labeling beer

[EmptyH]

I am currently working on my first beer so this isn't a problem yet but eventually I would like to have a selection of beers available. Maybe save a six-pack from each batch and let it age a few months. This would allow me to see how it ages and give me some variety to choose from.

My question is, what do you guys use to label your beer. Ideally I would like something that I don't have to work really hard to scrape off before re-using the bottle.

Any suggestions, anyone else have this issue?

Thanks,

MTH

[Swifty]

My way is pretty basic and bland, all I do is keep a log book wtih each brew recorded in it which gives me all the info I need (recipe, gravity readings, date's, method etc). Each brew has a number which I write on the bottle cap so I can always cross check to see what brew it is.

[pacman]

Hi MTH,

Go to "Labels for bottling" in General Discussion for some ideas.

[Pale_Ale]

Maybe save a six-pack from each batch and let it age a few months. This would allow me to see how it ages and give me some variety to choose from.

It's good to compare but I would start your comparison when the beer is at least 3 months old, then keep it for a further 3 or 6 months...time doesn't cost anything and the beer is alot better for it.

As for the labels I use little circles with a batch number, I then have a corresponding info sheet with the type/date etc. of the batches. I also used labels at one point as a gift. That's the only reason I'd label it properly like that because they are a nightmare to remove.

[surley]

this is about as simple as it gets.
I use white sticky dots which you can get from your post office and record the innitials of the beer and brew number then just stick it on the cap.
Seeing as though you throw the cap away you don't have to worry about peeling your labels off and you can cross refrence your brew recipes.

[SpillsMostOfIt]

Maybe save a six-pack from each batch and let it age a few months. This would allow me to see how it ages and give me some variety to choose from.

It's good to compare but I would start your comparison when the beer is at least 3 months old, then keep it for a further 3 or 6 months...time doesn't cost anything and the beer is alot better for it.

As for the labels I use little circles with a batch number, I then have a corresponding info sheet with the type/date etc. of the batches. I also used labels at one point as a gift. That's the only reason I'd label it properly like that because they are a nightmare to remove.

3-6 months.

Yeah...

Must ... brew ... more! Must ... overtake ... consumption!

[Pale_Ale]

It's hard, but once you've waited for the first 3 months, you then have a stockpile going and it gets easier.

I still buy commercial too, to supplement...right now I have CPA, CSA, Becks, Heineken, JS Golden Ale and JS Amber Ale.

[afromaiko]

I use a texta on the top of my crown seals, or a chinagraph (white pencil) on the black pet bottle tops. The so-called removable stickers are useless. I tried them, removable dots, but they just started to lift and come off by themselves after a few weeks. Putting any permanent stickers on there would be too much of an annoyance for me to remove at each refill I think. I just write a one or two letter code and batch number such as HG1, for Hoegardden batch 1.

[BenH]

I use some white rectangular sticky labels u can get from officeworks. Size not important, though it does depend on what you wanna put on em. I have three colours of inkpad (red for ale, blue for lager, black for dark/others) and a little inkpad stamp with a wombat on it and I just stamp the labels with that, then write batch # and alc/vol on the label above the stamp. They're cheapo stickers so they peel off great, no residue, but they won't come off if you leave em in ice or somesuch. Adds a nice little touch to the bottles and always gets a comment at parties and from mates - cheap as, easy to make, not time consuming and adds to the home-made-ness of it all. Pick a stamp with whatever you like and voila your labels can change too. Sticks fine to glass and peels off fine from glass too.

Only drawback: if you put your beers in ice the colour on the stamp can run and leave the picture a bit worse for wear, but the batch # is usually still visible cos its written in biro.

[r.magnay]

PVC insulation tape and marker pen, I got a small durex dispenser and use the sparky size rolls of tape, it is easy to remove but is waterproof as well. if you want you can use a few different colours for different brews, but I just use white and put the bare minimum info on them.

[Mr_Booze]

I write the date on the lids with black vivid. Then I check the date against my brewing log to make sure I know what I'm drinking.

Must ... brew ... more! Must ... overtake ... consumption!

I hear you, brother.