Marks, logos & certifications

Understanding marks on beer labels

Beer labels can carry many different logos and marks. Some are EU legal protections tied to geography or tradition. Others are certifications granted by independent bodies, membership marks from trade associations, or competition awards. Knowing what each type of mark actually means — and what it doesn't — helps you interpret labels more accurately.

EU geographical indication logos

The EU operates three quality schemes that protect product names and traditions. All three can appear on beer labels, though PGI is by far the most common for beer. The UK operates equivalent schemes under the same names following Brexit.

PGI — Protected Geographical Indication

A PGI means at least one stage of production, processing, or preparation takes place in the defined geographical area, and the product has a specific quality, reputation, or characteristic attributable to that origin. PGI is the most common EU protection applied to beer.

TSG — Traditional Speciality Guaranteed

A TSG protects a traditional production method or recipe rather than a geographical origin. The product does not need to come from a specific place — it just needs to be made in the traditional way defined in the specification. Finnish sahti, the traditional farmhouse ale brewed with juniper and often rye, holds TSG status. The same scheme appears under different abbreviations depending on the language: ETG in Spanish and Italian, STG in Portuguese. Following Brexit, the UK operates its own equivalent scheme using the same TSG name and a similar logo.

PDO — Protected Designation of Origin

A PDO is a stricter designation: all stages of production, processing, and preparation must occur in the defined area, and the quality or characteristics must be essentially or exclusively due to that geographical environment. PDO is less common for beer than PGI.

Examples of EU-protected beer

Brewery certification marks

Some logos on beer labels are certifications governed by their own rules and certifying bodies, distinct from EU geographical indications.

Authentic Trappist Product

A certification controlled by the International Trappist Association, not an EU geographical indication. To display it, the beer must be brewed within the walls of a Trappist monastery, under monastic supervision, with profits going primarily to the monastery or to charitable causes. It is not tied to a specific country or region — qualifying breweries exist in a handful of European countries, with most in Belgium.

Learn more about the ATP label

Certified Belgian Abbey Beer

A certification managed by the Belgian Brewers association, distinct from the Trappist designation. To use it, a beer must have a genuine, documented connection to a recognised Belgian abbey — typically through a licensing agreement where the abbey receives a share of revenue — and the recipe must be approved by the abbey. Unlike Trappist, the beer does not need to be brewed on monastery grounds. The certification applies only to beers with a link to a specific Belgian abbey.

Learn more about Certified Belgian Abbey Beer

Independent brewer logos

Some beer labels carry logos indicating the brewery is a member of an independent brewer association. These are membership marks.

Independent brewer logos generally mean the brewery has declared it is not owned or controlled by a large international brewing group, and is a member of a national trade association representing independent brewers. They say something about ownership structure — not about brewing method, ingredients, or style. National associations of independent brewers exist across many European countries, and some issue logos or certification marks that member breweries may display on their packaging. Definitions of "independent" vary between organisations. Common criteria include ownership thresholds (for example, not more than a set percentage owned by a large brewer or outside investor) and sometimes production volume caps. The precise criteria behind any specific logo are set by the issuing association and available on their website.

Example: Marchio Indipendente Artigianale (Italy)

In Italy, Unionbirrai issues the Marchio Indipendente Artigianale (Independent Craft Mark) to member breweries that meet its criteria for independence and craft brewing. The mark is owned and managed by Unionbirrai, the main association of Italian craft brewers, and its conditions are published on their website.

Learn more about the Marchio Indipendente Artigianale

Competition awards and medals

Many beer labels display awards from competitions — "Gold Medal", "Champion Beer", "Best IPA", and similar claims. These can help identify quality beers, but it's important to understand what they mean.

Understanding competition awards

Not all beer competitions have the same standards. Some are professionally judged with strict blind-tasting protocols, while others may be more promotional events. When you see a competition award on a label, consider:

• Is the competition name clearly stated, or just "Award Winner"?
• Can you verify the competition actually exists and its judging standards?
• Is there a year or specific category mentioned?

EBCU-endorsed competitions

EBCU endorses competitions that meet essential standards including blind judging (judges don't know which beer they're tasting), independent judging (brewers don't judge their own beers), published style descriptions, and transparent judging procedures.

Awards from EBCU-endorsed competitions indicate the beer has been professionally evaluated against clear standards.

Vegan labels

There is no EU-wide standard for vegan labelling on beer. A beer may carry a certified vegan mark (such as the Vegan Society trademark or the V-Label), a simple text statement like "suitable for vegans", or no claim at all — even if the beer happens to be free from animal-derived inputs.

Organic certification

Organic beer is brewed using ingredients — malt, hops, and any adjuncts — grown without synthetic pesticides or artificial fertilisers, and certified under an approved organic scheme. Organic labelling is one of the more tightly regulated categories you'll find on a beer label: unlike some other marks, it carries a legal definition and mandatory certification requirements.

The EU organic logo

Under EU Regulation 2018/848, any product marketed as "organic" in the EU must carry the EU organic logo — a green leaf formed by white stars — and at least 95% of its agricultural ingredients must be certified organic. The label must also show the code of the certifying inspection body responsible for the producer.

Many EU member states also operate national organic logos alongside the EU mark, issued by government bodies or approved certifiers. These indicate compliance with the same standard or a stricter national one. For example, Germany has a hexagonal "Bio" seal, France an "AB" (Agriculture Biologique) mark, and Denmark a red "Ø-mærket". National logos may appear alongside the EU organic logo — but the EU logo remains mandatory whenever an organic claim is made within the EU.

Recycling marks

Beer cans and bottles carry various recycling-related symbols, but these marks differ in what they actually mean — and whether a container is collected and recycled depends on local infrastructure, which varies by country.

Deposits

Many European countries operate deposit return schemes (DRS) for beverage containers. When you buy a drink in a deposit-eligible container, you pay a small surcharge which is refunded when you return the empty can or bottle to a designated return point.

Schemes differ significantly by country — in what containers are covered, how much the deposit is, and where you can return them. Some countries cover only plastic bottles; others include aluminium cans and glass. Cans and bottles sometimes carry different deposit amounts within the same scheme.

What happens to returned containers

Not all deposit schemes work the same way once you return the container. There are two broad models: