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How to Translate Your Brand Identity into Packaging and Labels: A Step-by-Step Guide

While you might not judge a person based on one meeting, products often don’t get a second chance on a crowded shelf. Let’s face it — when it comes to shopping, customers all judge a book by its cover, or in this case, a product by its packaging. Studies say about 70% of consumers make snap decisions based on packaging alone — tough for your amazing product on the inside!

Let’s dive into the consumer psyche and how your packaging choices can help you connect to your ideal audience.

The Significance of Brand Identity in Packaging and Labeling

It’s not only your choice of color palette and the feel of a quality product label design that matters. Nearly two-thirds of shoppers feel more connected with brands that share their values, often thanks to clever packaging that tells a story. If a product’s packaging catches the consumer’s eye in the first few seconds, we are a whopping 81% more likely to toss it into our cart.

What is this magic that compels consumers to pick one product over another? One ingredient is a well-communicated brand identity.

What Is Brand Identity?

Author and branding guru Seth Godin once said, “A brand is the set of expectations, memories, stories and relationships that, taken together, account for a consumer’s decision to choose one product or service over another.”

What is brand identity? Infographic

Brand identity encompasses the visible elements of a brand, including its:

  • Name
  • Logo
  • Color palette
  • Typography
  • Imagery
  • Tone of voice

Together, they create a unique image in the consumer’s mind. These components work in harmony to convey the brand’s message and values.

Where Packaging and Labeling Meet Brand Identity

Packaging and labeling play a crucial role as the physical embodiment of a brand’s identity. They are often the first touchpoint a consumer has with a product, making them essential in creating lasting impressions.

Well-designed packaging not only attracts attention on the shelf but also communicates the brand’s essence, values, and intentions. Effective packaging can enhance a consumer’s experience, reflecting quality and care in the product within.

Once you’ve started growing a loyal fanbase, consistent design elements, packaging, and labels can reinforce brand recognition, fostering customer trust and loyalty.

Key Visual Elements of Brand Identity

Key elements of brand identity—color, typography, and imagery

When translating brand identity into packaging, several key visual elements must be considered:

  • Color: The choice of colors in packaging influences consumer perception and can evoke specific emotions. For example, blue often conveys trust and reliability, while green is associated with eco-friendliness and health.
  • Typography: The fonts selected for packaging should align with the brand’s personality and tone. Elegant script fonts might suggest luxury, while bold, sans-serif fonts can impart a modern, approachable feel.
  • Imagery: The visuals used, whether photographs, illustrations, or graphics, should resonate with the brand’s message and audience. They can enhance storytelling, making the product more relatable and memorable.

The Impact of Branding and Design on Profitability and Marketability

Branding and design are two of the biggest parts of your brand equity. They shape consumer perceptions and can significantly influence purchasing decisions. Here’s how they impact your bottom line:

  • Generates Organic Word of Mouth (WOM) Marketing: A strong brand identity attracts new customers and helps retain existing customers, leading to repeat purchases and valuable word-of-mouth promotion.
  • Accelerates Growth Through Recognition: Unique packaging and label design make your product memorable and easy to find—that’s what we call brand recognition.
  • Adds Perceived Value: Eye-catching design helps your product stand out, helping you justify your price point.
  • Simplifies Marketing Efforts: A clear and consistent brand across products and platforms makes sales and marketing easier.

Shopper Psychology: How Packaging Influences Consumer Perception

Packaging is far more than just a protective layer for products; it is the first touchpoint between consumers and your brand — and it turns out that most of the time, the average shopper doesn’t know they’re being judgemental.

Harvard Business School professor Gerald Zaltman highlights in his book How Customers Think: Essential Insights into the Mind of the Market that as much as 95% of the decisions customers make when purchasing occur within our subconscious mind.

The design, color, shape, and material of packaging can significantly affect consumer perceptions and buying decisions. Eye-catching packaging can evoke emotions and attract attention, driving impulse purchases and establishing a brand’s identity in a crowded marketplace. Packaging can signal quality and sustainability, influencing consumers’ choices in an increasingly eco-conscious market.

Woman shopping in a supermarket

Designing for Your Target Market

A deep understanding of their preferences, values, and lifestyles is essential to ensure that packaging resonates with your target audience. Here are some tips for creating effective packaging:

  • Research Demographics: Conduct market research to understand your audience’s characteristics, including age, gender, and interests.
  • Visual Elements: Use colors and graphics that appeal to your demographic. Younger consumers might prefer bold, playful designs, while older consumers may appreciate classic and understated elegance.
  • Functional Design: Consider the practical needs of your target market, such as ease of use, convenience, and portability, ensuring that your packaging meets their expectations.

How Types of Packaging Speak to Different Demographics

Packaging should speak to your brand’s key personas.

  • Eco-Friendly Packaging: Brands like Method and Haagen-Dazs have successfully adopted sustainable packaging that appeals to environmentally conscious consumers, reinforcing their commitment to sustainability.
  • Luxury Packaging: Companies like Chanel use elegant, minimalist designs to convey a sense of exclusivity and high quality, resonating with affluent clients seeking premium products.
  • Whimsical Packaging: Brands targeting families and children, like M&M’s, often employ vibrant colors and playful illustrations, making their products visually appealing to younger audiences and their parents alike.
  • Label designers looking at color swatches

How to Communicate Brand Identity Effectively to a Designer

Before you talk to the designer, you’ll need to get your ducks in a row. This means creating a clear common language to communicate with each other.

  • Define Your Brand’s Vision and Values: Outlining the core principles that drive your brand. What is its mission and vision? Articulate the values you want the brand to embody and the problem you want to solve with your product.
  • Identify Your Target Audience: purchasing behaviors. This information helps the designer understand whom they are designing for.
  • Choose a Tone and Voice: Describe the tone of communication that your brand will use — will it be playful, serious, modern, or nostalgic? This will guide the designer in selecting colors, typography, and styles that align with your brand personality.
  • Create a Brand Guide or Identity Brief: Your brand will include all the above plus examples of your buyer persona, logo use, brand colors, and fonts. (Pro tip: look at other industry-adjacent brand language and style guides to get a feel for what to include and then customize it to your brand’s voice and audience.)

What to Give to a Designer

It’s helpful to include a few extras along with the brand guide. Most experienced designers can seamlessly switch between brand aesthetics, but they tend to work better with visual references than only verbal ones.

  • Provide Visual Inspiration: Include mood boards, examples of competitor brands, or any visuals that resonate with your brand’s identity. This will help the designer visualize your expectations.
  • Outline Specific Requirements: Specify any essential elements or constraints in the design, such as logo usage, color palettes, and typography guidelines. Be clear about what must and must not be included.

Collaboration Strategies

These are some tips to keep the design process smooth. Really solid communication will save you time and money.

  • Be Clear and Concise: Use straightforward language and avoid jargon when discussing your brand identity. Ensure that all key points are easy to understand and direct.
  • Encourage Questions: Foster an open atmosphere by inviting the designer to ask questions for clarity. This helps prevent misunderstandings and aligns expectations.
  • Provide Context: Explain why certain elements are important to your brand. Sharing the reasoning behind your choices gives the designer a deeper understanding of your vision.
  • Regular Check-Ins: Schedule periodic meetings to discuss progress and address any concerns. This keeps everyone on the same page and allows for adjustments based on client feedback.
  • Constructive Feedback: Offer feedback that is specific and actionable. Instead of saying you don’t like a design, explain what aspects do not align with your vision and why.
  • Celebrate Milestones: Acknowledge completed phases in the design process to maintain motivation. Recognizing efforts helps build a positive working relationship and encourages designers to deliver their best work.

Designer looking at product labels

Choosing the Right Materials and Styles Based on Your Brand Identity

Material Selection

When selecting materials for your packaging, it’s crucial to consider how each option can align with and enhance your brand identity.

For instance, paper offers a classic, eco-friendly choice that can be tailored with various textures and finishes for a unique touch.

BOPP (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene) is a versatile and durable material that works well for products requiring moisture protection while maintaining a clear design aesthetic.

Vinyl, known for its vibrant colors and flexibility, can convey a modern and durable impression, making it suitable for brands looking to stand out in a competitive market.

Style Considerations

Your packaging style should ultimately serve to reflect and elevate your brand’s identity and values.

A minimalist approach, like the one famously used by Apple, can communicate sophistication and modernity, appealing to consumers who value simplicity and elegance.

On the other hand, luxury packaging often employs high-quality materials and intricate designs to create an impression of exclusivity and prestige. The perfume industry does an excellent job using custom packaging and high-end label finishes to speak to a high-end buyer.

