Show Us Your Label

[Dgallo]

Can you share the steps you followed to condition that fresh barrel?

It is a 10 gallon barrel, so to condition it we used a handle of good (normal good) bourbon into the empty barrel and then rolled it a few degrees everyday or so, so that the staves would rehydrate, locking in the bourbon. After a few weeks, the barrel absorbed all the bourbon, then we racked the stout into the barrel for 8 months.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

 

[BrewMan13]

Can you share the steps you followed to condition that fresh barrel?

It is a 10 gallon barrel, so to condition it we used a handle of good (normal good) bourbon into the empty barrel and then rolled it a few degrees everyday or so, so that the staves would rehydrate, locking in the bourbon. After a few weeks, the barrel absorbed all the bourbon, then we racked the stout into the barrel for 8 months.

To expand a smidge. When we acquired the new barrel it was dry, and had never been used. Bought it from another homebrewer who never got around to using it. To ensure it would hold up, he filled it with a citric acid solution and let it expand before we picked it up. We kept it like this until a month or 2 before brewday, then started pouring the bourbon in and rotating. We probably poured about 1.5 750ml bottles of bourbon in it total. About a pint of it didn't absorb so we just left it in. The barrel could probably handle ~12 gallons, and we had 13 gallons after brewday, but lost 3 gallons to trub, so 10 went in. We tasted it a few times over the 8 months until we liked it, and here we are.

 

[agentbud]

To expand a smidge. When we acquired the new barrel it was dry, and had never been used. Bought it from another homebrewer who never got around to using it. To ensure it would hold up, he filled it with a citric acid solution and let it expand before we picked it up. We kept it like this until a month or 2 before brewday, then started pouring the bourbon in and rotating. We probably poured about 1.5 750ml bottles of bourbon in it total. About a pint of it didn't absorb so we just left it in. The barrel could probably handle ~12 gallons, and we had 13 gallons after brewday, but lost 3 gallons to trub, so 10 went in. We tasted it a few times over the 8 months until we liked it, and here we are.

Curious on your and Dgallo's thoughts on the end product. Did the stout turn out as you hoped? Care to share the recipe or point me to it if already posted?

 

[BrewMan13]

Curious on your and Dgallo's thoughts on the end product. Did the stout turn out as you hoped? Care to share the recipe or point me to it if already posted?

Initially it was a bit thin, as we got surprisingly good attenuation, all things considered. So we added a maltodextrin solution. I haven't tasted mine since then. Anyway, here's the recipe (13 gallons, OG 1.140, FG: 1.034, 57 IBU, 63 SRM, 64% efficiency, 73.5% AA):

• 35lbs 2-row (49.6%)
• 10lbs dark Munich (14.2%)
• 3.5lbs roasted barley (5%)
• 2lbs carafa special 2 (2.8%)
• 2lbs chocolate wheat (2.8%)
• 1.5lbs caramunich 1 (2.1%)
• 1.5lbs special B (2.1%)
• 9lbs pilsner DME (12.8%)
• 6lbs wheat DME (8.5%)
• 3oz CTZ 90min (33.3IBU)
• 2oz Magnum 90min (22.5 IBU)
• 2oz fuggles at flame out (0.8 IBU)
• Used a 5L 1056 starter plus 4 packets of US05

 

[VikeMan]

I don't do labels per se, but here's an AI assisted piece that will be going on a displayette for an upcoming brewfest. The beer is a turtle-candy-like pastry stout called "Beetus, The Turtle of Death." (Our club uses a grim reaper theme.)

 

[Wrendelar]

Most recent label

 

[D the Catastrophist]

What type of printer do you all use? I have given up on labels for the moment after getting annoyed and nearly shotputting my crappy inkj*nk across the room. Dark red was coming out pink, dark blue as sky blue. And this was with brand new ink cartridges....

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Got a few bottles presentable for a friend.

 

[Wrendelar]

Todays Label, just in time … the ABV is wrong its only 6.0% … *runs to fix it*

 

[D.B.Moody]

This afternoon we'll be going First Class

 

[Hoochin'Fool]

Done in inkscape, got the "fox with headache" from the Bing AI art-thingy...

 

[Wrendelar]

The experimental label

 

[Dgallo]

Labels options for my Wet hop Cold Ipa. Which one do you like?

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Labels options for my Wet hop Cold Ipa. Which one do you like?View attachment 831034
View attachment 831035

I vote for the bunny.

 

[doug293cz]

I vote for the bunny.

Agreed, but you should do something to make the descriptive text on the bottom more legible.

Brew on

 

[Dgallo]

I vote for the bunny.

Agreed, but you should do something to make the descriptive text on the bottom more legible.

Brew on

thanks guys. I’ll print one up and see how it looks. I ran through some other colors and it just didn’t look right other than in black

 

[Rish]

Text looks fine to me!

 

[Hoochin'Fool]

thanks guys. I’ll print one up and see how it looks. I ran through some other colors and it just didn’t look right other than in black

I think if you just cropped a bit of the bunny's sweater, it would be fine, like this:

 

[Dgallo]

I think if you just cropped a bit of the bunny's sweater, it would be fine, like this:

View attachment 831288

Not a bad idea but it looked fine and legible printed so I’m going with the original

 

[bwible]

What type of printer do you all use? I have given up on labels for the moment after getting annoyed and nearly shotputting my crappy inkj*nk across the room. Dark red was coming out pink, dark blue as sky blue. And this was with brand new ink cartridges....

Mine is an older Canon MP series inkjet I probably bought at Walmart years ago for less than $100. One of those “all in one” printer, scanner, fax (does anybody still fax?)
It does a good enough job that I’m still using it.

Most of them have an option in one of the print windows to clean the heads. Might be under a “tools” label or a little icon with a screwdriver or a toolbox, something like that. I would try this if you’re getting off colors

 

[Hoochin'Fool]

What type of printer do you all use? I have given up on labels for the moment after getting annoyed and nearly shotputting my crappy inkj*nk across the room. Dark red was coming out pink, dark blue as sky blue. And this was with brand new ink cartridges....

 

[D.B.Moody]

Three weeks in the bottle today, so a few went into the fridge. We'll be drinking this tomorrow

 

[Hoochin'Fool]

 

[Dgallo]

Label for my latest Hazy inspired by Brujos

 

[dansensel]

I don't label. I just make custom bottle caps.

 

[3 Dawg Night]

Like many, I've tried out AI for beer label designs. I have to admit that it's much better at it than I am.

 

[D.B.Moody]

The Thanksgiving brew has been in the bottle 3 1/2 weeks today. I better taste one tonight.

Actually,I better do two, just to be sure.

 

[Hoochin'Fool]

 

[Hoochin'Fool]

After a frustrating hour+ spent gluing my plain-paper color printed labels with milk for adhesive onto 24 bottles (xmas gifts!), I'm looking for alternatives!

What's everyone else using? I'm leaning towards Avery labels (where I just upload my image and they take it from there)... But those are pretty expensive.