When marketing a product such as beer, having a label that makes your brand stand out is necessary, and a good label manufacturer can help you do just that. Whether you are just starting to sell some sweet brew made of love and dedication or already have a solid base of customers, creating beverage bottle labels can sometimes be challenging. Here are a few things to know about custom beer can labels in Canada.
How Are Aluminum Cans Labelled?
There are different techniques to manage beer can label printing, from directly printing onto the can using flexographic or digital printing to using a variety of labels.
Directly printing on the cans can be tricky, but it is possible with adequate equipment. The biggest companies are already doing this for beer, soft drinks, and other beverages that come in cans. The printing can be done through flexography, involving a higher initial cost for the plates. The technique is worth it for large volumes. This is why smaller businesses weren’t using direct printing very much. However, digital printing directly to aluminum cans is now possible and could become accessible soon, even for smaller productions.
Digitally printed labels can be printed through a manufacturer and added as a step in an automated line. For the Québec market, know that labels have to be paper-based, as required by Recyc-Québec. Paper labels can be water-resistant, so they won’t come off or fade while your beer travels from you to your customer and in and out of their fridge.
Shrink sleeves, made of plastic, are quite popular as they are durable and allow for vibrant colours. However, they are not an eco-friendly option for beer can labels, so they have been banned in Québec for recycling reasons.
How to Design a Beer Can Label
Beer can label design has to take into account several elements, as this type of product is regulated. Some information that needs to be printed on the label includes the alcohol strength, the common name of the product (beer, alcoholic beverage, cider, etc.), the net quantity, and any food allergens such as soya, wheat, or peanuts. The name of the business and its address have to be easily readable. As with any product sold in Canada, the label must be bilingual.
Some of these facts are to be printed close together so they can all be seen at once, without the need to turn the can.
Apart from these requirements, the design of craft beer can labels is fundamental to your marketing effort. Just go into a supermarket and you will see the immense variety of microbreweries, each with its own style. Standing out is not easy, but the most important thing is to showcase your brand identity and appeal to your target market. What does your brand look and feel like? Is it a breezy, refreshing, fruity beer? Or a rugged, minimalist, and grounding flavour? Make sure that the colours, size, fonts, and graphics are in line with your brand identity.
What Has To Be on a Beer Can Label?
The government of Canada regulates the labelling of food and beverage products, including beer. First, your labels need to include the alcohol strength in a percentage per volume, and in a bilingual format. The common name of your product and the net quantity are required as well. These three elements should be visible all at once, without rotating the can.
It’s necessary to identify food allergens on the can, either in a list or a statement. This includes added sulphites.
The identity of the business producing the beer has to be present on the label, including the complete address.
The labels must be fully bilingual in French and English.
Custom beer can labels can be printed on either plastic or paper, but know that plastic printing for cans is prohibited in Québec. There is also the option of printing directly on the aluminum can. For smaller production quantities, a water-resistant paper label is a great option, as it allows a lot of flexibility in terms of designs and textures.
How Do You Get Beer Bottle Labels?
Beer bottle labels can be printed in-house if you purchase the right equipment. This can be fun if you offer homemade beer as a gift, and it can work for kombucha and other craft products too. This would allow you to have customizable labels. Labelling can be added as a step for automated production, directly on the production chain. Another option is to get your labels printed by professionals, with the advantage that you will have the best product possible. Such labels can then be applied in-house. All these options are valid, it depends on your business and your capacity to manage the process.
Making craft beer is a hobby for some and a career for others. Either way, the labels can make the difference in reaching your target market, whatever the size of that market is. At Mult-Action, we love entrepreneurs and would be happy to help you find the perfect printing solution for your product, whether big or small.
