Which label printer do I need?
Breww generates all of its labels in two formats, one designed for thermal label printers and one for sheets (A4 or US Letter) of labels on a normal desktop printer. We highly recommend that you invest in a thermal label printer, but understand that can be tough when you’re first starting out so the cheaper solution of label sheets is an option.
Thermal label printing requirements
| Role | Suggested item | Notes | Suggested supplier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal label printer | Zebra ZD421t (to ZD420) Thermal Transfer | Other printers which can handle the same label sizes should also be suitable. See note below regarding “Thermal Transfer” vs “Direct Thermal”. | Barcode Warehouse or ebay |
| Permanent cask/keg labels | 3011159 - White PolyPro 3000T gloss polypropylene white TT label 51 x 25mm (approx. 2 x 1") | You’ll need one per container you own and may need to replace them occasionally if they get damaged | Barcode Warehouse |
| Ribbon for permanent labels | 05095GS11007 - Zebra 5095 resin ribbon - 110mm x 74m (12 rolls) | Make sure your ribbon is compatible with your printer choice, this ribbon is suitable for the Zebra ZD420 printer | Barcode Warehouse |
| Temporary cask/keg labels | TB00609121 - 102 x 76mm (approx. 4 x 3") DT paper label, removable adhesive | You’ll need one per container delivered | Barcode Warehouse |
A note about label printers - “Thermal Transfer” vs “Direct Thermal”
There are two thermal printing methods: direct thermal and thermal transfer. Each method uses a thermal printhead that applies heat to the surface being marked. Direct thermal printing uses chemically treated, heat-sensitive labels that blackens when it passes under the thermal printhead, while thermal transfer printing uses a heated ribbon (the equivalent to ink in normal printers) to produce durable, long-lasting images on a wide variety of materials.In terms of Breww, we strongly recommend using the slightly more expensive “thermal transfer” type of printer so you can use the ribbon for your permanent cask/keg labels. To keep running costs down, you can remove the ribbon and print in “direct thermal” mode using a thermal transfer printer for your delivery labels.
Having trouble with printer settings/calibration/label sizes?
Check our guide: How do I change the label size settings for my Zebra label printer?
Sheet label (A4/US Letter) printing requirements
| Paper size | Role | Suggested item | Notes | Suggested supplier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Printer | No specific recommendation | “Inkjets” are usually cheaper to buy and “LaserJets” cheaper to run. A “LaserJet” printer is required for the Permanent labels, whereas the temporary labels can be printed by either. | - | |
| A4 | Permanent cask/keg labels | Avery L7063-20 (99.1 x 38.1mm) extra-strong adhesive heavy duty weatherproof labels - 14 labels per A4 sheet |
You’ll need one per container you own (not non-returnables) and may need to replace them occasionally if they get damaged. | Amazon.co.uk or ebay |
| A4 | Temporary cask/keg labels | Avery J8165-100 (99.1 x 67.7mm) labels - 8 labels per A4 sheet |
You’ll need one per container delivered. | Amazon.co.uk or ebay |
| US Letter | Permanent cask/keg labels | Avery 64503 (2" x 2") durable waterproof labels - 20 labels per sheet |
You’ll need one per container you own (not non-returnables) and may need to replace them occasionally if they get damaged. | Amazon.com or Avery |
Barcode scanning
Barcode scanning is used in a number of places around Breww to reduce mistakes and increase productivity. We offer support for two types of barcode, which you can choose to swap between in your Label Settings section of Breww:
We highly recommend using the “Advanced 2D” format and our mobile app, but if you prefer to use a separate barcode scanner, you’ll need to ensure it supports reading 2D barcodes (in this case, “Aztec”). If you’re unsure, you can print a single label and test your device. If your device does not support the “Advanced 2D” format, you can change your settings in Breww to use the “Basic 1D” format.
Barcode scanning with the Breww app for Apple iOS & Android
Breww has a native mobile app for barcode scanning. The app is available for Apple iOS and Android, supporting cask/keg racking and container assignment for deliveries/collections. The mobile app is our recommended solution for barcode scanning as it offers real-time feedback after each barcode scan (rather than barcodes being downloaded to Breww in batches). It also has the benefit of not needing to purchase a barcode scanner if you already have a supported Apple iOS or Android device. If you don’t already have a supported device, then purchasing a smartphone may also be more economical than a USB/Bluetooth barcode scanner - just be sure the device supports the latest version of the OS to ensure good future-proofing. With smartphones and barcode scanning, you get what you pay for in terms of barcode reading speed and ability, so for that reason, we recommend an Apple iOS device, but plenty of users have had success with a cheaper Android device.
Barcode scanning using a conventional USB/Bluetooth barcode scanner
All of Breww’s barcode scanning tools are also supported in our main web-based application via the use of a USB/Bluetooth barcode scanner. Depending on your own workflows, you may find that the web-based application with a dedicated barcode scanner is a better solution for you. Our suggested devices can be found below, however, any device that supports batch mode should work with Breww.
Entry-level option - Honeywell 1202g Voyager
Suggested supplier - Barcode Warehouse
Warning - this device does not support Breww’s “Advanced 2D” barcode format, so we recommend using our mobile app or the Zebra DS3678-HP device below, where possible.
Click to show setup instructions for Honeywell 1202g Voyager
Setup instructions
- You’ll need to enable “Batch Mode” by scanning the below barcode. This is only needed once for the initial setup. This scanner cannot read barcodes from most screens, so you’ll probably need to print this out to scan them.
- Whenever you need to scan barcodes in Breww, follow the relevant instructions on which barcodes to scan and in which order. This is very important.
- When you’ve finished scanning the barcodes, ensure the cursor is in the correct input box for the barcode data, put it back into its cradle or scan the ‘transmit’ barcode below and you should see all the barcode data entered into Breww for you.
Advanced device (future-proof & rugged) - Zebra DS3678-HP
Suggested supplier - Barcode Warehouse
Click to show setup instructions for Zebra DS3678-HP
Setup instructions
- You’ll need to enable “Batch Mode” by scanning the below barcode. This is only needed once for initial setup. This scanner should be able to read the image from your phone/computer screen.
- Whenever you need to scan barcodes in Breww, follow the relevant instructions on which barcodes to scan and in which order. This is very important.
- When you’ve finished scanning the barcodes, ensure the cursor is in the correct input box for the barcode data, put it back into its cradle and you should see all the barcode data entered into Breww for you.
What about my existing barcode scanner?
We recommend using our app for iOS and Android. However, Breww should be compatible with all barcode scanners that can support “batch mode”. In batch mode, the scanner will collect a number of scans together and finally submit them in one batch to Breww. If you have a different scanner or any issues with our recommended scanners, please get in touch with the name and model number and we’ll see if we can help you get it working with Breww.
All labels, printers and barcode scanners recommended on this page are just recommendations. You should be able to use any compatible alternative.
We provide some links to other websites/suppliers, which we hope are helpful. If you use them, you do so at your own risk and we hope you have a good experience. We’ve only suggested suppliers that we’ve personally had good experiences with in the past and receive no commission (or similar) for suggesting them. They should be considered as suggestions only and not recommendations. For hardware, if your budget is tight, we’d also recommend checking eBay for a good deal. The hardware recommended is very reliable and we have a number of customers who’ve purchased 2nd-hand devices for a great price and been very happy with their purchases.
But The Barcode Warehouse should be experts in this area.
As long as it can work with your computer, print labels up to at least 4 inches wide and has “Thermal Transfer” support, you should be fine.