Eco-friendly packaging can resonate with environmentally conscious consumers, showcasing a commitment to sustainability. Lush is a great example, showcasing bold, eco-friendly packaging that aligns with their ethical stance.

The Importance of Brand Consistency Across Products and Product Lines

Keeping your brand consistent across all products and packaging is key to building consumer trust. When customers see a uniform brand experience, it boosts their recognition and makes them feel more connected to your products. This connection can lead to increased loyalty, as people tend to stick with brands they know well.

To achieve this, brands should create clear brand guidelines for visual elements like logos, colors, and typography and ensure that teams are trained on these standards.

Should you live and die by your brand guide? Not always. When launching new products or entering different markets, it’s vital to adjust your branding thoughtfully, maintaining your core identity while appealing to local tastes. By focusing on consistency, companies can grow while solidifying their presence in the market.

Blue Label Can Help Connect Your Brand to Your Packaging

Next time you’re designing labeling or packaging, remember that a little thought toward branding, materials, and intent can go a long way toward turning heads and creating a loyal customer base.

Contact us today for a quote for custom labels or just go get answers to any of your labeling or packaging questions.

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How to Choose the Right Packaging for Alcohol Shipping: Safety, Compliance, and Branding

Whether you’re a small business looking to send out your craft spirits or a large brand aiming to distribute widely, making sure your products reach their destination safely and legally is crucial. Shipping alcohol can be a complex process filled with numerous regulations and requirements that vary significantly from state to state.

This guide will break down the essentials of alcohol shipping regulations, including the necessary permits, packaging for shipping alcohol techniques, and state-specific guidelines that you need to follow.

Beer kegs in a warehouse

Regulatory Compliance

Before arranging any shipment of alcohol, you should be aware of each state’s transportation regulations.

Shippers should also obtain the necessary licenses and establish agreements with carriers such as FedEx and UPS. Each state may have its own specific regulations regarding the shipment of alcohol. However, some states completely prohibit it.

Some licenses that are required include:

  • Federal Basic Permit: Issued by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), this permit is necessary for any business engaging in the production, importation, or wholesale distribution of alcohol.
  • State Alcohol Shipping Permit: Each state requires shippers to obtain an alcohol shipping permit. The necessary type of permit varies by state, and some states may require multiple permits depending on the nature of the shipment.
  • Carrier Agreements: Agreements with carriers like FedEx, UPS, and DHL that outline the terms and conditions for shipping alcohol.
  • Sales Tax Permit: Required by most states to legally collect sales tax on shipped alcohol.
  • Shipping Carrier Compliance Bond: A bond that some carriers require to ensure compliance with their alcohol shipping guidelines and regulations.

Adult Signature Verification

All alcohol shipments require an adult signature (21+ years) upon delivery. Alcohol Signature Verification ensures that alcohol is not delivered to minors and typically incurs an additional fee. Carriers have specific procedures to verify the recipient’s age and identity at the time of delivery.

These procedures often include checking a valid government-issued identification and obtaining a signature to confirm that someone of legal drinking age received the package.

Safety and Durability

After checking with federal and state laws, your next priority is to get your customer a safe and intact product. Proper packaging helps your products withstand transit shocks, vibrations, and potential impacts.

These are a few best practices for getting your alcoholic beverage delivered in mint condition:

  • Use the right materials: Choose a durable box with inner packaging made of polystyrene, molded pulp, or die-cut corrugated.
  • Protection: Inside the box, each bottle should be individually cushioned with padded dividers or foam inserts to prevent movement and breakage. To protect bottles, you can also use bubble wrap or wine bottle sleeves.
  • Pack tightly: Fill any empty space with filler material like foam peanuts, air pillows, or crumpled paper. Wrap each bottle individually to prevent them from breaking. Pack the box so that it doesn’t move when shaken.
  • Secure the package: Use strong tape to seal the box along all edges and corners. You can also reinforce the bottom with extra tape or a corrugated pad.
  • Label instructions: Mark the box as “Fragile” or “Handle with Care”.
  • Seasonal considerations: Temperature control is another consideration—using insulated packaging or gel packs can help maintain the beverage’s quality, especially during extreme weather conditions.

Packaging and Branding Materials

Picture this: your beautifully crafted product travels thousands of miles, enduring various handling stages and environmental conditions, only to arrive with a worn-out, unreadable label.

Using the proper packaging materials will help your alcohol shipments reach your customers in their best condition. Below are a few important considerations to keep in mind when shipping alcohol.

Materials

Using acceptable materials like molded polystyrene, pulp dividers, and sturdy corrugated cartons ensures your product and its packaging remain intact. When it comes to a safety net, reinforced bottoms are your best friend.

Most major carriers, like FedEx and UPS, include detailed guidelines on what materials can be used for packaging on their websites.

Strong adhesives

Whether braving downpours or UV rays from the sun, a label with strong adhesive should stay put. The right adhesive helps your label stay put and in compliance no matter what wild adventures it may encounter.

Label laminates

Laminates act as barriers against environmental factors, protecting labels from moisture, temperature changes, and abrasion. High-quality laminates keep crucial information like legal disclaimers, barcodes, and brand details intact and readable during transit.

UV coatings

UV coatings provide a layer of protection against harmful ultraviolet light, which can degrade both the label material and the printed information over time. By applying UV coatings, labels are protected against fading, discoloration, and other forms of deterioration caused by UV exposure, particularly during extended periods in transit or storage.

Alcohol Label Requirements

Preparing your label before it gets picked up by your carrier helps avoid issues during shipping. Here is what you need to know:

  • Electronic shipping solutions: Shippers must use carrier-approved electronic shipping solutions to create and manage shipping labels. This allows shipments to be properly documented and traceable.
  • Active alcohol shipping account: Carriers like FedEx and UPS have specific systems for processing alcohol shipments. For instance, FedEx requires shippers to have an active alcohol shipping account and a signed agreement.
  • Special labels: A special alcohol label and an adult signature requirement sticker. Similarly, UPS mandates that shippers have a UPS Agreement for Approved Beer or Wine Shippers.
  • Declaration: You’ll need to provide details about the contents of the package with clear identification. Alcohol shipments must be clearly labeled as containing alcohol.
  • Adult signature: Labels should indicate that an adult signature is required upon delivery.
  • Compliance with origin and destination regulations: Special labels can be obtained from the shipping carrier, and packages must comply with both origin and destination state labeling requirements.

Direct-to-Consumer Alcohol Packaging vs. Distribution Packaging

​​As an alcohol manufacturer, you might be wondering about the differences between direct-to-consumer alcohol packaging and packaging designed for distribution and shipping on a larger scale.

When shipping directly to consumers, packaging needs to cater to a more personal experience—think appealing designs that embody your brand and provide an unboxing experience. Consider how your packaging can spark joy, but be tough enough to handle.

On the other hand, B2B or distribution packaging focuses more on efficiency and durability; your primary goal is to ensure products arrive intact and ready for resale. This often means using more robust supplemental materials and prioritizing functionality over aesthetics.

Both packaging types have one thing in common—they require a focus on product protection. If you choose the right packaging partner, both can look good and maintain the integrity of your product.

Let Blue Label Help You Choose the Right Packaging

Blue Label Packaging Co. has dedicated experts who can guide you through the ins and outs of packaging regulations. We offer customized solutions like alcohol-compliant labels with no minimum order, second-skin shrink sleeves, and hang tags with luxe finishes.

At Blue Label Packaging, we put our expertise to work. Explore our product labels or talk to an expert about your next packaging product.

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What Is Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP) and Why Is It Good For Product Labels?

Choosing a label for your packaging is a big deal. You need something that sticks out, but also sticks on. Enter biaxially oriented polypropylene, or BOPP for short.

It’s a to-go choice for several food and beverage, beauty, household, and even medical equipment brands. But is it the right choice for your products? Let’s walk through the benefits of BOPP, its applications, options, pricing, and customizability.

Understanding BOPP 

Considering how commonly it’s used, you’ve probably passed by BOPP labels a million times at the store. BOPP is a type of plastic film commonly used for product labels. In simple terms, it’s a durable, clear material that’s been stretched in two directions during manufacturing. This stretching process enhances its strength and clarity.

Benefits of Choosing BOPP Labels 

Ask a brand using BOPP for their product labels why they prefer it, and they’ll tell you it’s highly versatile. These are some of the benefits that make BOPP the perfect fit for product labels. 

