Every beer tells a story through its labels. Many consumers choose beer with their eyes, and since the beer is hidden in the bottle or can, a striking label is essential to get the beer off the shelves.
However, crafting the perfect beer label design is more than aesthetics. Beer labels are also a strategic masterpiece that help your brand to get success especially in the competitive market.
The trends in the beer labels keep on changing, and every day, there are new trends. To help you stay ahead of these trends, we have compiled a guide that will highlight the best practices and tips for the trade.
Why custom beer labels are important?
Over 10000 breweries worldwide are part of this booming industry. And the major size of that is in the United States alone. It is great news for beer drinkers and beer makers. Since there is much competition, how do you make your beer brand stand out and grab serious attention?
It is where custom beer label design can help you. The labels do more than just can think of.
Anatomy of a Beer Label
Here is a breakdown of the key components that make up a compelling beer label:
Brand name
The very first piece of information on the beer label is the brand name. It is the most prominent piece of information on your label and should cover the name that you use to brand your beer. Apart from this, your brand name should not be misleading. Here are the following elements that your brand name should describe.
The age
Origin of brand
Identity
Class and type designation
Every beer label should clearly display what is in the can or in the bottle. It needs to tell the consumers that what type of malt beverage you have made. These designations are based on the characteristics that are usually associated with a particular type or class of malt beverage. These designations can range from something as general as "malt beverage" to a very specific type of beer like "imperial stout".
Name Address or the producer or packer
As per TTB, every malt brand needs to have a name, address and entity that produces, packs or imports the product. Malt beverages made in the country can have an explanation before the name, while the imported products must have more detail. These can include:
For domestic brewers (optional)
Brewed and bottled /packed by
Brewed by
Bottled/packed by
For importers(mandatory)
Imported by
Sole agent
Sole U.S agent
Net contents
There are no standards for malt beverages, but the TTB has requirements for net contents. Net contents must be listed in American measurements, but metric measurements can also be included.
Beer Style: Labels often indicate the beer style, such as pilsner, stout, or gueuze. This might accurately describe the beer or be a creative marketing term. Styles can spark debates among beer enthusiasts, so consider them lightly.
ABV (Alcohol by Volume): This measures the alcohol content in beer. Standard beers range from 4% to 8% ABV, but some can reach up to 17%, similar to wine.
IBU (International Bitterness Units): This measures the bitterness from hop acids. The bitterness perception depends on the beer's strength and maltiness. For example, a 40 IBU pale ale may taste bitter, while a strong ale with the same IBU might taste sweet.
Putting It All Together
A well-designed beer label balances these elements to create a cohesive and attractive package. Each component should work together to tell the beer's story, attract consumers, and comply with regulations.
How to Design a Craft Beer Label?
Now that you know key elements of beer label design, lets now find out the how you can get into designing your label. Here are key steps that you need to consider while creating beer label.
1. Select your beer label colors
One of the first thing to start while creating your beer label is design your color scheme. It is because it sets the mood as more than 90% of users value judgement based on color alone.
The packing of the beer bottle may seem a challenge, but you can also call it an opportunity. You may find it challenging, but if you nail this, then your custom packaging design will help you make the most of it. Since the label design reflects the beer name, the colors will help grab the attention of the shoppers.
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2. Pick the right size and shape of the beer label
Beer labels come in standard sizes and shapes, just like bottles, cans, and packaging. There is nothing wrong with using any one of them. But if you go too far outside the norm, you might lose customers. Stick with standard sizes and focus on creating a powerful label design instead.
3. Designing the custom imagery
It is important that you don't add pictures of imagery on the beer labels. Keep your product and brand aesthetics minimal, and let the colors and text do the job. If you add images to your beer label, think of it as art. Craft beer labels today often use lots of images to attract customers and show what the product is like.
4. Get creative with wording
Puns, pop culture, and music are great ways to make people laugh. This approach is quite popular among craft beer brewers and drinkers. You can choose a more serious tone or minimalist approach if you want. Be creative with names, descriptions, and other text to catch someone's eye.
5. Go with custom typography
Your fonts on your label might work labels tone. Fonts play a key role in the creating the personality of the beer products and also of your brand. So, it is important that beer label voice and brand voice speak with each other in harmony.
Conclusion:
If you want people to pick up your beer from shelves, you have to make the first impression on the label. So even if you have created the best beer label design, if your marketing is lacking, no one will know about it. So, if you are ready to get a label for our beer, contact Lien Design. We are an award-winning packaging studio to help your brands to reach consumers.
Ready to craft the perfect beer label? Check out Lien Design Google reviews for insights and start planning your branding with Lien Design today!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is a custom beer label design important for my craft brewery?
A custom beer label is crucial because it helps your brand stand out in a competitive market. With over 10,000 breweries worldwide, a well-designed label can attract attention, convey your brand's story, and influence consumers' purchasing decisions.
2. What are the essential elements that should be on a beer label?
Key components of a beer label include the brand name, beer style, ABV (Alcohol by Volume), IBU (International Bitterness Units), and the name and address of the producer or importer. Each element plays a role in informing the consumer and complying with regulations.
3. How do I choose the right colors and design for my beer label?
When designing a beer label, start by selecting a color scheme that reflects your brand's personality and catches the eye of consumers. Over 90% of consumers make value judgments based on color alone, so choosing the right palette is essential for standing out on shelves.
4. Can I use images and creative wording on my beer label?
Yes, using custom imagery and creative wording can enhance your beer label. Keep the design minimal yet impactful, and consider adding puns, pop culture references, or artistic elements to create a memorable and engaging label that resonates with your target audience.