Keg Collar Label Approval!

TTB Approved!

We got approval from the TTB, it took us a couple of tries, but thankfully the online COLAs submittal process makes it much quicker than snail mail. This was our third attempt for approval of our original label; we had left out a couple of things:

1. Alc. x% by Vol. (we forgot the "By Volume")
2. Added "-Style" behind Kölsch and Vienna, otherwise it is misleading--we are not from Cologne or Vienna. We don't want to mislead anyone...

It was interesting working with the TTB because the text content wasn't the only issue. The size of the text proved to be a challenge. Regulations said that the text in the Gov't Warning (on the left side of the label) and in the Beer Name section had to be 3 and 2mm high respectively.

However to measure the text, the TTB doesn't print out your art - they literally get out a ruler or calipers and measure the art on their screen. Yes, they measure the height of the characters on the monitor. If I say it again, will you believe me? Our graphics team was pulling out their hair when I found this out, but the solution was simple. No, I did not tell them to adjust the resolution of their monitor. We did have Patton slightly enlarge the whole label so it actually just appeared larger. Voila. Same label, larger, approved.

Now to be sure, the text on our label is 3.2mm and 2.7mm, well above standard, but only after pumping up the size of the file did approval come - once it appeared larger than 3mm on their monitors. It's a crazy world out there at the TTB, but we live in it...

In other news, we got our stickers from Sticker Robot and they look pretty dang awesome too.

Not For Sale.

We will not be selling in these bottles, they are for your viewing pleasures only (unless you are a bar or restaurant in which case I'll be bringing these by for sampling in the near future!) However, if you want a sticker - come on by!

TTB Labels.

Very Van Gogh.

Now that we are fully approved by the state and feds to brew and sell beer it is a matter of getting label approval, which as it turns out is a bit of a process as well.  
There are a lot of rules and stipulations to having a label. I guess it makes sense though, I can't tell people that drinking our beer will make you a better person (even though it does.) You also have to put certain legal things on there like "Brewed and Bottled/Packed by: ...." or "GOVERNMENT WARNING:"  
Here is pretty much everything you could possibly want to know about labeling malt beverages.

Presenting - B.A.M. Vol. 3

Chapter 1: Mandatory Label Information
Brand Name = Most obvious aspect of label and not misleading.


Chapter 2: Type Size and Legibility
Must be legible and appropriate for the size of container .

Minimum 2 mm for containers larger than ½ pint 

Minimum 1 mm for containers of ½ pint or less 

Chapter 3: Health Warning Statement
Required font size and spacing:

Over 3 liters (101 fl. oz.)                                                                  3 mm 

Over 237 ml (8 fl. oz.) to 3 liters (101 fl. oz.)                               2 mm 

237 ml or less                                                                                    1 mm 

Density:

Minimum Type                                      Maximum Characters 

Size Requirement                                  Per Inch 

1 mm                                                              40 

2 mm                                                              25 

3 mm                                                              12 

Chapter 4: Class and Type Designation
Rules about how you label the class and/or type of beverage


Chapter 5: Net Contents
For some reason you cannot label stuff as ounces, they have to be in pints, quarts and gallons. (over 12 oz at least.)


There is also the super E-Z label guide here. 

Label Design

We are beginning to talk about branding and direction our brewery is going to take once we are up and running.

Today our good friend and excellent graphic designer got us five drafts for our label concepts. Unfortunately I cannot show you the designs quite yet, since I would have to kill you, you see? I can say that they are going to be great.

As with any alcoholic beverage we will need to eventually get the designs approved by the FDA/"The Man" before anything is final. This involves showing the alcohol content by volume, recycling info, net fl.oz, that no animals were harmed during the making of, etc...

Once we are more sure of the direction this place is going to be headed I will be sure to share it with you. Until then... CLASSIFIED.