Labeling bottles

[mudman (brewlikeamonkey)]

For those that bottle, how do you label your brews.  I am starting to get several different brews and they all look the same in those plain brown bottles.:P  Right now I am just using location to identify them.  I would like to design my own labels because I am an art guy and have graphic design knowledge.  So what do you do?

[sathingtonwilloby (Mark G)]

Well, I am definitely not an art guy, so my labeling consists of a Sharpie on the cap. I number my batches, so I just write that on the cap.

[tygo]

I use Avery round colored labels on the caps. I have the label template saved on my computer and I print the name of the beer on the labels. One color per batch. Makes them easy to identify at a glance.

[saintsbrew (saintpierre)]

@tygo

I use Avery round colored labels on the caps. I have the label template saved on my computer and I print the name of the beer on the labels. One color per batch. Makes them easy to identify at a glance.

This is a great idea. Do these labels peel off easily?

[mudman (brewlikeamonkey)]

@saintsbrew

@tygo

I use Avery round colored labels on the caps. I have the label template saved on my computer and I print the name of the beer on the labels. One color per batch. Makes them easy to identify at a glance.

This is a great idea. Do these labels peel off easily?

Doesn’t matter does it?  They are on the caps if I am understanding and will be thrown away.

[rjharper]

@tygo

I use Avery round colored labels on the caps. I have the label template saved on my computer and I print the name of the beer on the labels. One color per batch. Makes them easy to identify at a glance.

+1 but I stick with the white ones, I have more color options that way.  I use the 3/4" labels, 24 on a 4"x6" sheet.  I using 8 point font I can fit four lines on there, batch #, name, date, and abv.  They do peel off okay if you’re looking to then submit a couple of bottles to competition.

[denny]

For real labels, I use Microsoft Publisher.  After I print them out I attach them using a glue stick.  The glue is water soluble so they come off easily when the bottles are empty.  For down and dirty beer ID I just write the batch number on the cap with a Sharpie.

[tygo]

@saintsbrew

Do these labels peel off easily?

Yep

[mudman (brewlikeamonkey)]

@denny

For real labels, I use Microsoft Publisher.  After I print them out I attach them using a glue stick.  The glue is water soluble so they come off easily when the bottles are empty.  For down and dirty beer ID I just write the batch number on the cap with a Sharpie.

Do you just use like a card stock or some other paper.  I am not planning on a big production here but for some of the big beers that will be around longer or given as gifts I think it would be neat to design a nice label.  Not to mention the fun of coming up with names and descriptions.

[csu007]

[/quote]

+1 but I stick with the white ones, I have more color options that way.  I use the 3/4" labels, 24 on a 4"x6" sheet.  I using 8 point font I can fit four lines on there, batch #, name, date, and abv.  They do peel off okay if you’re looking to then submit a couple of bottles to competition.

[/quote]

i use the avery 1"x2 5/8’ address white labels. it allows me to put the name/batch number, ibu, srm,  av and date bottled.
the labels come pretty easy after soak in hot water or PBW
i have yet to do a “fancy” label, but i think i will start that in the future for gifts.

[erockrph]

I use these on the caps, and edit the template in Open Office.

http://www.onlinelabels.com/Products/OL5275CX.htm?search=ol5275cx&st=s

[morticaixavier]

@mudman

@denny

For real labels, I use Microsoft Publisher.  After I print them out I attach them using a glue stick.  The glue is water soluble so they come off easily when the bottles are empty.  For down and dirty beer ID I just write the batch number on the cap with a Sharpie.

Do you just use like a card stock or some other paper.  I am not planning on a big production here but for some of the big beers that will be around longer or given as gifts I think it would be neat to design a nice label.  Not to mention the fun of coming up with names and descriptions.

For keepers and gifts I do the same as denny, for gifts I use nice resume paper.something with a high rag content and texture so they feel nice in you hand as well. You can buy label paper that is pre gummed and it goes through a laser printer well enough but it’s expensive

[brophy (AleForce)]

I use Photoshop Elements to create my labels. When print them out on my color laser printer using regular copy paper, then cut appriopriately. On the back of the paper I use a glue stick and put the label on the bottle. I’ve used different kinds of labels but found them to always be too big or small plus the added expense…

[mudman (brewlikeamonkey)]

@morticaixavier

@mudman

@denny

For real labels, I use Microsoft Publisher.  After I print them out I attach them using a glue stick.  The glue is water soluble so they come off easily when the bottles are empty.  For down and dirty beer ID I just write the batch number on the cap with a Sharpie.

Do you just use like a card stock or some other paper.  I am not planning on a big production here but for some of the big beers that will be around longer or given as gifts I think it would be neat to design a nice label.  Not to mention the fun of coming up with names and descriptions.

For keepers and gifts I do the same as denny, for gifts I use nice resume paper.something with a high rag content and texture so they feel nice in you hand as well. You can buy label paper that is pre gummed and it goes through a laser printer well enough but it’s expensive

Good to know, I have resume paper, a nice new printer and Photoshop so I am going to start designing this week.  Thanks for the info all.

[saintsbrew (saintpierre)]

@rjharper

They do peel off okay if you’re looking to then submit a couple of bottles to competition.

Thanks! That’s was my reasoning.

[denny]

@mudman

@denny

For real labels, I use Microsoft Publisher.  After I print them out I attach them using a glue stick.  The glue is water soluble so they come off easily when the bottles are empty.  For down and dirty beer ID I just write the batch number on the cap with a Sharpie.

Do you just use like a card stock or some other paper.  I am not planning on a big production here but for some of the big beers that will be around longer or given as gifts I think it would be neat to design a nice label.  Not to mention the fun of coming up with names and descriptions.

Mostly I just use regular inkjet paper.  For special labels I use lightweight photo paper.  Here’s one of the labels I’ve done…don’t laugh, Keith, I’m no graphic designer!

[mtnrockhopper (Jimmy K)]

I use Avery 34 inch labels (6 / sheet) and print on a color laser printer. Inkjet works too, but condensation will cause the ink to run and soaking will render them unreadable. Laser toner is waterproof. If I’m being cheap I’ll use 22 5/8 inch lables (15 / sheet).  The only problem with these labels is that they will wrinkle and occasionally come off if put in a cooler of ice, but that also means they are easily removed.

[drewbrews (DrewG)]

For a special batch, or gifts I’ve used http://www.grogtag.com/
twice now. Very happy with the results.

They have some great templates, and you can use your own artwork or photos. Labels are vinyl and reusable.

[dcdwort_comcast.net (dcdwort)]

I also use the Avery address labels.  They are cheap and easy to print.  They will run when I use my inkjet printer but most of the time the bottles are in a fridge and that is not a problem.  If I put them on ice, I just mark the caps with the beer initials so I know what I am handing out.  If I had any artistic/graphics skills, then real labels would be fun.

[snowtiger87]

I do like Denny but use a combination of MS Word and Publisher and print on a laser printer. All my labels are square or rectangular so I can cut them with a paper cuter. I usually print out 4 or 6 to a sheet.