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Author Topic: Bottle Labels  (Read 4711 times)

Offline zoubrewdude

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Bottle Labels
« on: April 09, 2013, 08:26:15 am »
I don't know if this is the correct area to be asking this question, but I'm looking for some easy, inexpensive options for labeling my homebrews.  I'm hoping for something that won't run, when it gets wet, but is still fairly easy to remove, when re-using the bottle?

Offline morticaixavier

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Re: Bottle Labels
« Reply #1 on: April 09, 2013, 08:28:33 am »
I print my labels on high quality paper on a laser printer and use normal glue stick or elmers or whatever to stick them on. comes off with hot water fairly easy. I have heard of using watered down skim milk. that should work as well.
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Offline Joe Sr.

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Re: Bottle Labels
« Reply #2 on: April 09, 2013, 08:35:32 am »
I have heard of using watered down skim milk. that should work as well.

Is not the skim milk watered down by definition?

Milk works well.  Glue stick seems to work fine, too.  You can buy pre-gummed paper but it's expensive.

I've found that the ink for Epson printers does not run when it gets wet, whereas HP ink runs all over the place.  Of course, the labels come off pretty easily when they are wet, so if you're looking for something that will stay on in a cooler full of ice water you'll need a solution other than milk/glue stick.
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Offline yso191

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Re: Bottle Labels
« Reply #3 on: April 09, 2013, 10:01:43 am »
I just started using Post-it labels.  No soaking necessary to get them off, yet they stay stuck really well until you want them off.  I've got an ink-jet printer so the ink running issue is unavoidable.
Steve
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Offline Joe Sr.

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Re: Bottle Labels
« Reply #4 on: April 09, 2013, 10:04:57 am »
I've got an ink-jet printer so the ink running issue is unavoidable.

Not with my old Epson ink jet.  I don't know what's up with their inks, but they don't run.

Will post-it labels stay on if submerged in a cooler?
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Offline yso191

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Re: Bottle Labels
« Reply #5 on: April 09, 2013, 10:11:00 am »
I've got an ink-jet printer so the ink running issue is unavoidable.

Not with my old Epson ink jet.  I don't know what's up with their inks, but they don't run.

Will post-it labels stay on if submerged in a cooler?

I haven't tried.  I'll put one in the sink for a while and report back.  My prediction is that they'll stay on fairly well...
Steve
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Offline ocddot

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Re: Bottle Labels
« Reply #6 on: April 09, 2013, 10:53:51 am »
i use blue painters tape or write a code atop the bottle cap.

Offline erockrph

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Re: Bottle Labels
« Reply #7 on: April 09, 2013, 11:05:39 am »
I just label the caps with these:

http://www.onlinelabels.com/ol5275.htm

I have a laser printer, so no worries about running ink. And you never have to worry about removing any labels. They do have some nice label stock as well if you want to do some nice labels for gifts as well.
Eric B.

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Offline yso191

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Re: Bottle Labels
« Reply #8 on: April 09, 2013, 12:14:03 pm »
I just label the caps with these:

http://www.onlinelabels.com/ol5275.htm

I have a laser printer, so no worries about running ink. And you never have to worry about removing any labels. They do have some nice label stock as well if you want to do some nice labels for gifts as well.

I gave a lot of thought to doing this, but decided against it because I want to put a lot of info on the bottle.

Reporting back, I let the Post-it labeled bottle sit in water for two hours.  There was absolutely NO adhesion left.  These will not work in a wet environment.
Steve
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Offline duboman

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Bottle Labels
« Reply #9 on: April 09, 2013, 07:09:52 pm »
I do this but I assure you if they get wet they become ruined
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Offline klickitat jim

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Re: Bottle Labels
« Reply #10 on: April 09, 2013, 07:45:41 pm »
Great idea

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Offline erockrph

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Re: Bottle Labels
« Reply #11 on: April 09, 2013, 09:04:48 pm »
I do this but I assure you if they get wet they become ruined


They also have clear labels in the same size - I think they call them envelope seals. Those would probably work better wet than the paper ones.
Eric B.

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Offline rjharper

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Re: Bottle Labels
« Reply #12 on: April 09, 2013, 09:14:49 pm »
I do this but I assure you if they get wet they become ruined


This. Plus once you pop the caps, there's no labels to peel off bottles.

Offline Delo

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Re: Bottle Labels
« Reply #13 on: April 11, 2013, 09:32:08 am »
My beer labeling:
My everyday Ghetto - Sharpie pen on cap.
Fancy - laser printed labels on work grade paper* glued with glue stick
Extra fancy – laser printed labels on work grade paper* with a clear coat spray for more protection to keep the labels from running.

*whatever paper we have in the laser printer at work.

I've used the pregummed labels but I switched to using the printer and glue stick method and I've been happy with the results. It's easier and cheaper. For what its worth, they will not run if the beer drips over them after a pour but Ive never put any labeled beers in an ice bath mostly because I don’t know how long they will last submerged in water.   They are all easy to remove if I soak them.
Mark

Offline khillje

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Re: Bottle Labels
« Reply #14 on: April 11, 2013, 09:46:01 am »
I'm wondering if it would be possible to silk screen bottles (like Stone Brewing or New Belgium's Lips of Faith Series)?  This would be pretty fancy and time consuming, but if you have bombers that you're always re-using, etc.  I'm thinking just your "brewery" name for silk screening and define the brew on the bottle cap.  I'll be brewing some beers for my wedding and I have to give bombers away as gifts rather than have them put a keg on tap.  This is a way around the liquor law/license.  I'm thinking it would be nice to make some fancy bottles!