BOPP is Durable 

Many packaging and labeling professionals consider BOPP to be one of the most durable label options available. It’s not susceptible to common problems affecting different labels like peeling, wrinkling, and lifting. Whether you use them on jars, bottles, or tubes, BOPP can last a long time. 

BOPP is Resistant to Moisture, UV Light, and Oil

Because BOPP labels are durable and made from plastic, they can resist most types of liquids. Something spills or splashes on your label?  It won’t smear the writing on the label if you’re using BOPP. 

Meanwhile, BOPP’s moisture and solvent resistant qualities make it a great choice for household products people keep in their bathrooms and kitchens. BOPP is also acid resistant, which makes it suitable for food and beverage product packaging. You won’t have to worry about products containing tomatoes, coffee, condiments, or citrus, which have a low pH content, degrading or discoloring your BOPP labels.

BOPP Labels are Ideal for Printing

The polymer film used for making BOPP labels accepts both water and solvent-based inks, giving you more options when choosing effects for your labels. Ink adheres well to BOPP because it goes through several treatment steps to improve its printability. The final treatment also improves the ink’s ability to stick to the label material.

Sauces and seasoning products with custom labels and packaging

BOPP is Flexible 

Another interesting aspect of BOPP is its flexibility, which makes it easy to apply on rounded and flat surfaces with ease. And since it’s very thin, BOPP labels can look as though they’re directly printed onto their container. 

BOPP Applies to Glass, Plastic, and Metal 

BOPP is compatible with all types of packaging containers commonly used for consumer goods. From metal cans and glass jars to plastic containers, the right combination of BOPP film and adhesive is sure to stick. 

BOPP is Compatible with FDA Food Packaging Requirements 

Food labels made from BOPP film are FDA compliant as long as they mention the following: 

  • A statement of identity 
  • Net quantity of contents
  • List of ingredients 
  • Name of manufacturer, packer, or distributor.

BOPP labels designed and manufactured by companies like Blue Label Packaging meet FDA compliance standards for food packaging. 

BOPP is an Affordable Label Choice 

When it comes to cost, BOPP is more affordable than options like PET, while giving you the same level of durability and moisture resistance. While paper labels are cheaper to produce, they might not last as long, making BOPP a cost-efficient alternative. 

Different BOPP Label Options 

You don’t have to settle for a simple, generic label when you choose BOPP film. Here are some of your available BOPP label options: 

Pressure Sensitive Labels on honey jars

White BOPP Labels 

Though BOPP film labels come in different options, white is the most common choice. It’s used in the health and beauty, personal care, and cosmetic industries. You’ll also see white BOPP labels on food products by companies looking to make their branding stand out. 

Clear BOPP Labels 

Transparent BOPP labels can give your product a sleek, no-label look, and is often used on beverages, household products, specialty foods, and cosmetic products. It has the same moisture resistant qualities of white BOPP, except that it’s almost invisible. 

Wine bottles with custom pressure sensitive labels

Silver And Gold BOPP Labels 

For a more luxurious appearance, you can also choose silver or holographic BOPP product labels. These have the same capabilities as clear or white labels, but offer a metallic finish. 

Squeezable BOPP Labels

BOPP-squeezable labels are made for product containers that contort with handling, like shampoo, condiment, and lotion bottles. They give you the flexibility, moisture resistance, and durability needed for products that take on frequent handling. 

BOPP Label Applications

BOPP is a popular option for label materials—it offers impressive affordability and durability making it desirable for a wide range of products and industries.

Food And Beverage 

Numerous food and beverage companies use BOPP labels because it’s waterproof, looks great, and is easy to read. It’s durable against acidic foods that might typically leave labels smeared or stained. The flexibility and thinness of BOPP labels make them easy to apply to round surfaces of food and beverage containers. 

Health and Beauty

Packaging for health and beauty items like cosmetics require specific product information on the labels, so protecting against smudging, fading, and tearing is critical. These labels need to hold up in humid and damp environments. BOPP product labels are resistant to water from showers and sinks, oils that come off users’ hands, and the products inside them. 

Choose BOPP Labels for Durable and Attractive Product Labeling Solutions

To sum it up, BOPP film is a versatile solution to labeling your products, whether you operate in the food and beverage, cosmetic, or household goods industry. It’s resistant to moisture, comes in various finishes, and is compatible with glass, metal, and plastic containers. 

If you want to start printing BOPP film labels for your products, contact our team at Blue Label Packaging to request a quote.

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Finding the Perfect Match: Beer Container Types and Beer Labels

Think beer labels are only good for traditional beer bottles or cans? Think again. From growlers and bombers to different sized beer cans, beer labels make the perfect addition. Here at Blue Label Packaging Company, we have experience designing and creating bottle labels for a variety of shapes and sizes.

It’s not just the label that can set a beverage apart from others. It’s the container type, too. Take a look at some of our favorite beer storage containers below:

1. Beer Cans

beer labels for beer cans

Why do brewers love cans of beer so much? They’re lightweight, cost-effective, and easy to transport, plus the metal blocks out light better than glass, helping protect beer flavor. Cans are also highly recyclable, which can be an appealing sustainability factor for both brewers and consumers.

The coolest thing about types of beer cans are the size variations – you don’t have to stick with the standard 12-ounce can.

Common Can Sizes

The following are some of the most common beer can types:

  • 8.4 oz (often used for specialty releases or high-ABV beers)
  • 12 oz (the classic “standard” can)
  • 12 oz slim (same volume, narrower profile)
  • 12-ounce “Sam Can”, produced by the well-known Boston Beer Company
  • 16 oz (“tallboy” or “pint” can)
  • 19.2 oz (“stovepipe,” often sold as single-serve)
  • 32 oz crowler (an aluminum growler used by taprooms)

Beer Can Label & Shrink Sleeve Dimensions

For 12 oz cans, you’ll typically see pressure-sensitive labels around 3.625”–4” tall by 7.5″-8” wide.

16 oz cans often use labels around 5” tall by 7.5″-8” wide.

If you’re using shrink sleeves, the label height can cover the entire can from top to bottom—often 5”–6” for a 12 oz can, or 6”–7” for a 16 oz can—depending on how much real estate you want for your design.

2. Beer Bottles

Beer bottles

Beer bottles remain a staple in the industry—despite cans dominating much of the craft market, bottles of beer still have a loyal following.

A significant portion of craft beer sales continues to come from glass beer bottle formats, especially for specialty releases. They’re popular for their traditional look and the perception that glass can enhance a beer’s taste and presentation.

Some brewers also prefer bottles for high-gravity or barrel-aged brews, believing they allow for more nuanced aging and flavor development.

Why Choose Beer Bottles?

Brewers often opt for bottles because:

  • Brand Image: Glass can evoke a premium or nostalgic feel.
  • Flavor Preservation: Dark glass helps shield beer from harmful light.
  • Tradition: Many craft consumers still associate bottles of beer with authenticity and craftsmanship.

Common Bottle Sizes

  • 12 oz – The classic standard for many craft and mainstream beers
  • 22 oz (“Beer Bomber”) – Frequently used for limited-edition or specialty brews
  • 16.9 oz (500 mL) – Popular among breweries with European roots
  • 750 mL – Often used for high-end or Belgian-style releases

Beer labels for beer bombers

Beer Bottle Label Dimensions

Beer bottles typically use a front label and a back label, though some breweries choose a single wrap label that goes all the way around.

A common front label might be around 3 x 3 inches, while the back can vary between 2.5 x 2.5 inches and 3 x 4 inches depending on the bottle shape and how much legal info you need.

3. Beer Growlers

beer labels for growler beer containers

Often used for transporting craft beer from breweries, amber glass growlers have an iconic jug-like shape with a convenient handle.

Why do brewers turn to growlers? They’re refillable, reusable, and give customers a chance to take home fresh beer straight from the tap.

Common Growler Sizes

Most growlers hold 64 oz or 32 oz, though gallon sizes (128 oz) are also available for those who want more volume.

Common Label Dimensions

Labels for growlers generally fall in the 4–5 inch (height) by 4–6 inch (width) range, depending on the curved surface and branding needs.

Some brewers opt for larger, wrap-around labels—like 4 x 14 inches—for maximum coverage.

4. Beer Kegs

beer labels for beer kegs

Beer kegs have always played a huge role in draft beer consumption—particularly in bars, restaurants, and taprooms. A lot of craft beer sales happen “on-premise,” and aluminum beer kegs are the go-to container for delivering fresh drafts.

The choice to use kegs often comes down to cost-effectiveness (they’re refillable and reusable), minimized packaging waste, and straightforward shipping logistics.

Why Choose Beer Kegs?

  • Bulk Distribution: Ideal for high-volume, on-premise service.
  • Quality Control: Minimizes oxygen exposure, keeping beer fresh for longer.
  • Sustainability: Reusable containers reduce packaging waste.
  • Cost Efficiency: Fewer materials compared to individual cans or bottles.

Common Keg Sizes

  • Half Barrel (1/2 bbl): 15.5 gallons—standard for bars and large events.
  • Quarter Barrel (1/4 bbl): 7.75 gallons—often referred to as a “pony keg.”
  • Sixth Barrel (1/6 bbl): 5.16 gallons—popular for smaller tap rotations or limited releases.
  • Cornelius Keg (“Corny Keg”): 5 gallons—often used by homebrewers and smaller-scale operations.

Common Label Sizes for Kegs

Beer keg collars sit around the top of the keg and usually measure 6–7 inches in diameter, depending on the collar’s design. They’re important for compliance (listing style, ABV, and brewery info) and branding.

Some brewers also use keg wraps—long, narrow labels that can wrap around the keg’s body. These typically run 3–6 inches tall and up to 30 inches wide, though dimensions vary based on the keg’s circumference.

If you’re looking to add color and branding, a well-designed wrap can stand out in a crowded cellar or cooler.

5. Beer Barrels and Casks

Beer casks

Barrels and casks are commonly used by craft beer breweries for aging or secondary fermentation, typically after the initial brewing process. They can infuse unique flavors (like oak, bourbon, or wine notes) into the product, resulting in more complexity.

Brewers often choose a beer barrel when they want to create limited-edition or specialty batches that stand out in the market. It’s all about achieving deeper, layered profiles that can’t be replicated in stainless steel tanks.

Why Use Barrels or Casks?

  • Flavor Enhancement: Wood barrels or casks previously used for spirits or wine can add distinct characteristics—vanilla, caramel, tannins, or even residual whiskey notes.
  • Extended Aging: Slower oxygen exchange creates subtler, more nuanced flavors over time.
  • Brand Differentiation: Barrel-aged beers can command premium prices and generate buzz among craft enthusiasts.

Common Barrel and Cask Sizes

  • Standard Barrels (53 gallons): Often repurposed from bourbon distilleries, the most common size in the U.S.
  • Wine Barrels (59 gallons): Popular for sour or wild ales, imparting vinous qualities.
  • Hogsheads (66 gallons): Larger barrels sometimes used for extended aging.
  • Firkins (9 gallons): A smaller, traditional British cask used for real ale or specialty releases.
  • Pins (4.5 gallons): Half the size of a firkin, ideal for small-batch cask ales.

Choosing the right size depends on your goals: smaller casks let you try new recipes without a big commitment, while larger barrels hold more product for extended aging and complex flavor development.

Your type of beer container doesn’t have to be the only packaging feature that sets your beer a part. Likewise, your beer labels don’t have to be the only unique part of your beer bottles or cans. Beer containers and labels can – and should – work together to bring the product to life. Use them both to your advantage, and contact us today to find out how.

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Where Can I Find a Beer Label Designer?

Even a tasty beer can fail if nobody buys it. The craft beer market is growing rapidly, with global data company Nielsen citing that craft sales are up more than 65 percent in the past five years. If you want a nice slice of that multi-billion-dollar pie, you need to make sure your product stands out in a very competitive crowd.

Your beer label is going to be the first thing shoppers will see, so you need to attract their eyes before you can convince their taste buds to go on a second date. A professional beer label designer can create a label that not only sticks out on shelves, but also allows you to tell a story about the beer that you’ve carefully crafted.

Beer can with shrink sleeve

Do You Really Need a Professional Label Designer?

Even if you’re tempted to handle design in-house or try a DIY approach, working with a pro can really take your label to the next level. Professional label designers bring specialized expertise and a proven track record that often translates into higher quality and more effective packaging.

If you don’t believe us, consider these findings from Nielsen’s craft beer design audit:

  • 70 percent of craft beer buyers decide which beer to buy right at the shelf
  • 66 percent of American craft beer buyers say that a beer’s label and packaging are “very” or “extremely” important for getting noticed
  • 60 percent say that a beer’s label and packaging are “very” or “extremely” important in convincing them to give it a try
  • 71 percent of craft beer buyers say they like to try brands with bold and interesting packaging

That’s a lot of people judging a beer by its looks, which is why finding a designer who truly understands your product can be a game changer.

Image of a custom label from a beer label designer.

Getting It Right: Technical and Production Tips

Great design is important—but it’s equally important that your concept translates into the final product. Here’s what you need to know about the technical side:

  • Print Resolution & Color Models: Make sure your artwork is high resolution (at least 300 DPI, meaning it’s sharp enough for printing) and designed in the appropriate color mode—CMYK. This standard printing color model ensures that what you see on your screen matches what comes off the press.
  • Material & Finishing Options: Think about which paper or packaging material complements your design best. Options like matte, gloss, or textured finishes can really change the overall look and feel. Other options like foil stamping, embossing and debossing, and lamination can make parts of the label stand out.

Regulatory & Compliance Factors: Remember, your design needs to follow certain rules—like those in the Alcoholic Beverage Label Act, which spells out what info must appear on your label (health warnings, ingredient lists, alcohol content, etc.). Make sure your designer is aware so you don’t hit any snags during production.

Cans vs. Bottles: Label Design Considerations

When evaluating designers, keep in mind that cans and bottles each have unique design considerations:

  • Label Size and Shape: Bottles often require multiple labels, including front labels, back labels, and neck labels. Each label needs to communicate effectively on its own, but also fit together cohesively. Cans, on the other hand, typically use a single wrap-around label or shrink sleeve, meaning your design needs to work seamlessly from all angles.
  • Visibility and Shelf Presence: Cans offer a continuous canvas that can make bold, graphic-driven designs particularly effective. Bottle labels usually require a more segmented approach, balancing individual elements like logos, text, and mandatory information across multiple labels.
  • Neck Labels and Specialty Areas: Bottles frequently include neck labels, which can enhance brand recognition and premium feel. Ask your designer if they have experience leveraging these smaller labels to make your beer stand out.
  • Material and Finish Differences: Some label finishes and embellishments (such as embossing, foil stamping, or textured papers) might suit bottles better due to their shape and handling. Cans benefit from durable, moisture-resistant label materials and vibrant printing, as condensation and handling can affect how the design holds up over time.

Be sure to discuss your packaging format with your designer early, so your design can maximize its impact, no matter which route you choose.

Beer bottles

Your Pre-Production Checklist

Here’s a quick checklist to make sure everything’s in order before you print.

  • Artwork Quality: Ensure your artwork is at least 300 DPI (for clear, sharp images) and in CMYK (to guarantee accurate print colors).
  • Material Selection: Review material samples—whether it’s matte, gloss, or textured finishes—to decide which look best enhances your design.
  • Compliance Check: Double-check that your design follows the Alcoholic Beverage Label Act and that all mandatory info is included.
  • Printer Consultation: Meet with your printer to confirm that your design files and chosen materials will work during production.

How to Choose the Right Beer Label Designer

Before you hire a designer, it’s important to do your homework to find someone who’s the right fit for your brewery. Your beer is unique, and the market is more crowded than ever. Here’s how you can make the best choice:

  • Evaluate Their Portfolio: Look for designers with specific experience in the beer or beverage industry. Their portfolio should show creativity and a solid understanding of how designs work in the real world.
  • Ask the Right Questions: In your initial conversations, ask about their experience with print production, regulatory compliance, and how they capture your brand’s story.
  • Questions to Consider:
    • What experience do you have with beverage labels?
    • How do you ensure your designs meet regulatory standards?
    • Can you share a case study where your design improved a brand’s sales?
  • Set Clear Expectations: Prepare a detailed brief that outlines your technical needs and creative vision. This minimizes misunderstandings and ensures the final product is exactly what you need.

Beer cans with labels

Consider Artwork Styles That Fit Your Brand

When reviewing a designer’s portfolio, pay close attention to their artwork style to ensure it aligns with your brand personality and your target audience. Consider the following elements:

  • Illustration vs. Photography: Does your beer brand lean toward playful and illustrated graphics or more refined photographic imagery? Choose a designer whose illustrative style consistently matches your intended vibe.
  • Typography Choices: Type plays a huge role in readability and personality. Look at whether the designer’s typographic choices—from bold, eye-catching fonts to subtle, minimalist lettering—match your brand’s tone and the impression you want to make.
  • Color Usage: Evaluate if the designer’s use of color resonates with your brewery’s identity. Bold, vibrant colors attract attention but may not align with every brand story, whereas muted or vintage palettes can convey tradition or craftsmanship.
  • Consistency and Flexibility: Consider whether their style can consistently carry through various product lines or seasonal beers while still offering enough flexibility to differentiate each brew.

