What Label Materials are Best for Beer Bottles?

Choosing the right label material for your beer bottles matters more than most people think. A smudged label or one that peels off in a cooler can make a high-quality beer look second-rate.

BOPP Labels

Pros: BOPP (biaxially oriented polypropylene) labels are versatile, water-resistant, and oil-resistant. They perform exceptionally in refrigerated and wet conditions, making them ideal for beers stored in coolers or ice buckets.

Cons: Less eco-friendly compared to paper (but keep in mind, paper labels will have problems with moisture and durability).

Best applications: Standard production lines, large batches, breweries looking for consistent performance.

Finishing options: Compatible with lamination, UV varnish (a protective coating that adds gloss or matte texture), hot foil stamping (metallic accents pressed with heat), , screen printing, and spot UV (selective gloss coating to highlight areas).

Environmental factors: Performs well across cold storage, shipping friction, and handling. Resistant to moisture, abrasion, and temperature shifts. These labels won’t smudge or slide off when pulled from a cooler full of ice.

Shrink Sleeve Labels

Pros: Shrink sleeves offer 360-degree branding, meaning the label wraps entirely around the bottle, maximizing design space. They work perfectly for bottles with unique shapes and are highly durable and abrasion-resistant.

Cons: Higher upfront cost; you or your co-packer will need  to have specialized application equipment to apply the shrink sleeves to the container. Less environmentally friendly and more difficult to recycle compared to pressure-sensitive options unless you add a perforation and the consumer removes from the container prior to recycling

Best applications: Premium products, uniquely shaped bottles, full coverage branding.

Finishing options: UV varnishes, cold foil, screen printing, spot UV, tactile (sand) varnish. 

Environmental factors: Resistant to moisture and abrasion; heat sensitivity requires careful application control. Inner-printed sleeves are protected from scuffs during shipping and shelving.

Paper Labels

Pros: More extensive embellishment options and good for a rustic or artisanal brand look.

Cons: Vulnerable to moisture unless coated or laminated, which can increase cost. In refrigerated or damp environments, untreated paper labels may absorb water and wrinkle or peel.

Best applications: Small batch, premium artisan beers, or products stored in dry conditions.

Finishing options: Die cutting, lamination, UV varnish, hot foil stamping, embossing, screen printing, and spot UV.

Environmental factors: Must be protected from moisture; less suitable for refrigerated or wet environments unless heavily treated.

Vinyl Labels

Pros: Durable, moisture-resistant, excellent for outdoor exposure and long-term storage.

Cons: Higher cost than paper or BOPP; adhesive compatibility is an important factor. May not be the best fit for high-volume runs due to cost.

Best applications: Beers frequently exposed to outdoor environments or harsh storage conditions—think beer garden seasonals or special event releases.

Finishing options: Compatible with die cutting, lamination, UV varnish, hot foil stamping, embossing, screen printing, and spot UV.

Environmental factors: Excellent performance in moisture, cold storage, UV exposure, and abrasion conditions. Maintains label clarity and adhesion even after extended outdoor use.

Quick Comparison Table

Choosing your label material means considering your production scale, product storage conditions, and desired brand impact. Need help deciding which material suits your specific needs? Contact us or request a sample pack and we’ll guide you through it.