Custom Hard Seltzer Labels

It comes down to your run size and how much of the can you want covered.

• Pressure-sensitive labels are the most affordable route and apply with adhesive, either by hand or with a tabletop applicator.
• Shrink sleeves wrap the full can with no adhesive edge to lift, but they need a heat or steam tunnel to apply.
• Printed cans give you the lowest cost per can at high volume, though the minimums run into the hundreds of thousands.

White BOPP film with a permanent waterproof adhesive. BOPP doesn’t absorb moisture, so it holds up to ice baths, cooler doors, and condensation without bubbling or peeling. Wet-strength paper (paper treated to resist moisture) can handle light condensation for a softer, craft look, but no paper is truly waterproof, so for seltzer we usually steer you to BOPP or a shrink sleeve.

This is one of the more confusing parts of seltzer, and it depends on what your seltzer is made from:

• Malt-based hard seltzers are treated as malt beverages by the TTB (the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau), which usually means you need a Certificate of Label Approval (COLA) before you sell.
• Sugar or cane-based hard seltzers are usually labeled under FDA food rules instead, with a Nutrition Facts panel and an ingredient statement, and often don’t need a COLA.

Either way, any beverage at or above 0.5% alcohol by volume has to carry the Government Warning statement. There’s also change on the horizon: the TTB has proposed new rules that would add alcohol-content, allergen, and nutrition details to labels, but those are proposed, not required yet, so check what applies before you print. The malt-versus-sugar line has real consequences for your label, so it’s worth confirming your path with the TTB or a beverage attorney.

Our blog on hard seltzer labeling regulations breaks it down further, and we’ll make sure your artwork has room for everything the rules ask for.

Yes, and this is where digital printing is beneficial. Because there are no plates, each flavor can have its own artwork, colors, nutrition panel, and lot code in the same order, without the cost piling up. Variety packs and seasonal one-offs are exactly what short-run digital labels and sleeves are good at.

We offer shipping through several vendors like UPS, Fedex, and USPS. Ground, Next-Day, 2-Day, 3-Day, and custom freight options. 

Our preferred file formats are Adobe Illustrator or High-Resolution PDF.  You can view our complete artwork file standards checklist here.

Before printing your custom bbq sauce labels, we will provide a digital proof via email for your approval. This allows you to review your label, confirming details like positioning, color accuracy, text legibility, and more, prior to full production. We are committed to ensuring your complete satisfaction through this streamlined proofing process.

While Blue Label Packaging does not directly offer label design services, we do have resources to help with your custom label design needs. We maintain a directory of Blue Label Approved designers who specialize in label design and understand the unique requirements and technical details involved. We also showcase a gallery of label designs for inspiration.

Our printers are capable of matching up to 97% of the full color spectrum, allowing us to achieve precise color reproduction for your beer labels. We use advanced CMYK printing to produce an extensive gamut of colors. For designs requiring an expanded range, we also print using WOVG ink sets which add white, orange, violet and green.

Our top-of-the-line color management program and processes ensure we hit the correct hues, tints and shades. We color calibrate and profile all of our presses so your unique color palettes and gradations print true to your vision.