Labeling your own bottles

[Callumbo]

Good evening

I thought I'd share my first go at labeling my bottles as I'm very happy with the result.

First off you have to design your labels. The shape can be circular or square. Square is a hell of a lot easier to cut out than circles especially if you have a proper slidey cutter do dab.

You'll want the type of beer. If you've got a name for your beer, abv, where it was made and by whom, the date brewed is also a good one. You can also put on og and fg if you like but I didn't bother. Few borders and pics but you make it look however you like.

Then measure the size in order to print. They are more of a square shape than rectangular after printing loads that were too big I found this out.

Then print them out. If you have a printer then brilliant. I did not so I nipped into my local photo printing shop and while in store I emailed my word document to them will loads of labels all over it. They then printed them in store on plain paper.

Got home, cut them out.

To glue them I have read that milk works a lot better than glue as it's easier and easier to remove if you want to reuse bottles. So I gave milk a go.

Put some milk on the back of the label and stuck it on the beer bottle. A very simple thing to do but if your planning on giving some to friends for Christmas or whatever reason it's nice to personalise them.

Here's a pic of how mine turned out.

 

[AlanManley]

I print at home but otherwise same process...

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[neal]

I'm lazy and use this https://www.beerlabelizer.com

easy to use and adjust, and to be honest the free ones don't look too bad

 

[Aphid]

I'm lazy and use this https://www.beerlabelizer.com

easy to use and adjust, and to be honest the free ones don't look too bad

That's excellent. Very easy to use. It recommends a laser printer rather than inkjet - understandably. Is that what you use or have you managed with inkjet?

 

[Aphid]

I print at home but otherwise same process...

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Do you print from a laser printer or just a standard inkjet with normal paper?

 

[Thodd]

This is the exact method I use - I use word or Powerpoint to design the label.
Print it, cut it and stick it on with milk.

 

[neal]

That's excellent. Very easy to use. It recommends a laser printer rather than inkjet - understandably. Is that what you use or have you managed with inkjet?

inkjet, just have to be careful with the milk :grin:

 

[Toredan]

Do you print from a laser printer or just a standard inkjet with normal paper?

branded caps!? Where did you get these bad boys? :lol:

 

[Aphid]

inkjet, just have to be careful with the milk :grin:

That's great to hear. Just to help me get my head round this:
Is your paper just normal printer paper, or something thicker?
The milk...how do you avoid overladling it? Apply to the bottle and press dry label onto that?

 

[Dads_Ale]

That's great to hear. Just to help me get my head round this:
Is your paper just normal printer paper, or something thicker?
The milk...how do you avoid overladling it? Apply to the bottle and press dry label onto that?

I use 130gsm glossy inkjet paper and simply paste the back of the label with milk. Then stick it on the bottle, adjust position and smooth down with a bit of kitchen roll, removing excess milk.

 

[MarkMayf]

What's a slidey cutter do dab?

Guillotine?

 

[neal]

That's great to hear. Just to help me get my head round this:
Is your paper just normal printer paper, or something thicker?
The milk...how do you avoid overladling it? Apply to the bottle and press dry label onto that?

I use normal paper and use the same process as Dads_Ale, but that's only if I'm dishing it out to someone, if its for home consumption its either a sharpie on the cap or some masking tape !!

 

[Aphid]

I use normal paper and use the same process as Dads_Ale, but that's only if I'm dishing it out to someone, if its for home consumption its either a sharpie on the cap or some masking tape !!

I just had to have a go at this so printed off a few labels - normal printer paper - from the web site mentioned earlier by Neal https://www.beerlabelizer.com/
I notice that, after moving to the print stage it suggests using milk to stick to the bottles, with a link to a discussion about it.

For me, I just rubbed a very thin amount of skimmed milk with my finger tip onto a glass bottle and pressed the label to it. It bonded immediately and held really well. No ink leakage or paper wrinkling at all. Excellent result.
I also tried a plastic bottle. The same thin smear I applied to the glass bottle wasn't enough for it to stick. I needed to rub a slightly more generous amount of skimmed milk for this to bond but still no ink smear. I did notice a tiny bit of wrinkling, though. That may disappear when it dries.

It has also occurrred to me that it might be a good idea to leave the labels for a while after printing, so the ink has had a chance to dry thoroughly before sticking to the bottle.

 

[AlanManley]

Do you print from a laser printer or just a standard inkjet with normal paper?

I use a laser printer. But have done them on an ink jet too. Both work fine.

Publisher to design. Print. Milk to stick. Simples.

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[AlanManley]

branded caps!? Where did you get these bad boys? [emoji38]

There is a whole thread on them somewhere. They're not the best quality but they only cost £1.50 for 30. Not sure if they are still going though. It was a trial and not heard anything since.
www.yourbrew.com I think it was.

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[Callumbo]

What's a slidey cutter do dab?

Guillotine?

Haha that the name. For the life of me I couldn't remember the name

 

[MarkMayf]

Well, after this thread I was inspired to have a go! Some of the labels I got on straight, and some I didn't smudge, but they look OK for a first attempt.

 

[Aphid]

Well, after this thread I was inspired to have a go! Some of the labels I got on straight, and some I didn't smudge, but they look OK for a first attempt.

A great result. Looks pukka. :thumb:

 

[Personal91]

Milk or flour paste is another alternative

 

[Callumbo]

Well, after this thread I was inspired to have a go! Some of the labels I got on straight, and some I didn't smudge, but they look OK for a first attempt.

Im glad you were inspired. They look awesome and put mine to Shame haha

Think I'll have to go a bit more professional next time :smile: