Your crew is prepared to pour, and you have your best beers on hand. Then it hits you: you overlooked the one thing that would have given your booth a unique touch. It could be an essential piece of gear, a marketing necessity, or the one little thing that converts indifferent tasters into enthusiastic supporters.
You’re not alone if you’ve ever wondered what to bring to a craft beer festival booth. Festivals are exciting, busy occasions where there is intense competition for attendees’ attention.
What To Bring To A Craft Beer Festival Booth: A Brewer’s Ultimate Checklist
Along with making your day go more smoothly, having the ideal setup guarantees that you leave a lasting impression on each festival attendee. These are the necessary items (as well as some unique extras) on what to bring to a craft beer festival booth.
1. The Beer—And Not Too Much Of It!
Let’s start with the obvious — without beer, a craft beer booth cannot exist. Considering the possibility of repeat business as well as tastings, bring enough supplies to last the entire event. If the festival permits, think about exhibiting a variety of styles to show off your brewery’s versatility.
Pro Tip: Serve three types of beer: flagship, seasonal, and experimental. It maintains interest and promotes more in-depth discussions with guests.
2. Your Story
Don’t overlook the core of your brewery—your story—beyond the equipment and branding. People enjoy getting to know the people who make the beer. Bring a video looping behind the booth, pictures of your brewing process, or simply be prepared to explain how it all started. A simple tasting becomes a lifelong bond through storytelling.
3. Branded Canopy Or Tent
The first thing people see of you is your tent, which also serves as your home base. You can differentiate yourself from the sea of booths by using a branded tent that features your colors, tagline, and logo. A custom tent ought to be the first item on anyone’s list when they are looking around the festival grounds and wondering what to bring to a craft beer festival booth.
4. Branded Signage And Table Covers
Consider your tablecloths to be mobile billboards. They strengthen your brand identity and give your setup a polished, businesslike appearance. To highlight what you’re pouring, add banners, feather flags, or chalkboard menus. Attendees will find it easier to recall you after the event if your branding is more noticeable.
5. Cold Storage And Cooling Equipment
At a festival, nothing can damage your reputation more quickly than warm beer. Don’t forget to pack plenty of ice and coolers, kegerators, or jockey boxes. Your brews must remain crisp and refreshing.
Pro Tip: To prevent confusion during the rush, clearly label your coolers and kegs.
6. Glassware And Tasting Cups
Although many festivals offer sampling cups, it’s a great marketing strategy to bring your own branded tasting cups, if permitted. It keeps your logo in people’s hands long after the festival is over, and people love taking souvenirs home.
7. Staff Who Know Their Products
Just as crucial as the beer itself is the personnel at your booth. Bring a team that is informed, dynamic, and personable. Teach them to interact with customers authentically, explain flavor profiles, and tell your brewery’s story. It takes a lot of smiles and positive vibes to convert tasters into fans.
8. Merch To Offer Or Sell
Merchandise is one of the best ideas for what to bring to a craft beer festival booth. Merchandise, such as hats, T-shirts, koozies, and stickers, not only increases sales but also makes attendees into walking billboards for your brewery. Small giveaways like pins or bottle openers can help people remember your brand.
9. Sales Payment System
If you sell growlers, merchandise, or pints, you’ll need a dependable method of collecting payments. To prevent technical difficulties, make sure you have backup Wi-Fi or data, a mobile card reader, and a cash box with change. Telling someone you can’t take their money is the fastest way to ruin the atmosphere.
10. Elegantly Designed Menu
Before choosing where to stop at a festival, attendees frequently quickly scan the booths. That choice is facilitated by a menu that is well-designed and easy to understand. Emphasize each beer’s name, style, ABV, and a brief description. Extra points for imaginative names and intriguing descriptions that pique interest.
11. Water And Rinse Stations
Staying hydrated is essential for both you and your clients. Provide water so that guests can rinse their cups and stay hydrated. This enhances the tasting experience and demonstrates your concern for your clients’ welfare.
12. Other Materials And Equipment
Keep a survival kit on hand because outdoor events can be unpredictable. Consider duct tape, extension cords, paper towels, scissors, cleaning wipes, extra ice, and markers. These small extras frequently come in handy when unforeseen difficulties arise.
13. Evening Event Lighting
Remember lighting if the festival lasts into the evening. LED spotlights, lanterns, or string lights add ambiance to your booth and help you stay visible after dark. A well-lit booth draws more foot traffic in addition to having a polished appearance.
14. Lead Collection Tools
Don’t let the festival pass without making some important connections. To gather emails for your newsletter, bring a sign-up sheet, tablet, or QR code. To encourage sign-ups, provide a free pint, discount code, or raffle entry at your taproom.
Lead collection is frequently disregarded when considering what to bring to a craft beer festival booth, even though it’s one of the most effective marketing strategies you can use at home.
15. Places To Sit Or Relax
Think about setting up a tiny lounge area or bringing a few stools if there is room. Having a place to unwind and sip your beer is a hit with visitors. By encouraging people to stay at your booth longer, this small gesture gives you more chances to make connections.
Conclusion
It comes down to fusing creativity and practicality when deciding what to bring to a craft beer festival booth. Tents, cold storage, and tasting cups are essential. However, you also require the extras that add significance to your booth, such as merchandise, branding that is Instagram-worthy, interactive elements, and an engaging narrative.
The goal of outdoor beer festivals is to create memories, not just pour pints. You can concentrate more on what you do best—serving excellent beer and creating relationships that will last long after the festival is over—if you are well-prepared.
Use this checklist the next time you’re preparing for a festival, pack with assurance, and get ready to be the booth that people talk about long after the last pour is over.
