Bottle Labels
Bottle Labels
I have observed that Pat McCusker does a pretty good job of dressing up his meads/melomels....and they have a very distinctive and nice look. And I've been thinking that I might like to do that on my better productions...or ones I intent to age over time.
So....
Do you put labels on your bottles/cans?
If so, how do you create them? Do you print them at home? Order them?
Who does your design?
So....
Do you put labels on your bottles/cans?
If so, how do you create them? Do you print them at home? Order them?
Who does your design?
In the Fridge/On Tap: English Bitter, Schwarzbier, Cream Ale
In the keg: Wheat Beer, Russian Imperial Stout
In the bucket:
In the queue: Irish Red, American IPA
In the keg: Wheat Beer, Russian Imperial Stout
In the bucket:
In the queue: Irish Red, American IPA
Re: Bottle Labels
I bought a cheap program called Label Maker (under $20).
I acquire graphics from the Internet, then put together the labels in Label Maker.
Taking them off is not as fun as putting them on.
I acquire graphics from the Internet, then put together the labels in Label Maker.
Taking them off is not as fun as putting them on.
Pat McCusker
- andrewmaixner
- Posts: 691
- Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2014 10:26 am
Re: Bottle Labels
related: I asked Joe what he does for wine label removal, as the good wine kits come with durable adhesive labels. He said they just keep sticking the next one right on top of the previous one, don't bother to remove em
Re: Bottle Labels
Have you tried "Removable White Matte" from online Labels?
https://www.onlinelabels.com/Products/O ... t=decimals
It uses a low-tack adhesive. Not sure how that sets long-term.
https://www.onlinelabels.com/Products/O ... t=decimals
It uses a low-tack adhesive. Not sure how that sets long-term.
In the Fridge/On Tap: English Bitter, Schwarzbier, Cream Ale
In the keg: Wheat Beer, Russian Imperial Stout
In the bucket:
In the queue: Irish Red, American IPA
In the keg: Wheat Beer, Russian Imperial Stout
In the bucket:
In the queue: Irish Red, American IPA
Re: Bottle Labels
Oxyclean does a really good job of taking off the labels. For unknown reasons, old labels seem to come off easier than new ones.
I have a friend that highly recommends good old-fashioned "washing soda".
I have a friend that highly recommends good old-fashioned "washing soda".
Last edited by wyzzyrdd on Tue Jan 17, 2017 3:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Pat McCusker
Re: Bottle Labels
These are extremely removable.Have you tried "Removable White Matte" from online Labels?
The labels will slide off cold bottles that sweat in high humidity. Not exactly useful if you put any bottles in a cooler.
Pat McCusker
Re: Bottle Labels
I can confirm that.
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
Randy Carris
Randy All the Time Brewing
Randy All the Time Brewing
Re: Bottle Labels
Pat - do you use an Avery label for your Wine and Mead bottles?
In the Fridge/On Tap: English Bitter, Schwarzbier, Cream Ale
In the keg: Wheat Beer, Russian Imperial Stout
In the bucket:
In the queue: Irish Red, American IPA
In the keg: Wheat Beer, Russian Imperial Stout
In the bucket:
In the queue: Irish Red, American IPA
Re: Bottle Labels
But yes, I use standard mailing labels that either are branded as Avery or provide the Avery number that the label is common with.daryl wrote:Pat - do you use an Avery label for your Wine and Mead bottles?
I generally use the ones that are 10 on a page (so 2ish by 4 ish) or 6 on a page (3ish by 4ish).
Pat McCusker
Re: Bottle Labels
I generally dislike washing off labels and adhesive residue enough that I use tags tied on with string.
But, I have to admit, a nice label really dresses up the product when you're taking it over to a friend's house or introducing someone to what good homebrew can be.
I've not found that PBW or Oxyclean makes much difference. Goo-Gone, once the paper is scraped off seems to help. Then there's the new fused-glass labeling found on higher-end bottles. Need a sandblaster to get that off.
Pat, do the Avery (and like) labels leave much of a residue?
But, I have to admit, a nice label really dresses up the product when you're taking it over to a friend's house or introducing someone to what good homebrew can be.
I've not found that PBW or Oxyclean makes much difference. Goo-Gone, once the paper is scraped off seems to help. Then there's the new fused-glass labeling found on higher-end bottles. Need a sandblaster to get that off.
Pat, do the Avery (and like) labels leave much of a residue?