Ready to Elevate Your Beer Label Design?

If you need a talented designer who can make your labels stand out while ensuring technical excellence and strategic impact, we’re here to help.

Over the years, we’ve worked with plenty of designers who excel at creating incredible designs and understanding the digital printing process inside and out. You can trust our national network of design experts to help your beer win hearts and shelves alike.

Check out our directory of approved beer label designers today. When your design is all set, drop us a line, and we’ll be happy to talk about digital printing options for your bottles or cans.

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What You Need to Know About Label Adhesives

The most important part of a label is what is underneath it, the adhesive. Underrated and often forgotten, beverage label adhesives will absolutely make or break your label. Dramatic? Maybe. Wrong? No way. We want to make sure you know exactly what you’re getting into when it comes to customizing your beverage label, and that begins with the all-too-essential sticky stuff.

Comparing label adhesives—permanent, removable, repositionable

There are many types of label adhesives

The first step to nailing down the perfect adhesive is deciding what you will need it to do. You can choose between a permanent, removable or repositionable label adhesive.

Permanent Label Adhesives

Permanent label adhesives are fairly self explanatory. These guys have tattoo status: they can be removed but not without a fight and a little bit of damage. Permanent label adhesives are usually the most cost-efficient and create the strongest bond between label and product. These are a great option if you need your beverage label to withstand any and every condition.

Removeable Adhesives

Next up: removable adhesives, who rock more of a temporary tattoo status. They can be removed without causing harm, but are definitely susceptible to temperature and humidity, so they’re not the best idea for beverages or bottles that will encounter condensation or be stored in extreme cold or heat.

Repositionable Adhesives

Finally, repositionable adhesives are in a class of their own. While they do what their name suggests, and allow you to remove and reapply without leaving a residue, after a certain amount of time, they acquire a level of permanence more on par with our permanent label adhesives.

What are these labels good for? If you’re applying your custom beverage labels manually, repositionable adhesives allow you to correct human error as long as it’s within the allotted amount of time; before permanent adhesion. (That’s right, no more crooked labels!)

In order to make sure these adhesives do their job it is very important that you consider all of the environments that your labels will be exposed to throughout their life.

  • Where will they be stored prior to application? This is important because low temperatures and high humidity can affect adhesive performance (if you are storing them in a warehouse that isn’t climate controlled, for instance).
  • What is the environment at the point of application—high speed bottling line, semi automatic, or by hand?
  • Are the bottles being filled with a hot or cold liquid? This can affect the bond the label makes with the container.
  • Is there heavy condensation or overspill where the label is being applied?
  • How is your product going to be stored after it is labeled? On a store shelf, in a freezer, an ice bucket, in a shower, outside in the UV rays for an extended period of time, in an industrial atmosphere with various solvents and chemicals?

All of these questions factor into selecting the perfect adhesive for your project.

Label adhesives are either acrylic or rubber-based

Narrowing down the sea of options for you is the chemistry of your label adhesive.

Acrylic Adhesives

Acrylic adhesives are synthetic and are created to stick to a wide spectrum of surfaces, including glass and metal. These adhesives are great for surfaces that will encounter wet, rigid and/or uncertain conditions, as they hold up well under a myriad of circumstances.

Rubber-based Adhesives

Rubber-based adhesives are a little less versatile. They are the most cost-effective of the two options, but if your product label encounters humidity or extreme temperatures, this adhesive will break down over time.

Label adhesives perform in three ways

Regardless of the type of label adhesive you choose, whether its acrylic or rubber-based, all options have to answer to the three following factors:

  1. Tack: the stickiness to the container without any outside help.
  2. Adhesion: the strength of the bond after help from external pressure.
  3. Shear: the label’s staying power, in essence, as expressed through time.

Hey, you wouldn’t buy a diamond without checking out the cut, color and clarity, would you? To test the level of adhesion, tools like a loop tack tester or peel tester can be used.

A loop tack tester measures the adhesive’s initial “stickiness” by applying the label and gauging the force required to remove it instantly.

A peel tester, on the other hand, measures how much force is needed to peel the label off after it has adhered over time.

PS Range in label adhesives

As you investigate various label adhesives, you might come across the term “PS Range,” or pressure-sensitive range. PS range adhesives stick with just a little pressure—no heat or water needed. It’s used for the different types of labels we’ve introduced in this post, like permanent, removable, and repositionable.

Label adhesion to different containers and packaging

Label adhesives perform differently depending on the surface material and the conditions of the container or packaging. For example, adhesion on glass is typically strong, but labels may struggle on rough surfaces, cold surfaces, or uneven surfaces.

To assist with long-term adhesion, it’s important to match the adhesive to the specific container material. Here are some key considerations:

• Adhesion on surfaces like glass is usually reliable.

• Rough surfaces may require stronger adhesives.

• Cold surfaces can affect the adhesive’s ability to bond.

• Uneven surfaces may need more flexible adhesives for proper adhesion.

We do custom label adhesives right

The authority in knowledge and execution, Blue Label Packaging Company will make sure your custom beverage labels are perfect. That means the highest quality labels, turned around quicker than you’d believe, at the most cost effective option for your brand.  Oh, and we don’t stop until you’re satisfied. Guaranteed. Call us or shoot us an email. Let’s grab a beer and talk labels.

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Red Labels That Inspire: A Gallery of Designs for Red Product Labels

Red is the color of passion, power, and unshakable confidence—and when it’s used on a label, it has the ability to make products pop off the shelves. The color red can make a product feel bold and fiery or rich and refined. In this post, we’re diving into some inspiring examples of red labels that demand attention, connect with customers, and leave a lasting impression.

Cocoa Santé Hot Cocoa

The deep red on the Cocoa Santé Parisien label grabs your attention instantly—it’s bold, luxurious, and exudes warmth and indulgence. It’s the kind of color that makes you feel like you’re about to unwrap something truly special, setting the perfect tone for a Parisian-inspired cocoa experience.

Bake Me Happy Baked Goods

The bright, cheerful red of the Bake Me Happy label is impossible to miss—it’s fun, welcoming, and gives off a sense of homemade joy. Paired with the playful scalloped edge and friendly typography, it’s like the packaging is saying, “Yes, it’s gluten-free, but it’s also packed with pure happiness!”

Baked cookies with custom labels

Iowa Legendary Rye Whiskey

The deep, rich red of the Iowa Legendary Rye label is sophisticated, and gives nod to its storied 100-year history, drawing you into the bootlegger’s era. With its bold typography and intricate golden accents, the design evokes craftsmanship and legacy.

Rye Whiskey Label

Mosinee Brewing Company’s Flashover Imperial Irish Red

The fiery red design of Mosinee Brewing Company’s Flashover Imperial Irish Red cans gives off intensity and energy, echoing the bold, full-bodied flavor inside. The subtle textured pattern adds depth and character, making this can unforgettable.

Roaring Table Brewing’s Inessential Houses IPA

The playful pink palette and charming illustrations on Roaring Table Brewing’s Inessential Houses can make it feel like you’re strolling through a vibrant, whimsical neighborhood. The design is as refreshing and unexpected as the Sour IPA inside.

Land Grant’s Splendid Berry Brut

The bright, playful red and intricate patterns on Land Grant’s Jeni’s Splendid cans mirrors the creativity and sweetness of its collaboration with Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. The design feels like a joyful celebration in a can—inviting, fun, and as delightful as the treat-inspired beer inside.

Watershed Distillery Bourbon

The bold red label on Watershed Distillery’s bourbon strikes the perfect balance between modern simplicity and timeless warmth, drawing attention to its refined craftsmanship. It’s a design that feels right at home at any gathering—inviting, approachable, and as smooth as the bourbon it represents.

North Country Charcuterie

The fiery red labels for North Country Charcuterie’s El Diablo Chorizo demand attention with their bold and spicy energy, channeling the heat-packed flavor inside. The clean typography and rustic packaging create an artisanal charm.

Custom food label for North Country

Stadium Pizza Write Shot Red

The bold red labels for Stadium Pizza’s Wrist Shot Red amber ale hit the mark with their energetic hockey-inspired design. The striking colors and dynamic illustration make this brew feel like a power play for your taste buds, perfect for game day or any day.

