The “DIY Keg Collar” Myth
Many breweries start with stock keg collars—and on the surface, it makes sense.
Buy blank collars, stamp your logo, print beer labels, and apply them by hand.
It feels cheaper.
But when you break it down, that approach quietly eats up your most valuable resource:
Time.
And in a brewery, time is money.
What Stock Keg Collars Really Cost You
Let’s look at what’s involved with the “DIY” method:
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Purchasing blank keg collars
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Buying (and maintaining) a custom logo stamp
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Ink refills
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Printing beer info labels
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Applying stamps and labels by hand
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Fixing mistakes, misalignments, or outdated info
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Paying staff to do all of the above
Even if each step only takes a few minutes, those minutes add up fast—especially when you’re juggling brewing, packaging, taproom operations, and distribution.
That’s hidden labor cost.
Time Adds Up Faster Than You Think
Here’s a simple example:
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2–3 minutes per keg collar to stamp, label, and apply
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200 kegs = 6–10 hours of labor
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Multiply that across multiple brands, batches, and releases
That’s nearly a full workday spent on something that should already be done.
How Custom Printed Keg Collars Save You Money
Custom printed keg collars eliminate all of those extra steps.
With one professionally printed piece, you get:
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Your logo
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Beer name & style
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ABV
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Government warning
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Net contents
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Date ring
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Any other required or branded info
No stamping.
No labels.
No rework.
Just grab and go.
Small Runs That Actually Make Sense
A common misconception is that custom printing only works for massive volumes.
Not with us.
At Keg Collars Network, you can:
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Print as few as 100 per version
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Mix multiple versions and still get bulk pricing
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Pay the 1,000-piece price when you order 10 versions of 100
That means:
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Seasonal beers
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Limited releases
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One-offs
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Rotating taps
…all without overordering or wasting inventory.
Professional Look = Better Brand Perception
Let’s be honest—hand-stamped collars with crooked labels don’t reflect the quality of the beer inside the keg.
Custom printed collars:
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Look clean and consistent
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Match your brand standards
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Impress distributors, bartenders, and buyers
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Reduce confusion at accounts
Your beer deserves to look as good as it tastes.
The Bottom Line
When you factor in:
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Labor
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Supplies
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Errors
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Rework
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Time away from brewing and sales
Custom printed keg collars are not more expensive.
They’re more efficient.
And efficiency is where real savings live.
Ready to Simplify?
We make ordering easy, reordering even easier, and turnaround fast.
Whether you’re running 3 core beers or 30 rotating taps—we’ve got you covered.
👉 Explore Custom Keg Collars
👉 Talk to a real human who knows the brewery world
Family-owned. Brewery-focused. Built for speed.