As home brewers, we’ve all been there: you want to save money and resources by reusing your bottles, but it’s hard to remove the sticky label glue from the glass.
The easiest — and least expensive — way to create a removable bottle label is to use an item you probably already have in your refrigerator: milk.
If you are computer savvy, you can use any graphics software — or even websites — to create the label. The label for a standard 12oz (350ml) bottle is approximately 4″ x 3″ (~10cm x 7.6cm), meaning that if you are designing on a computer using a standard piece of paper you can get at least 4 labels per sheet.
If you’d rather make labels by hand, can draw your own with colored pencils or crayons.
Once you have your design completed, separate the individual labels with scissors.
You’ll want to apply your labels after filling and capping the bottles.
When you’re ready to label, pour a few ounces of milk into a small bowl. Take a basting brush — silicon ones are nice — and paint milk onto the back of the label while holding it above the milk bowl to catch any drips. Once the label is coated, place it on the bottle and gently pat it with a dry cloth to remove any bubbles and excess milk.
That’s it! Set the labeled bottles aside to dry, and you are ready to show off your latest batch of homebrew!
When you have emptied the bottles, simply immerse them in water for minute, and the labels will come off easily for your next beverage. Custom labels are also great for other bottled gifts such as sauces, jams, and infused oils.