Cà Phê Sữa Đá Sang Vietnamese Coffee

The vibrant red label on Sang Vietnamese Coffee’s plant-based can is bold, modern, and full of energy. Paired with the minty green/blue typography, it’s a fresh twist on tradition that grabs your attention and promises a creamy, plant-powered coffee experience.

Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon

The rich, earthy tones of the Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon label evoke elegance and timeless sophistication, capturing the essence of Napa Valley’s craftsmanship. With its delicate script and balanced design, the label feels as refined and complex as the wine itself.

Wine bottle with red label

Big Mountain Ciderworks Cherry Blossom Cider

The Big Mountain Ciderworks Cherry Blossom label features a rich cherry-red background adorned with delicate floral accents that evoke freshness and sophistication. The interplay of bold typography and soft blossom imagery creates a perfect harmony, much like the semi-sweet cider inside.

bottle with custom cider labels

Krayasart Thai snack bites

The vibrant red packaging of Krayasart Thai Snack Bites demands attention with its intricate, mandala-inspired design that radiates energy and cultural authenticity. Perfectly complementing the bold chili-lime peanut flavor, this packaging promises a snack experience that’s as dynamic and exciting as its appearance suggests.

Specialty food packages with custom labels

Nomad Snack Company’s Raw Dark Chocolate Bars

The Nomad Snack Company raw dark chocolate bar packaging is a perfect blend of rustic charm and modern flair. With its kraft paper base and vibrant pink accent, it feels natural and handcrafted, while the copper foil logo adds a luxurious touch.

chocolate box with custom label

Asheville Spice Company All Y’All Spice

The bold orange/red label for Asheville Spice Company’s All Y’All Spice is as vibrant and flavorful as the blend itself, capturing the warmth of southern charm and the zest of its mountain-roasted ingredients. With its playful skillet graphic and hand-drawn typography, this packaging promises an authentic and lively seasoning experience.

Spice Seasoning Jars with Labels

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How to Choose a Craft Beer Label Printing Company in 2024

Finding the perfect labels for your craft beer can be challenging. With so many printing companies to choose from, it can be difficult to identify one that truly understands your unique durability, design, and customization needs. We’ve worked with thousands of breweries and craft beer makers in your position.

Don’t sweat it. This guide is packed with tips to help you identify a printing partner who gets your brand and makes your beer stand out.

We’re covering the essentials: understanding materials and techniques, how to weigh costs, figuring out order sizes, and making sure your labels stay compliant. Plus, you’ll get a cheat sheet of questions to ask printers, making your decision-making process a whole lot smoother.

Cans with custom labels

Understanding Your Custom Beer Label Needs

Successfully choosing a printing partner starts with identifying your goals. Consider the following:

Identifying Your Goals

Start with the end in mind—your goals will likely include brand recognition, cost efficiency, durability, legal compliance, and customer engagement. These will help potential partners understand how to strategically design custom labels aligning to your specific needs. Here are some tips:

  • Brand Recognition: Share style inspirations or designs to collect feedback.
  • Cost Efficiency: Provide expected order volumes for advice on printing options that match your budget.
  • Durability: List product varieties like beers, seltzers, and ciders that require durable wet labels. Communicate the different environments that your product might have to endure.
  • Legal Compliance: Specify label content needs like government warnings supporting industry compliance (tip: we can help with this).
  • Customer Engagement: Discuss target demographics and labeling ideas to captivate them.

Decide What’s Most Important

Like any major business decision, it’s important to determine what matters most, whether it’s exceptional customer service, competitive pricing, the ability to create standout labels, conveying your brand story, eco-conscious materials, or a combination of those.

  • Standout Label Designs: Will custom shapes, special effects like foils or specialty printing techniques be featured? Determine must-have aesthetics.
  • Storytelling Through Labels: What brand narratives do your labels need to convey? Share themes inspiring designs.
  • Eco-conscious Practices: Do you require sustainable printing methods and materials? Ask about green production options.
  • Customer Service: How important is an expert team available for technical support? Assess level of involvement expected.
  • Printing Cost Factors: Will you print high volumes for cost efficiency or need flexibility for small batch prototyping? Request rate breakdowns.

Comparing capabilities in key areas helps identify ideal printing partners matching must-haves. Weigh whether you will compromise on certain preferences if strengths align well in other dimensions.

Custom bottle label with metallic foil and embossing

Key Considerations in Choosing a Craft Beer Label Printing Company

Choosing the Right Materials

When assessing the quality and materials capabilities of a printing partner, breweries should evaluate factors like durability, material options, and print quality.

The choice of material for your craft beer labels plays a significant role in their overall look, feel, and durability. Here are some considerations to keep in mind:

  • Water-Resistant Materials: Given the conditions that craft beer bottles and cans are often subjected to, from ice buckets to refrigerators, selecting water-resistant materials is crucial. Options like BOPP (biaxially oriented polypropylene) and vinyl offer excellent moisture resistance, ensuring your labels remain intact and visually appealing, no matter the environment​​.
  • Durability Against Moisture and Cold: It’s not just about water resistance; the material should also withstand cold temperatures without losing its integrity. Materials that can endure these conditions without peeling off or getting damaged are vital for maintaining a pristine look from the brewery to the consumer’s hand​​.
  • Aesthetic and Texture Options: Beyond durability, the material of your label affects its aesthetic appeal. Matte, gloss, and satin finishes can dramatically alter the look and feel of your labels. Each finish has its own way of interacting with light and can complement the design of your label to make colors pop or provide a sophisticated understated look.
  • Eco-friendly Options: With a growing emphasis on sustainability in the craft beer industry, considering eco-friendly label materials can resonate with your target audience’s values. Materials like recycled paper or biodegradable films can significantly reduce your brand’s environmental footprint while maintaining high-quality aesthetics.

Label Sizes and Shapes

Standard label sizes and shapes have evolved, largely influenced by the industry’s most common container types and sizes. For example, a typical beer bottle label might measure around 3.5 inches wide by 4 inches high, offering ample space for branding, artwork, and necessary information without overwhelming the container​​. Similarly, can labels often wrap entirely around the vessel, providing a 360-degree canvas for design creativity and brand messaging.

However, the “standard” is not one-size-fits-all. Different bottle and can dimensions, such as slim cans or larger bomber bottles, require tailored label sizes to ensure a perfect fit. The key is understanding the dimensions of your specific containers and how much of that space you want your label to cover.

Going Beyond Standard Options: The Case for Customization

While standard labels serve many brands well, the craft beer industry thrives on uniqueness and personality. Custom labels—those that break the mold in terms of size, shape, and application—are becoming increasingly popular for craft brewers looking to differentiate their offerings.

  • Embracing Unique Shapes: Custom-shaped labels can mirror the contours of unusual bottle or can designs, create visual interest, and enhance shelf appeal. From sleek, minimalist labels that hint at the contents to intricate, die-cut shapes that tell a story, the possibilities are limited only by imagination.
  • Considering Wraparound Labels: For cans, a full wraparound label maximizes the available design space, allowing for bold, engaging visuals that attract attention from every angle. This approach (often called shrink sleeves) can be particularly effective for limited edition releases or flagship brews that deserve extra emphasis.
  • Size Matters for Compliance and Clarity: When considering custom sizes and shapes, it’s essential to remember regulatory requirements for labeling alcoholic beverages. Every label must have space for mandatory information, including alcohol content, volume, and manufacturer details, without compromising readability​​. Balancing creative aspirations with these requirements is key to a successful label design.

Tips for Choosing the Right Label Size and Shape

  1. Start with Your Container: Measure your bottles or cans carefully, considering curves, necks, and any other features that might influence label adhesion and appearance.
  2. Reflect on Your Brand’s Personality: Let your label shape and size be an extension of your brand story. Are you bold and avant-garde, or classic and traditional? Your label can reflect this.
  3. Consult with Design and Printing Experts: Professionals in label design and printing can offer valuable insights into what works well for different types of beers and containers. They can also provide templates or guidelines to help visualize your ideas.
  4. Experiment with Mockups: Before finalizing your design, use digital or paper mock-ups to see how your label will look on the actual container. This step can help identify potential issues with size, shape, or legibility before you commit to printing.

Cost and Scalability

For breweries and craft beer makers, understanding the costs and scalability options of label printing is critical for both startup ventures and established brands. You’ll want to take into account factors such as minimum order quantities, volume discounts, the flexibility of printing across multiple SKUs, and the efficiency of re-ordering processes.

Understanding Pricing Models

Label printing costs can vary widely depending on several factors, including material choices, print techniques, label size and shape, and the complexity of the design.

