How to

Host a Craft Beer Party

Grab a few growlers or six-packs, call up some friends and perfect your craft of craft-beer tasting. Here’s how to host a great party with craft beer as the guest of honor.

PICK YOUR BEER

First, decide on a theme for your beer-tasting party. Want to try the local flavor or take your taste buds abroad? It’s entirely up to you! We suggest exploring the nuances of three-to-six beer styles, from light, bright Hefeweizens to rich chocolate stouts. Assign your guests one type of beer to bring, or you can pick up growlers from your neighborhood brewery or bottles from around the world.

ROUND UP YOUR FRIENDS

From beer aficionados to amateurs alike, everyone loves a good craft-beer tasting. It feels a little less formal than its wine counterpart but can be equally as sophisticated. Set a table for a full-on seated tasting, or have different stations set up so that people can stand and casually mingle.

GRAB THE RIGHT GLASSES

You have a couple options here, depending on how much beer you and your guests want to drink.  If you’re tasting more than three beers, try tasters in the form of shot glasses. If you want to fully experience each beer, you’ll want a proper glass for every kind. A few sets of imperial pint, stout, pilsner, tulip, Hefeweizen and stein glasses are a good starter kit. (To learn how to pour each individual beer like a pro, watch this.)

PLAN YOUR PAIRINGS

Have small bites that pair well with the types of beer you’re serving – they will help keep your guests full and their palates cleansed. And have water on hand – lots of water. Artisanal flatbreads go well with IPAs and smoked pork sliders are ideal for stouts. For no-fuss meal prep, stock up on cheese and crackers and suggest an assortment of beer-and-cheese parings. Just remember to let the flavors complement, not overpower, one another. (Read how to assemble a cheese platter here.)

PLAY A GAME

At any fun get-together, a little friendly competition goes a long way. End the event on a high note with a blind taste test to see who can identify the most beers, or a brew-centric trivia. (Did you know that cenosillicaphobia is the fear of an empty beer glass?)

Want to throw a beer-tasting party, but not sure where to start? Our Design Crew can help you stock the essentials, set up the space and even plan your menu – all for free!