How to Host a Beer Tasting Party
I’ve got a UNIQUE idea for you beer lovers out there, that’s perfect for a mans birthday, a casual weekend gathering, or fun football or tailgate party ‘activity’. With the popularity of flavored beers I thought it would be fun to set up your own Beer Flavoring bar so guests could mix their own.
The idea makes great sense because you don’t have to buy 3 or 4 packs of beer in different flavors, plus guests can try something new. This idea compliments the Beer Tasting party I did also using football or tailgating as a backdrop, so check that out as well. Meanwhile, check out my tips for hosting your own beer flavoring party, below…
Ideas & Tips for hosting a Beer Tasting Party:
- This works best using Lager and/or Ale beers. The flavorings require a beer that has some body to it, but dark beers are too heavy and light beers are too weak.
- In general, combine a 12 oz beer with 2 ounces of juice. You may want to start with 1 ounce of juice first, to make sure it’s to your liking.
- I chose juices based on some classic combinations already: lime juice, lemonade {not lemon juice}, orange juice, tomato juice.
Decor:
- Since this is football season, I dressed the table for a tailgate {or ‘homegate’} party using turf grass as a table cover. You can get this at Lowes where they cut it by the foot, which gives you the custom size you need.
- Other cheering paraphernalia is added in keeping with the football feel, and striped take-out boxes look like referee shirts. Yellow napkins are placed inside and resemble penalty flags. The boxes are filled with shelled peanuts and pig skins {a play on the term used for a football}.
- Pour juice into small carafes, re-purposed bottles, or pitchers and insert a pennant label into the coordinating fruit for a cute visual.
- Get large glasses like I used here, for $1 each at the Dollar Tree.
- For a simple centerpiece I filled small bottles with flowers and tied on metal tags that spell out “BEER.” Use paper tags for the same look if you can’t find something like this.
MY TASTING NOTES: I did try all the combinations and enjoyed them all except the tomato juice. I know it’s a classic combo called a Red Eye, but it just wasn’t my thing. The lime + Lager was light and refreshing like a Mexican beer, while the lemonade + Ale was also great and reminded me of Summer. The orange juice + Lager was surprisingly good much like a mimosa!
For more inspiration, follow me on Pinterest, and Twitter. Cheers!
Great ideas Chris. I’m always looking to change things up in the beer department!
You are so clever!!! Love this idea as would Mr. Lockard. Cheers!
Thanks for the idea! We are having a football season kick-off / microbrew party this Satruday and I snagged some of your ideas. I could not find chinese take-out boxes but found black and white striped popcorn bags at Party City. Also the turf was a little spendy, so I took a green plastic tablecloth and used white duct tape to make a football field complete with yard lines on it. Super cute!!
Sounds fun Dana. Glad I could inspire you!
Love this for a sophisticated bachelor party or even for a couples shower, great idea!
Thanks, Robyn. You’re right – so many possibilities!
I’m not a beer fan but I like the fruit labels. Clever little touch.
Tiffany, the great thing about those is that you can use them for a juice bar too 🙂
This is really cute + clever! Love the little flags + beer sign!
Thanks Courtney. I love that $1 aisle at Michaels (with the beer tags). So many items to inspire!
i have been following your blog for awhile now. I love your ideas…this might be one of my favorites…love the peanut boxes and the fruit as the stands…thank you for sharing!
Thank you Amy. That’s great to hear (read)!
Love this idea–esp for someone like me who is not a huge beer drinker. Flavoring it up would def help sway me to have one!
how fun! love the fruit to show the flavorings!
Thanks Elissa. That could work for a juice bar or champagne bar too.
This is so neat! What a great idea….would love to try it 🙂
Try is Chandra. You guys will have fun with it!