How important are beer labels? Very. Beer drinkers today have thousands of options to choose from. According to a 2024 report from the Brewers Association, 9,922 breweries currently operate in the U.S.
Custom beverage labels are a critical point of distinction. In the overcrowded world of alcoholic beverages, unique beer label design has become a baseline requirement.
Today, it’s common for a beer label printing company to collaborate one-on-one with beer makers to help them put their personal touch on custom labels. From exploring unique color schemes to experimenting with traditional shapes and abstract forms, creating personalized, professional label design is step one to gaining customer attention.
But that’s just the beginning. Competition in the alcoholic beverage market continues to grow. Now, non-alcoholic (NA) beverages are gaining even more market share. Consumption of NA beverages is expected to triple by 2026, according to analysis by International Wine and Spirit Research.
To truly stand out on the shelf, effectively attracting (and retaining) customers as more beverage options are created each year, you need on-trend, functional beer labels.
WHAT ARE FUNCTIONAL BEER LABELS?
Functional beer labels are a highly flexible product solution. They’re built to withstand harsh environments AND employ trends in product labeling. Instead of just performing one important task, functional labels do it all. Here are some examples:
- A waterproof beer bottle label with a QR code
- A sun-resistant, UV-cured beer can label that also glows in the dark
- A color-changing label with a gloss finish for increased durability
Functional beer labels increase the aesthetic appeal of your products and their lifespan. Whether you specialize in craft or commercial beers, you need labels that garner attention and can survive the elements—whether it’s wet, cold, hot, or humid.
3 TRENDS IN BEER LABELS
1. Temperature-Sensitive Beer Labels
Color-changing labels are not new. Many people are familiar with a big-name beer company whose custom beer bottle labels change color when their product is at the perfect temperature for drinking.
But color-changing mountains are just the tip of the iceberg of what can be done today with temperature-changing technology.
- Nobody wants to drink warm beer. What if your company added a sun emoji to your label that appears when your beer warms past its prime drinkability?
- Most beer can labels need to be waterproof to survive hours in coolers. What if your waterproof label transformed to reveal a completely different design when wet?
- It’s harder than ever to create buzz on social media. What if your company did a giveaway where one in every thousand beer bottle labels revealed the word “winner” across the bottle when it was empty?
From having elements appear and disappear to changing colors, these interactive labels aren’t just a gimmick. Temperature-sensitive labels are built to be long-lasting and withstand wet, hot, and cold temperatures. This durability preserves the quality of your product, all while engaging drinkers and creating a memorable experience. This isn’t just for major corporations. Advancements in label technology mean it’s easier and more affordable than it once was to add temperature-sensitive labels to your products.
2. Light-Reactive Beer Labels
Glow-in-the-dark or UV-reactive labels can literally help your products shine in numerous environments. This “wow” feature is typically added through specialty adhesives, holographic foils, or glossy finishes that also increase the resilience of the product label.
Not sure where this label trend could make an impact?
- Picture a packed club. You walk in and see multiple people holding glowing beer bottle labels.
- Imagine a nighttime, starlit bonfire. Everyone is sitting in a circle surrounded by beer can labels that are sparkling with their own shining stars.
- See yourself in a dark movie theater. You see someone else drinking a beer that has a glowing label. You order one too because it’s interesting, and it helps you see in the dimly lit space.
There are so many unique ways you can experiment with light-reactive beer labels. This custom label trend doesn’t just create visual interest, it also makes it easier to drink in dark environments.
3. Smart Labels & Augmented Reality
Many beverage and spirit companies are adding augmented reality to their product labels. This interactive branding trend is highly versatile because it can be combined with other advanced label finishes and design options.
That means you can have it all. You can embrace multiple trends in product labeling at the same time:
- Your custom beer bottle labels can feature color-changing ink and a QR code that links to a giveaway site.
- Want your glow-in-the-dark beer can labels to also include a scannable video? That’s easy.
- A waterproof label that can withstand damp conditions can also feature a video of your CEO explaining the why behind your beer company.
Smart label technology is highly flexible. It gives you space to add all the information required on beer labels by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and leaves room to experiment with new visual designs.
If these three trends sound too good to be true, we assure you, they aren’t. With functional, on-trend beer labels, you can:
- Stand out in the grocery aisle, liquor store, or bar
- Help customers experience your beer at its best
- Prove your quality and care
- Create buzz on social media
- Expand your brand personality, recall, and recognition
WHAT MAKES BEER LABEL TRENDS FUNCTIONAL?
If you’re a busy brewery owner or product manager, you might be thinking: these ideas sound great, but are they scalable?
The short answer is yes. Because of advancements in custom beer label technology, you can quickly add new features to your current labels without slowing down lead times.
With the right beer label printing company, you can also test these trends on limited-edition runs before applying them to your whole beverage line.
STAND OUT WITH THE RIGHT PARTNER
At Epsen Hillmer Graphics, we are experts in beer label printing with years of proven experience. We take the time to understand the unique needs of every business we work with and help our partners experiment with new trends, as well as:
- Choose durable label materials that last
- Select options that keep you within budget
- Find solutions that fit your production timelines
- Avoid costly mistakes and delays
Ready to get more from your beer labels? We work with partners who want to create one-of-a-kind Labels of Distinction that drive measurable, memorable results. If you’re ready to stand out and improve your product ROI, let’s connect. Get a quote on custom beer labels today.
