A Brewer's Guide on How To Design a Beer Label That Stands Out in the Crowded Beer Aisle

08 Jul.,2022

Does your beer label matter? You bet it does! Your beer label design is the first thing that people notice when they see your brew. Craft beer labels tell your story and entice customers. Read this article from LLT Labels to discover how to design a beer label that stands out from the competition.

 

beer neck label

Elements of Beer Label Design

From a marketing perspective, determining your brand personality is essential. Once you know who your ideal customer is, you'll need to decide the best way to grab their attention. If you are just starting out in beer bottle label design, using a template is an easy way to make sure your label is compliant and looks good. But there is no limit to your creativity. Here are some of the most important elements of craft beer labeling.

Beer Bottle Label Design Sizes + Shapes

The beer label sizes depend upon the container — beer cans have more real estate than bottles, for example.

Possible styles and shapes of craft beer labels include:

  • Neck Labels
  • Half Wrap
  • Full Wrap
  • Circles and Ovals
  • Rectangles
  • Scalloped Edges
  • Triangles
  • And more!

The beer bottle label dimensions can be customized based on your particular design needs. A unique shape can set your brew apart; just make sure that it doesn't impact the legibility or reduce the available space too much.

Color

Color psychology plays a critical role in your beer bottle label design, so it should come as no shock that the right beer label color palette can make the difference between your brew jumping off the shelf to it collecting dust. If you are working with glass bottles, ensure that your color scheme works with the color of the glass. LLT Labels offers PMS color matching to make sure your craft beer labels have a consistent appearance with your other marketing materials.

Typography

Besides having great style, it's essential to choose typography that is legible. The size of your beer label directly impacts your font size. Make certain there is ample white space and sufficient contrast between the letters and background color to ensure legibility.

Imagery

Imagery is the truly exciting part of beer label design. It's the element that sets your brand apart from the masses and creates a memorable experience. Beer label imagery transforms a single-use container into a collectible work of art.

Some popular styles of imagery for craft beer labels are:

  • Illustrated
  • Hand-drawn
  • Minimalist
  • Traditional
  • Edgy
  • Rustic
  • Playful
  • Elegant

Beer label designs can reflect specific interests such as heavy metal music or film or incorporate a nod to the brewer's heritage. Hops is not surprisingly a ubiquitous choice for beer bottle label design.

Choose a Beer Label That Uses CHILL AT Adhesive

Once you have the perfect beer label design, you want to make sure that your craft beer labels are up for the task. At LLT Labels, we use CHILL AT craft beer labeling technology, so your brews look as good after being tossed into a cooler for a camping trip as they do fresh off the line. The CHILL AT line of adhesive beer labels adheres consistently in wet conditions with fluctuating temperatures, so your beer bottle label design stays put and looks awesome too.

Some popular styles of imagery for craft beer labels are:

On-Demand Printing

  • Thermal transfer
  • Direct thermal paper

Preprinted Labels

  • Semi-gloss
  • Silver
  • Clear