diff --git a/api/metrics/gradle.properties b/api/metrics/gradle.properties
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4476ae57e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/metrics/gradle.properties
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+otel.release=alpha
diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 3b13fa2de1..44ccc8fe05 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -437,9 +437,12 @@ subprojects {
         publishing {
             publications {
                 mavenPublication(MavenPublication) {
-                    version project.name.endsWith('metrics') ? "${version}".replaceFirst(/^(\d+)\.(\d+).(\d+)/) { _, major, minor, patch ->
-                            "${major}.${minor}.${patch}-alpha"
-                        } : version
+                    def release = project.findProperty("otel.release")
+                    if (release != null) {
+                        version "${version}".replaceFirst(/^(\d+)\.(\d+).(\d+)/) { _, major, minor, patch ->
+                            "${major}.${minor}.${patch}-${release}"
+                        }
+                    }
                     groupId "io.opentelemetry"
                     afterEvaluate {
                         artifactId = archivesBaseName
diff --git a/exporters/otlp/metrics/build.gradle b/exporters/otlp/metrics/build.gradle
index 41cdb2903d..d7724b4ee3 100644
--- a/exporters/otlp/metrics/build.gradle
+++ b/exporters/otlp/metrics/build.gradle
@@ -8,10 +8,6 @@ plugins {
 description = 'OpenTelemetry Protocol Metrics Exporter'
 ext.moduleName = "io.opentelemetry.exporter.otlp.metrics"
 
-version = "${version}".replaceFirst(/^(\d+)\.(\d+).(\d+)/) { _, major, minor, patch ->
-    "${major}.${minor}.${patch}-alpha"
-}
-
 dependencies {
     api project(':sdk:metrics')
 
diff --git a/exporters/otlp/metrics/gradle.properties b/exporters/otlp/metrics/gradle.properties
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4476ae57e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/exporters/otlp/metrics/gradle.properties
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+otel.release=alpha
diff --git a/sdk/metrics/gradle.properties b/sdk/metrics/gradle.properties
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4476ae57e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sdk/metrics/gradle.properties
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+otel.release=alpha