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Beer labels / Brewery labels
Beer labels are labels that are attached to beer bottles.
TYPES OF BEER LABELS
Depending on their position on the beer bottle, brewery labels can be divided into three different types:
Neck label
The neck of the bottle is often decorated with a neck label. Some breweries also use this loop as a seal label or beer seal.
Body label / Main label
Body labels, also known as main labels, are located on the front of the bottle. Their main function is to promote sales and are used for brand presentation and branding.
Back label
The back labels are located on the back of the beer bottles. They usually contain the legally required information such as filling quantity, alcohol content, best-before date, ingredients and manufacturer's details.
Requirements for beer labels
WET STRENGTH
Before, during and after the beer bottles are filled, the temperature fluctuates – mainly downwards. The labels have to withstand these temperature fluctuations and the condensation that occurs as a result, not only in terms of their dimensional stability, but also without peeling off or wrinkling.
ABRASION RESISTANCE
After bottling, the labelled bottles come into contact with each other on the conveyor belt, so the beer labels must be resistant to abrasion. This also applies to further transport and distribution in six-packs or crates.
RESISTANCE TO ALKALINE SOLUTIONS
Resistance to caustic solutions is another requirement for refillable bottles. When refillable bottles are washed in a dishwasher or caustic bath after being returned, they must not only come off quickly but also remain ‘in shape’. They must not disintegrate so that they can be disposed of as a whole and do not clog the sieves of the cleaning systems. The same applies, of course, to beer barrel labels.
Adhesive method
Wet-glue labels
The majority of beer labels are wet-glue labels. Various paper qualities and types of glue are used here. While casein glue made from whey products was used exclusively in the past, artificial substitute glues are increasingly being used today. These synthetic glues are considered vegan because they do not contain whey.
Self-adhesive roll labels
Roll-fed labels are becoming more and more popular in the brewing industry. Here, too, different papers are used, as well as films made of PVC, PP or PE. Self-adhesive roll labels are not only easy to apply by machine and cleaner during labeling, but also have better adhesive properties during condensation and can be easily removed during recycling.
Labelling beer correctly
Production line, bottling date, LOT number, best-before date – breweries put this and other information on their packaging. For internal quality assurance, for reasons of traceability and for consumer protection.
Industrial labelling on beer labels is applied using methods such as inkjet printers or laser marking. This can be done either directly on the bottle, on the bottle label or on the sleeve film. There are a number of challenges for the marking systems, such as high line speeds, condensation and limited space.
