Brewing your own beer at home following your secret recipe can be a very satisfying and easy to manage hobby. It is a very economical activity, compared to buying ready-made beer at any grocery store. It also allows you to enjoy your craft beer by sharing it with friends, neighbors and loved ones. Identifying the types of beer you prepare and bottle in classic dark glass bottles could prove to be a real challenge. To help you, you can add a little creativity to your brewing business and learn how to create and print beautiful labels. This tutorial shows you how.
Steps
Step 1. Choose a name to characterize each type of beer you brew
Instead of identifying the beer by the type of preparation, the date of bottling or other prosaic details, find a creative and original name. Go to your favorite shop and check the labels of all the beers there for inspiration - but don't copy!
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Remember that some types of beers tend to follow a specific convention when creating their name. For example, Doppelbocks beer names traditionally end with the suffix "-ator". Here is a list to name just a few: Optimator, Maximator, and Triumphator.
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Step 2. Decide the size of your labels
The labels to be placed on a beer bottle can vary in size. Some have very wide horizontal bands that surround the entire bottle, while others only have small ovals. Your decision could be made easier by measuring the size of an existing label that you really like.
Step 3. Use graphics software to create a document with the approximate dimensions of your label
Start the software you normally use for image editing and create a new file with the measurements taken from the existing label examined. Set a resolution of 200 DPI or higher to get adequate print quality.
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If you don't have any image editing software installed on your computer, you can download GIMP. It is completely free open-source software.
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Step 4. Add the text and images you want
Make sure you include the name and type of your beer on your label. You can add other additional information, such as the date of preparation, the alcohol content and of course the name of the brewmaster. If your skills as a graphic designer aren't great, you can find free clip art on the web to use to decorate your labels.
Step 5. Print the labels on sticky paper
When the design and drawing phase is complete, you will be ready to print. The simplest approach is to load your printer with A4 sheets of sticky paper. This way, after printing them, you can cut out your labels using normal scissors.
Step 6. Attach your labels to each bottle
After finishing the clipping step, remove the protective paper covering the sticker, and place a label carefully and carefully on each bottle. It is best to perform this step when the beer has already been bottled and sealed, to prevent liquid residues from ruining the labels.
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To ensure good adhesion of the labels to the glass, it is advisable to remove all traces of dust and moisture from the bottle before labeling.
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Step 7. Finished
Warnings
- If you want to create labels for your beer bottles, but don't want to do it yourself, there are many websites that provide a custom label design service. Search using the keywords "beer bottle labels" and find a company that provides you with a printing service that suits your needs.
- If you have decided to print your labels using a third-party printing service, make sure the company providing the service is using a food-safe ink. This is a fundamental requirement for the packaging of food and drinks.
