Custom beer labels
Labels that survive the cold chain
The short answer: for cans and bottles that come out of a fridge, use a synthetic film — white polypropylene for printed colour, clear polyester for the no-label look. Paper wrinkles in condensation. For returnable bottles, ask for a wash-off adhesive. From 100 labels per design, shipped across Europe and the UK.
Materials
Four ways to label a beer, and when each one wins
White polypropylene
The workhorse of the taproom. Bright white, fully waterproof, follows the curve of a can without a wrinkle. Choose this unless you have a reason not to.
from €196 / 100
Clear polyester
The print appears to float on the glass. Perfect for pale ales and pilsners where you want the beer itself to be the design.
from €211 / 100
Aquaproof
A wet-strength film with the feel of paper. Hours in a bucket of melting ice, zero wrinkles — the compromise for brewers who refuse a plastic look.
from €184 / 100
Kraft & textured papers
For farmhouse ales, barrel-aged and gift packs — anything that stays at cellar temperature. Beautiful, but not for the ice bucket.
from €205 / 100Cans, bottles and growlers all accept these materials. Add gold foil or a soft-touch finish for limited releases.
Formats
Sizes that fit the container
| Container | Label type | Typical size | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottle 33 cl | Front label | 90 × 70 mm | Keep clear of the shoulder curve |
| Bottle 33 cl | Back label | 70 × 90 mm | Ingredients, allergens, ABV |
| Bottle 75 cl | Front label | 100 × 105 mm | Champagne-style shoulders need a shorter label |
| Can 33 cl | Wrap-around | 200 × 95 mm | Allow 3 mm overlap for the seam |
| Can 44 cl | Wrap-around | 200 × 115 mm | Same overlap; check the can's rolled edges |
| Keg / growler | Neck or body tag | from 55 × 30 mm | Removable adhesive if the vessel is reused |
Standard dies go up to 100 × 105 mm on film and 150 × 105 mm on paper, with long wrap dies up to 60 × 450 mm. A full can wrap is a custom order — send us the can spec and we quote within 2 working hours.
Batch & traceability
One brew, one number
Print a different batch number, best-before date or unique QR code on every label in the same run — from 100 units, without a second print job. It is how a small brewery keeps a clean recall trail, and how a limited release becomes collectable.
- Material
- White polypropylene
- Size
- 200 × 95 mm wrap
- Finish
- Gloss lamination
- Variable data
- Batch + QR
- Quantity
- 500 labels
- Adhesive
- Permanent, cold-resistant
An example of a real order. Quantities are not capped — we print from a hundred pieces to several million.
FAQ
Beer labels — what brewers ask us
Which label material survives condensation on a cold beer?
A synthetic film — white polypropylene or clear polyester. Paper absorbs the water that forms on a chilled can or bottle and starts to wrinkle within minutes; a film repels it in beads and stays flat all the way to the glass. If you want the look of paper, a laminated coated paper is the compromise, but it will not survive an ice bucket.
Can I get labels that wash off returnable bottles?
Yes. Wash-off adhesives release cleanly in a caustic bath at around 60–80 °C, leaving no paper fibre or glue behind — which is what bottle-washing lines require. Mention returnable bottles in your request and we spec the adhesive accordingly.
What size should a beer label be?
For a 33 cl bottle, front labels commonly run 90 × 70 mm to 100 × 80 mm. For a 44 cl can, a wrap-around is typically 200 × 100 mm and needs a 3 mm overlap. Sizes depend on the material: white polypropylene and clear polyester are cut up to 100 × 105 mm, plus long wrap dies up to 60 × 450 mm, while wet-strength and textured papers go up to 150 × 105 mm. A full can wrap sits outside those dies and is quoted as a custom request.
Do you print the alcohol content and allergen information?
We print whatever is in your artwork. Since December 2023, EU rules require an ingredients list and nutrition declaration on wine; on beer the list stays voluntary, though it is increasingly expected. That information may be carried by an on-pack QR code linking to it — we print unique or fixed QR codes in the same run.
What is the minimum order for beer labels?
100 labels per design — enough for a pilot batch or a one-off collaboration brew. Pricing is degressive: the first hundred carries the die and setup, every additional hundred costs far less.
Your beer is not generic. Your label shouldn't be either.
Pick the material, the size and the quantity — the price appears instantly.