Mural Monday - Irrelevant Brewing
- Ana Gabriela
- 5 hours ago
- 5 min read
Irrelevant Beer Taproom, Vancouver Washington
Some mural projects are exciting because of the scale. Some are exciting because of the design.
And some are exciting because of the people behind them.
The Irrelevant Beer mural was all three.
But more than anything, this project felt like coming full circle.
Before the Beer
Long before Irrelevant Beer existed, there was Relevant Coffee.
Relevant Coffee opened when I was still in high school in a tiny little hole in the wall spot in downtown Vancouver. Mitch and Brian started the shop, and from the very beginning, they brought something special to the community. It wasn’t just good coffee. It was their energy, their joy, and the excitement they had for what they were building.
Downtown Vancouver felt better because they were in it.
I met them during those early years and got to know Brian especially well. He was one of the people who really helped grow my love of coffee. He got me excited about the craft behind it and helped open my eyes to how much intention can go into something as simple as a cup.
As the years went on, I watched their business grow.
At one point I was even watching from across the world while I was living in New Zealand. Through Instagram I saw Relevant Coffee expand and evolve. Eventually they grew so much that they moved into a huge location on Main Street that was a million times bigger than the original shop.
It quickly became a local favorite and a staple of the community.
Coming Back Home
When I moved back from New Zealand because of the pandemic in 2020, I couldn’t wait to reconnect with the places and people that made Vancouver feel like home.
As soon as it was safe to be out again in 2021, Relevant Coffee became one of my regular work spots. I’d bring my laptop, grab coffee, and spend hours there working on my business.
I got to reconnect with the crew and slowly our paths crossed again.
By that time I had started my mural business, and Relevant had quietly become one of my dream clients. I loved the brand they had built and the community they had created.
Over time our relationship grew into a friendship, and the idea of working together sat in the back of my mind.
Then eventually it happened.
The First Collaboration
The first project I ever did with them was actually small.
When they began expanding their beer side of the business, I painted a small logo sign for them. At that point they were beginning work on their new taproom space.
Even though I was only hired for signage, we started dreaming about what the larger space could become visually.
But I was careful not to overstep.
I knew my role on that project, so I kept my mural dreams for the space mostly to myself.
Then in July of 2024 they reached out to me again.
The Taproom Mural
I received a message asking if I would consider painting a mural inside the new taproom.
They wanted something vibrant. Something brand forward. Something abstract that would bring energy into the space.
I jumped at the opportunity.
Working with Irrelevant Beer felt like a dream. They were already such a beloved local company and they were run by genuinely good people. Getting the chance to contribute to the space they were building felt like a huge honor.
After our site meeting I officially got the job and began designing.
Designing Something Different
This mural was a bit different from many of my other projects.
Normally I know exactly what the design will be early on in the process. But this one was abstract, and that meant the design evolved a lot as I worked through different ideas.
At first that uncertainty was intimidating.
But eventually it became exciting.
The design challenged me creatively in ways that felt refreshing. I explored shapes, color movement, and energy in a way I don’t often get to do with more representational murals.
After many design iterations, I finally sent over a concept that I absolutely loved.
And thankfully they loved it too.
With the design approved, we set the painting schedule for October.
Painting in a Space Coming to Life
When paint day finally arrived, it was such a fun environment to work in.
The building was still actively under construction, so every day the space was changing around me as crews worked on finishing the taproom. The superintendent for the project was great to work with and the entire atmosphere on site was positive and collaborative.
I thought the mural process would be pretty straightforward.
But halfway through the project we hit a major challenge.
The Limewash Problem
Limewash was extremely popular in interior design in 2024, and Irrelevant loved the texture and look of it. Many of the walls in the taproom were coated in limewash.
The problem is that limewash is essentially chalk mixed with paint.
And chalk and paint do not always play nicely together.
As I began layering colors into the mural, the limewash started reacting with the paint underneath. Some areas shifted color, some absorbed pigment differently, and the overall effect created strange discoloration that made the mural look inconsistent.
Halfway through the project I realized I had a real problem.
So I did what I always do when paint problems show up.
I called Miller Paint.
Problem Solving with Miller Paint
The team at Miller Paint has helped me solve countless paint challenges over the years, and this project was no exception.
We worked through the issue together and eventually landed on a solution.
Clear primer.
We needed something that would seal the surface without covering the limewash completely, because the limewash texture was supposed to remain visible through the mural.
So I carefully applied multiple layers of clear primer to stabilize the surface.
Thankfully it worked beautifully.
After that point the paint behaved normally again and I was able to finish the mural without further issues.
When you look at the finished piece today you would never know there was a major technical hurdle halfway through the project.
The Stairwell
One of the most exciting parts of this mural was the stairwell.
Instead of stopping the design at the main wall, the mural continues and wraps around the stairway. The shapes and colors flow upward as you move through the space, creating the feeling that you're stepping directly into the artwork.
It almost feels like being transported into a playful, immersive environment.
Getting to design a mural that moved through architecture like that was incredibly fun and something I hope to do more of in the future.
What This Project Taught Me
This mural taught me a lot.
It taught me that adjustable A-frame ladders are the best ladders for stairwells and make projects like this possible.
It reinforced that Zibra brushes might just be the best brushes ever made for mural work.
And it confirmed that limewash is the devil incarnate for muralists.
But it also reminded me of something bigger.
Sometimes the projects that mean the most are the ones that come from long relationships. From watching businesses grow. From friendships that slowly evolve into creative collaboration.
Getting to paint Irrelevant Beer’s taproom wasn’t just another mural job.
It felt like being invited to contribute to a place that helped shape my own journey.
And that made the entire project incredibly special.
Supply List
For more supplies go to my amazon storefront
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