Evanston Alehouse is the first font in a larger collection of typefaces inspired by years leading up to the American prohibition.

For the past two years I was living in Evanston, IL, a suburb of Chicago. After learning it was one of the birthplaces of the prohibition movement, I set out to learn more about it, and decided to develop a type collection that captures the dynamic era in our nation’s history. In the century that prefaced the ratification of the 18th amendment, saloons, taverns and alehouses boomed as the American working class enjoyed beer and discovered whiskey and gin. At the same time, the Temperance League was forming and gaining strength. By the turn of the century, these temperance societies were common in the culture of the country, with individual towns and states already on the move to abolish alcohol consumption. However, it was undeniable that by this time in history, America loved to drink. This font is inspired by the signage seen outside such drinking establishments.

Back to the modern era, Evanston Alehouse is a 25 font family that includes 3 weights, 4 widths and 3 heights. It has special features that add depth to the font, with discretionary ligatures and stylistic alternatives. It also includes a complementary set of ornaments, including line breaks, frames, borders, and laurels.

Here’s a snapshot of what you get with Evanston Alehouse:

2 Styles/Postions: Sharp (regular) and Round

3 Weights: Light, Medium and Black

4 Widths: 1826 (condensed), 1858 (narrow), 1893 (wide) and 1919 (expanded)

3 Heights: Capitals, lowercase and small caps

2 Alternatives: Discretionary Ligatures and Stylistic Alternatives

1 Ornament font with over 100 graphic extras