On Tap at the Laughing-Kitten Pub:
* Foggy Bottom NEIPA
* Gluten Free Stoutish Ale
* Botched Bitter
* Club Barrel Robust Porter (cellar)
On deck/fermenting:
* Belle's Helles (cue AC/DC)
* Foggy Bottom NEIPA
* Gluten Free Stoutish Ale
* Botched Bitter
* Club Barrel Robust Porter (cellar)
On deck/fermenting:
* Belle's Helles (cue AC/DC)
Re: Bottle Labels
Some brands come off very easy and some are very difficult. The problem is that I am not removing labels until several years after I put them on, so I have no idea which brand label I was using way back when.karl wrote: Pat, do the Avery (and like) labels leave much of a residue?
I use a concentrated solution of Oxyclean. So I use rubber gloves when I scrub the labels off. I generally let bottles soak overnight or at least for a few hours. I have noticed that the older the label is, the easier it is to get off. I use a knife to get the paper off and a Scotch Brite scrubber to get any residue off.
One of my friends likes to use old-fashioned soda wash. But I have not tried that.
Pat McCusker
Re: Bottle Labels
Saw this ad in the last BYO mag. Might be worth looking into if you have a lot of bottles to de-label.
https://labelnator.com/
https://labelnator.com/
A Mighty Wind's A Brewing
“Life is short - break the rules, forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile” ― Mae West
“Life is short - break the rules, forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile” ― Mae West
Re: Bottle Labels
I just processed 129 bottles for mead, and most had the Avery-type label.
I used hot water and baking soda.....about 1/4 to 1/2 cup per gallon. Did it using a bucket.
Filled the bucket with baking soda and about two gallons of water. I did a preliminary rinse of each bottle, then filled them with hot water and placed them bottom down in the bucket, until the bucket is full. Then I topped off with hot water until all of the labels are covered. And then I let them soak for 10-15 minutes. I take a bottle out, keeping the water inside, and then I place it in the bottom of the kitchen sink and I used my thumbnail to scrape off the label...and steel wool to scrape off the residue. I then rinsed with lukewarm water, sometimes continuing the use of the steel wool, and then empty the bottle and set it aside to dry.
Some of them had a glue that I needed to use a little Goo B Gone to remove.
As I took one bottle out of the bucket, I will fill the next bottle with hot water and put it in the bucket. In this way, I do not dilute the baking soda water and the hot bottle helps keep the bucket water hot.
I wasn't too bad a job, a little monotonous, bur even that can be a bit of a meditation. The next steps with these bottles will be much more fun. AND....if I remove labels as I use the bottles, it spreads the effort across a long period of time, and does not take but a few minutes.
I used hot water and baking soda.....about 1/4 to 1/2 cup per gallon. Did it using a bucket.
Filled the bucket with baking soda and about two gallons of water. I did a preliminary rinse of each bottle, then filled them with hot water and placed them bottom down in the bucket, until the bucket is full. Then I topped off with hot water until all of the labels are covered. And then I let them soak for 10-15 minutes. I take a bottle out, keeping the water inside, and then I place it in the bottom of the kitchen sink and I used my thumbnail to scrape off the label...and steel wool to scrape off the residue. I then rinsed with lukewarm water, sometimes continuing the use of the steel wool, and then empty the bottle and set it aside to dry.
Some of them had a glue that I needed to use a little Goo B Gone to remove.
As I took one bottle out of the bucket, I will fill the next bottle with hot water and put it in the bucket. In this way, I do not dilute the baking soda water and the hot bottle helps keep the bucket water hot.
I wasn't too bad a job, a little monotonous, bur even that can be a bit of a meditation. The next steps with these bottles will be much more fun. AND....if I remove labels as I use the bottles, it spreads the effort across a long period of time, and does not take but a few minutes.
In the Fridge/On Tap: English Bitter, Schwarzbier, Cream Ale
In the keg: Wheat Beer, Russian Imperial Stout
In the bucket:
In the queue: Irish Red, American IPA
In the keg: Wheat Beer, Russian Imperial Stout
In the bucket:
In the queue: Irish Red, American IPA
- andrewmaixner
- Posts: 691
- Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2014 10:26 am
Re: Bottle Labels
I have one of these that I haven't even used yet, if someone wants to borrow it and try .tony b wrote:Saw this ad in the last BYO mag. Might be worth looking into if you have a lot of bottles to de-label.
https://labelnator.com/