Most providers use a pricing model that decreases the unit cost as the order quantity increases, rewarding larger orders with better per-label pricing. However, the starting point and scale of these price breaks can differ between providers, making it important to get detailed quotes for various order sizes​​.

Minimum Order Quantities and Volume Price Breaks

  • Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs): Many label printing companies set MOQs to ensure profitability. For craft breweries, especially those in the startup phase or with a rotating selection of small-batch brews, finding a provider with low MOQs can be crucial. Understanding a provider’s MOQs will help you determine if they’re a good fit for your production scale.
  • Volume Price Breaks: Volume discounts are a key consideration when planning your label orders. Providers typically offer price breaks at certain thresholds, which can significantly impact your cost per label. When comparing providers, ask for a detailed breakdown of pricing tiers to understand where these breaks occur and how they align with your anticipated order volumes.

Scalability and Flexibility for Multiple SKUs

Craft breweries often produce a wide range of beers, each requiring its own label design. Some key considerations include:

  • Flexibility Across SKUs: Look for providers that offer flexibility in aggregating different label designs to qualify for volume discounts. This can be particularly beneficial for breweries that want to print similar designs for multiple SKUs without the need to place large individual orders for each.
  • Digital Printing Advantages: Digital printing technology offers significant advantages in terms of scalability and flexibility. It allows for cost-effective short runs and easy updates to designs without the need for new plates or setup fees, making it an excellent option for breweries with a wide variety of labels​​.

Ease of Re-Ordering

The ability to quickly and easily reorder labels as needed is essential for maintaining inventory levels and responding to demand fluctuations. Consider providers that offer streamlined re-ordering processes, possibly through online platforms, which can save time and reduce the time to re-order.

Comparing Prices and Making Informed Decisions

When comparing label printing providers, consider the following steps to ensure you’re making an informed decision:

  1. Request Detailed Quotes: Obtain quotes for various order sizes, including the costs for different materials and print techniques. This information will help you understand the full scope of potential expenses.
  2. Evaluate Total Cost: Look beyond the sticker price to consider other factors like setup fees, design services, shipping costs, and lead times, which can all affect the total cost.
  3. Consider Long-Term Needs: Choose a provider that can scale with your brewery. A company that offers competitive pricing for small orders but also has the capacity to handle larger volumes efficiently can be a valuable partner as your business grows.

Turnaround Time and Reliability

For breweries and craft beer makers, timing can be everything. Whether you’re gearing up for a seasonal release, restocking a bestseller, or launching a new brew, the turnaround time for getting your labels can significantly impact your operations. You’ll want to consider everything from artwork approval to set up, printing, and shipping to help you plan effectively and avoid unexpected delays.

The Components of Turnaround Time

Turnaround time in label printing is influenced by several key stages, each contributing to the total time from placing your order to receiving your labels.

  1. Artwork Approval: The process begins with your design. Once you submit your artwork, the printing company will review it to ensure it meets technical requirements for printing. This stage includes checking the resolution, color specifications, and any potential issues that could affect print quality. Delays can occur if revisions are needed, so submitting artwork that already adheres to the provider’s guidelines can speed up this phase.
  2. Pre-Production and Setup: After artwork approval, the project moves into the pre-production stage. For traditional printing methods, this may involve creating plates or screens, which can slow down the process. Digital printing, on the other hand, typically requires less setup time, making it a faster option for smaller or more time-sensitive orders.
  3. Printing: The actual printing time varies depending on the complexity of your labels, the quantity ordered, and the printing technology used. Digital presses can produce labels relatively quickly, while traditional methods may take longer, especially for large volumes or intricate designs.
  4. Finishing and Quality Checks: Post-printing, labels undergo finishing processes such as cutting, laminating, and possibly applying adhesive. Quality assurance checks are also conducted to ensure the labels meet the brewery’s and the printer’s standards. This stage is crucial for delivering a high-quality product but can add time to the overall process.
  5. Shipping and Delivery: Finally, the completed labels are packed and shipped to your brewery. Shipping time depends on the distance between the printer and your location and the shipping method chosen. While expedited shipping options can reduce wait times, planning for standard shipping times in your overall timeline is wise.

Label printing employees

Tips for Optimizing Turnaround Time

  • Provide Ready-to-Print Artwork: Ensuring your designs meet the printer’s specifications from the start can significantly reduce delays during the artwork approval stage.
  • Communicate Your Timeline: Be upfront with your printing provider about your schedule. Some companies can accommodate rush orders, but clear communication is key to aligning expectations.
  • Consider Shipping Logistics: Factor in shipping time when planning your label order timeline, especially if you’re located far from the printer or if the labels are being shipped during busy seasons.

Questions to Ask Potential Beer Label Printing Providers

To ensure you partner with a label printer that meets your needs, here are some questions to guide your selection process, informed by insights from our own label experts.

1. What is your experience with craft beer labels?

Understanding the printer’s experience in the craft beer industry can give you insight into their familiarity with common challenges and specific requirements, such as resistance to moisture and cold, adherence to regulatory labeling standards, and the ability to produce high-quality, eye-catching labels.

2. Can you provide samples of your previous work?

Asking for samples allows you to assess the quality of the printer’s work firsthand. Look for clarity, color accuracy, material quality, and the overall finish. Samples can also inspire your own label designs and help you gauge the printer’s capabilities in delivering the visual impact you aim for.

3. What printing technologies do you use?

Inquire about the printing technologies available, such as digital, offset, or flexographic printing. Digital printing offers more flexibility, producing vibrant colors, detailed designs, and cost-effective short runs without the need for expensive setup fees, making it an ideal choice for breweries.

4. How do you ensure label durability and compliance?

Given the conditions beer bottles and cans must endure, from refrigeration to moisture exposure, it’s crucial to ask about the materials and finishes used to ensure label durability. Additionally, confirm that the printer is knowledgeable about the regulatory requirements for beer labeling to ensure compliance with legal standards.

5. What are your minimum order quantities and volume discounts?

This question is vital for budgeting and planning purposes. Understanding the minimum order requirements and how volume discounts are structured can help you optimize your orders for cost efficiency, especially important for smaller breweries or those with a wide variety of products.

6. How do you handle design and artwork preparation?

Some printers offer in-house design services or assistance in preparing your artwork for printing. Asking about these services can be particularly beneficial if you don’t have a dedicated designer on your team or if you need help ensuring your designs are optimized for printing.

7. What is your turnaround time, and how do you handle rush orders?

Knowing the expected turnaround time helps you plan your label ordering process in sync with your production schedule. It’s also wise to ask about the process for rush orders, should you need labels more quickly than anticipated.

8. Can you accommodate special requests or unique label features?

If you’re interested in unique label features, such as foil stamping, embossing, or using eco-friendly materials, ask if the printer can accommodate these requests. Special features can make your labels stand out but may require additional planning and cost.

Finding the Perfect Beer Label Printing Company

Finding the right custom label printing company for your craft beer involves more than just comparing prices and reviewing samples; it requires a deep dive into understanding each provider’s capabilities, technologies, and commitment to meeting your specific needs.

The right partner will offer the flexibility, expertise, and scalability your brewery needs. Make sure you carefully consider the factors we’ve discussed in this article—material options, cost and scalability, turnaround times, and asking the right questions—and you’ll be equipped to make an informed decision.

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What are Can Wraps?

⚞ The Highlights:

  • Can wraps are custom-printed labels that completely cover your cans for a modern, seamless look
  • They differ from shrink sleeves by offering a cost-effective, flat design that’s ideal for uniform, consistent branding
  • When choosing can wraps, focus on material durability, printing quality, and how well the wrap handles your product’s environmental conditions

Simply put, a can wrap is a form of covering for beer cans and other similar containers. However, the exact meaning of can wrap can differ depending on the intended use.

For some people, a can wrap is an extra covering used to personalize a can or change the exterior of the can from its original appearance. For others, a can wrap is the main label used for a can. In this case, you have a few different options for your can wraps and tin can labels.

Types of Can Wrap Labels

When you’re looking to make your product shine with custom can wraps, you typically have two main options: Pressure Sensitive Labels and Shrink Sleeves.

Beer cans with a pressure sensitive can wrap.

Pressure Sensitive Can Wraps

Pressure sensitive labels might sound complicated, but they’re really just made up of a few simple layers:

  • Liner: Think of this as a protective wrapper—usually paper or plastic—that you peel off before applying the label.
  • Release Coat: This is a special layer on the liner that makes peeling it off a breeze.
  • Adhesive: The sticky part that helps the label cling to your can.
  • Face Stock: The visible label material that shows off your design.
  • Top Coat: A finishing layer (like a laminate) that protects your design from scratches and wear.

