What do you write on your bottle caps?

[Ralelen]

It'll says it all. I put a batch number on mine. For example today I bottled batch 1117, an American stout. The 11is for the year, and the 17 is the 17th batch of the year. I keep the batch number with the corresponding beer in my log book.

 

[KayaBrew]

Initials of what the beer is. Simple. I'll always know what IPA, PA, BR, A, P, and S stand for. Any more complicated and I'd go blind.

 

[AmandaK]

I just do straight batch number (see sig). I've only been brewing for a few years, so the numbers haven't gotten too high yet. Works great!

 

[dan09554]

I use different color stickers, them place the corresponding sticker on the white board with the beers description

 

[BradleyBrew]

I get the little white stickers and write the actual names of the beers.. they peel right off. I keep a excel spreadsheet for dates, notes, etc.

 

[runningweird]

I used to write the initials as mentioned above, PB for peach berlinerweisse, BT for belgian tripel, etc. Eventually i got beers with identical initials( plus my handwriting on a bottlecap sized space is terrible) so i went to batch numbers. the hassle there is you always need a decoder sheet.

now my answer is : nothing. I keg.

 

[BREW-K]

You need to put a trademark or some kind of signifying mark on your cap

 

[Dogphish]

i also put a number on my caps, no labels on the bottles.

the number is my batch number. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. it is written on a piece of masking tape. i can go to my brew log if i want more details on what #5 means.

 

[swoof]

I do it the same way as OP. I bottled 1117, a RIS, last week.

 

[tighniamh]

I use nail polish (hey I'm a girl) ie single red dot = holiday, orange dot = Octoberfest,
black dot = stout, pale green = lager. That way I know without referring to the brew log..

 

[runningweird]

i also put a number on my caps, no labels on the bottles.

the number is my batch number. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. it is written on a piece of masking tape. i can go to my brew log if i want more details on what #5 means.

out of curiosity, why bother with the masking tape? A sharpie will write just fine on bottle caps.

 

[matt2778]

I actually produce a label with autocad that I stick to my caps. I include IRB (Indian run brewery) the beer name and crucial statistics (starting gravity, final gravity, ibus, and abv). Pretty happy with the system as I can get the benefits of a label without having to scrape it off later. I also get 4 cases of labels out of one 8.5x11 label sheet. It does kind of suck cutting out all the circles but if I was so concerned about time and effort I wouldn't be a homebrewer anyway.

 

[BeerCrafter2011]

I use Avery labels and print them out. Beer name, ABV and date bottled. I like the idea of batch number!

 

[collinsDPT]

I usually write the brew initials

 

[ImperialStout]

What number Avery labels do you use? Are the labels circular so you can peel and stick?

Thanks

I use Avery labels and print them out. Beer name, ABV and date bottled. I like the idea of batch number!

 

[TXCrash]

I use
http://www.staples.com/Avery-Print-or-Write-Multiuse-ID-Labels-3-4-Diameter-1-008/product_166132

I currently write initials but may move to printing on the labels using the following template
http://www.avery.com/avery/en_us/Te...abel-24-per-4x6-sheet-5408_Microsoft-Word.htm

 

[BeerCrafter2011]

They are Avery 5408 3/4 round. There are 24 labels per sheet and 42 sheets in a package for $7 at staples. Works great and takes 5 minutes to write label and print!

 

[jma99]

What's a bottle cap?

Now ask me about my tap handles!

 

[beergolf]

I do different signs. A slash, an X, a dot, a triangle, a square. Different colored caps and differnt colored markers and the variations are endless. Put them in my brew log so I can easily look up the ones that have been aging for a while.

Simple and easy.

 

[jmlabeck]

One thing I've always loved about homebrew is that one can make it as simple or complex as you want, as long as you're having fun.

I like to think up witty/stupid names for all my beers, and design labels. I have nearly as much fun labelling my bottles as I do brewing the beer

 

[The_General]

I go with batch numbers in the format year number-batch number. For example, I made an American Amber last week that what the 14th batch of this year so it got numbered 11-14.

I used to put an initial on it but that got a little confusing. My girlfriend wanted to give some wit to someone and assumed BW stood for Belgian Wit. They were very surprised to get an American Barley Wine instead of a wit.

 

[Beezy]

I just do numbers which will go up and up. Sharpie. I always remember what's in em. Don't need notes. I'll probably start doing stickers soon tho. Wife got new ink for the printer finally.

 

[Rockape66]

My wife prints the avery 3/4" round labels for me. I use the beer style and month and year bottled as a standard. My wife and girls try to come up with names to go with it.

 

[TwoGunz]

Batch number on caps and now that I'm kegging I just got nice badge holders that I put index cards in with the number, name, and date. All of my batches are numbered with full details in iBrewmaster on my iPhone for quick reference.

 

[The_General]

Hmmm...I wonder if I could work out a system to print out a label with batch number and a bar code. I'm imagining scanning the bar code with a smart phone to get all the details on the brew. My geekiness knows no limits!

 

[Kahler]

What's a bottle cap?

Now ask me about my tap handles!

How bout them tap handles?

 

[unionrdr]

I just use a sharpie for initials on the cap,like APA,IPA,SA,PA,etc. We only have a couple batches bottled at any one time. So it's not hard to decipher.

 

[beeber]

Black sharpie. Last 2 batches were farmhouse ales, labelled F1 and F2.

 

[unionrdr]

Lolz,those are also the designations for the sections of the assembly line I was team leader of. F1 & F2...

 

[Pappers_]

I use nail polish (hey I'm a girl) . . .

This made me smile . . . using what you've got around the house is always good.