”

According to SCAC Executive Director Bruce Andrews, he and Siluria Brewing Company owners Tammy and Danny Sample came up with the idea to hold a contest after they met at a South Shelby Chamber of Commerce event.

“We were talking about keeping it local. From my perspective, the culinary arts are an art form. I’m interested in the art of beer making,” Andrews said. “I asked if he had considered a local artist for his logo, and that was it.”

Andrews said he set a certain criteria for entries, and helped the Samples choose their logo.

“We agreed that the old Siluria tower had to be included in the design. We really got some great entries. I narrowed it down to what I thought was the top two or three and sent it to them, so they wouldn’t have to look at a whole bunch of stuff,” Andrews said. “I was trying to make sure that everything stayed with their vision and their taste.”

Andrews said he was aiming to find a logo that they thought would fit well with the community of Alabaster.

“First and foremost, I was looking at its first impression. Secondly, I was looking for something that would be timeless. Third, I wanted something that would look like it had been around for a really long time,” Andrews said. “As a new business, it would be effective if someone looked at your logo and thought ‘Why haven’t I noticed that before? Has it been around for years and I just didn’t see it?’”

Murphy said he originally reached out to the Siluria Brewing Company owners, who directed him to submit his work to the contest.

“I had seen through some Facebook posts that [Sample] was starting a brewery, so I reached out to him, and he pointed me to the Shelby County Arts Council’s contest. I did two designs and submitted both of them,” Murphy said.

As an Alabaster local, Murphy said his familiarity with the area helped him come up with his design.

“I was familiar with the old cotton mill and old, rustic look. It was kind of what I started with. I made the tower the focal point of the logo, illustrated it, and sent it out,” Murphy said. “It’s nice to know that you have been chosen over several other designs and that you did a good job. I really did it just for the pleasure of doing it, and being selected is just a byproduct.”

Sample said Siluria Brewing Company is set to open its first location before November, and Murphy was also awarded with a check for $250 for personal use.