Printed in roll form, these labels are applied by removing the liner and pressing the label onto your can.

Beer cans with a shrink sleeve can wrap going through a filling line.

Shrink Sleeve Can Wraps

Shrink sleeves are a bit different. They use a special film that hugs your can when heat or steam is applied. Here’s why they might be right for you:

  • 360-Degree Designs: You get a full-surface wrap for a seamless, eye-catching look.
  • Form Fitting Sleeves: These sleeves mold perfectly to highlight your product’s unique shape.
  • Extra Design Protection: With the design printed on the inside, it stays protected from scratches and wear.

Shrink sleeves come pre-distorted so they fit your can perfectly after shrinking. Just keep in mind—they can be a bit more delicate. Too much heat or rough handling might lead to distortions.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Here’s a quick table to help you see the differences at a glance:

Feature Pressure Sensitive Labels Shrink Sleeves
Design Coverage Partial to full, depending on design Full 360° coverage
Durability Highly durable with a protective top coat Requires careful handling; more sensitive to heat/humidity
Application Applied by peeling off the liner and pressing Applied using heat/steam to conform
Customization Flexibility Great for varied materials and finishes Best for seamless, full-surface designs
Cost Typically lower upfront costs Higher initial costs, often balanced by longevity

Making the Right Choice for Your Can

Choosing between pressure sensitive labels and shrink sleeves isn’t just a design choice; it’s a decision that can affect your bottom line.

Cost Analysis and ROI Considerations

It’s important to know how each option affects your budget and overall return on investment. 

Pressure sensitive labels might be more budget-friendly at first, while shrink sleeves could save you money in the long run thanks to their durability and lower maintenance needs.

Vendor Evaluation Checklist

Choosing the right label or can wrap supplier is key. When you’re assessing providers, ask these questions:

  • Quality Certifications: Are they certified to meet industry standards for durability and safety?
  • Production Capabilities: Can they handle your volume and grow with your business?
  • Lead Times and Reliability: Do they offer quick turnaround times and responsive customer service?
  • After-Sales Support: Do they provide clear installation guides, troubleshooting help, and ongoing support?

Installation, Maintenance, and Troubleshooting

Even the best can wrap won’t do you any favors if it’s not installed right. Here’s what to consider:

  • Step-by-Step Installation: If you’re applying can wraps or shrink sleeves yourself, follow clear guidelines on cleaning, temperature control, and proper application techniques. Studies have shown that proper surface cleaning and a controlled environment can cut installation errors by up to 30%.
  • Common Pitfalls: Watch out for air bubbles, misalignment, or distortion. A handy tip: using a roller tool can help smooth things out.
  • Maintenance Tips: Regular inspections and careful storage can extend the life of your can wraps. Scheduling a routine check after each production cycle is a smart move.

Sustainability and Regulatory Compliance

Going green isn’t just trendy—it can be good for business (see what we did there?). Here’s how can wraps can support your eco-friendly goals:

  • Eco-Friendly Materials: Many can wrap and label solutions now use sustainable, recyclable materials. For example, some pressure sensitive labels are made with bio-based films.
  • Lifecycle Analysis: Look for vendors that offer lifecycle analyses to show how their products reduce environmental impact. Recent reports from Smithers reveal that sustainable packaging can noticeably cut down on a product’s carbon footprint.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Work with suppliers committed to environmental certifications and compliance to ensure your packaging meets evolving standards.

Comparative Branding Impact

Your packaging is like a silent salesperson on store shelves. Here’s how each option can shape your brand’s image:

  • Pressure Sensitive Labels: Known for their durability and ease of application, they offer a reliable solution for a consistent brand image.
  • Shrink Sleeves: With their full-coverage design, they create a dynamic and immersive brand experience that’s hard to ignore.

Action Plan Summary

Here’s a quick action plan to get you started:

  1. Conduct a Cost Analysis: Gather data on both upfront and long-term costs. Compare case studies and ROI statistics from trusted industry sources.
  2. Evaluate Vendors: Use our checklist above to assess potential suppliers. Request samples and review their after-sales support.
  3. Pilot the Labels: Run a small-scale test to evaluate the labels, spot any issues, and identify performance in the market.
  4. Consider Sustainability: Ask vendors about eco-friendly options and request lifecycle analyses to ensure compliance with environmental standards.
  5. Test Branding Impact: Consider A/B testing different packaging solutions to see which one grabs your customers’ attention on the shelf.

Identify the Right Can Wraps for Your Containers

Whether you want pressure sensitive labels or shrink sleeves, a good can wrap will make a world of difference for your brand. Of course, there are still plenty of steps required to figure out the right solution for your cans. At Blue Label, our experts work directly with your business to identify the right materials, adhesives, and design considerations to protect your containers and beer can wraps and maximize the appeal of your product.

Ready to invest in quality, cost-effective custom beer can wraps for your business? Contact us today to talk about your labeling and label printing needs.

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5 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Keg Collar Design

Boring packaging is a missed opportunity for your brewery. Anything attached to your beer should make a statement about the quality of your product (and the amazing people who made it). That’s why it’s so essential that you make your keg collars pop.

A stellar keg collar is a tremendous sales tool for breweries of all sizes. Let’s break down what you can do to make your collars stand out in bars, at cookouts, and anywhere else your kegs may travel.

Showcase Your Brand (Without Losing Track of Key Info)

Keg collars play a few different roles for your brewery. The most basic function of these labels is to share key information with your customers. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau requires breweries to include the following details on every collar.

  • Brewery and brewery address
  • Class of beer
  • Net contents
  • Alcoholic content (ABV)
  • Production date
  • Health warning statement
  • Keg pressure warning

While these details are essential for keg collar compliance, they don’t need to be the star of the show. Compliance info isn’t going to sell your beer, but a notable logo or some appropriate visual elements can help your brand burrow into the brains of buyers.

As long as you follow the TTB’s rules for the font size and presentation for warning statements and other details, you have free reign to make sure your brewery is what people remember. A prominent logo is a great start, but you can also build consumer trust by sharing your local pride or highlighting your brewery’s personality in your design.

A collection of keg collar designs and other beer labels.

Color Them Impressed

A little color can make a world of difference for your keg collars. While gray-scale keg collars are simple, inexpensive options, you want your packaging to go beyond basic black and white.

Combining full-color printing with your branding is a surefire way to capture attention. Blasts of red, green, or any other color make for a stark contrast against metallic kegs, so don’t be afraid to go big and bold with your design choices. Different color combinations and label materials can also make key design elements “pop” for soon-to-be diehard fans, so play around with your brand colors and other showy hues to make your keg collar’s presence known.

Build Your Design Around Your Production Needs

As you may expect, one brewery can have vastly different needs than another. Those exact requirements have a direct impact on your keg collar design, especially when it comes to listing what beer is in a keg. There are a few different approaches you can take with your design.

  • Add a blank space where you can write the beer name and date.
  • Include a list of multiple options with check boxes for flagship beers.
  • Make multiple keg collar designs with dedicated beers printed directly on them.

If you know that you’ll have enough volume to order dedicated keg collars for a flagship beer, that extra bit of branding certainly looks professional. Meanwhile, a blank space is the easiest option if flexibility is your biggest concern. Each approach makes a lot of sense, so make sure your keg collar design is based around your needs.

Follow Keg Collar Specs

Not all design tips are about fun ideas like bold colors and custom shapes. You’ll want to build some safeguards into your keg collar design to make sure they come out they way they should. That’s why every good keg collar template should typically incorporate the following elements into its art file.

  • Dieline – A line indicating where the actual cut is made on the final design of a label.
  • Safe zone – A buffer between the dieline and main portion of the collar design.
  • Bleed – A line that indicates where the collar art should extend past the die cut into the matrix.

Each of these elements are designed to create a little bit of wiggle room to make sure key elements don’t get cut off or that you don’t have any unintended white space. In general, you should allow for at least 1/8” of bleed and 1/16” of space between the dieline and any elements. The keg collar template below can serve as a good example of a dieline, safe zone, and bleed.

A keg collar template showing an example dieline, safe zone, and bleed.

Maximize the Value of Your Keg Collars

No matter your design, your brewery deserves top-notch keg collars. Blue Label has the capabilities necessary to deliver industry-best print quality and unmatched customer service that help you maximize your branding opportunities.

Blue Label is here to deliver stunning labels with industry-best turnaround times. Contact us today to make the most of your keg collars.