What to Buy for a Beer Tasting

A beer tasting needs more than a selection of bottles. Plan the serving equipment, water, tasting cards and snacks alongside the beer so guests can compare styles comfortably and reset their palate. Buy enough tasting glasses for each guest, plus water glasses and a way to discard unfinished pours. The quantities below help you shop without leaving essentials such as bottle openers, ice or printed labels until the last minute.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 32
High tablesqty 3
Tableclothqty 6

Tableware

Beer tasting glassesqty 36
Water glassesqty 36
Platesqty 40
Cutlery setsqty 40
Serving boardsqty 6
Pitcherqty 4

Equipment

Coolersqty 4
Bottle openersqty 6
Bluetooth speaker
Extension cordsqty 2
Power stripsqty 2

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 3
Chef’s knives and bread knivesqty 4
Storage binsqty 8
Serving tongsqty 6
Measuring cupsqty 2

Decorations

Beer style cardsqty 8
Table numbersqty 6
Practice matsqty 36
Menu boardsqty 3

Lighting

String lightsqty 3
Table lampsqty 4

Catering

Water jugsqty 4
Spit bucketsqty 8
Ice cube traysqty 4
Coffee maker
Thermos flasksqty 3
Groceries
- Pilsner - 10 bottles
- Weizen - 10 bottles
- Wheat beer - 10 bottles
- Blond beer - 10 bottles
- Tripel - 10 bottles
- IPA - 10 bottles
- Double - 10 bottles
- Stout - 10 bottles
- Alcohol-free beer - 12 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 12 bottles
- Spa Rood - 12 bottles
- Cola - 4 bottles
- Cola Zero - 4 bottles
- Tonic - 2 bottles
- Apple juice - 3 packs
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 4 liters
- Sugar - 1 pack
- Lemons - 8 pieces
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Toast rounds - 8 packs
- Soft Cheese - 2 Kilograms
- Aged cheese - 2 kilogram
- Blue cheese - 1 kilogram
- Dry sausage - 1.5 kilogram
- Vegetarian spread - 6 tubs
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Salted peanuts - 3 bags
- Mixed nuts - 3 bags
- Green olives - 2 jars
- Pickles - 2 jars
- Grapes - 3 kilograms
- Apples - 3 kilograms
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Hand soap - 2 bottles
- Ice cubes - 12 bags

Cleaning

Dishpanqty 2
Dish brushesqty 3
Cleaning clothsqty 12
Hand brush and dustpan

Tips

Allow 10–15 cl of beer per person for each tasting round. For six beers and 10 guests, that is 6–9 litres if everyone receives a full tasting pour, with extra bottles if you want to repeat pours.
Buy or borrow one tasting glass per guest, plus 2–4 spare glasses. Add one water glass per person and at least one water station for every 10–15 guests.
Chill the beers several hours before guests arrive, but keep beers for later rounds in coolers with ice. Bring at least two bottle openers so opening bottles does not slow down the tasting.
Print one tasting card and one beer label for every participant or tasting station. Include the beer name, style, serving order and space for notes before the first guests arrive.
Plan two or three small snack portions per person for the first hour, such as bread or other palate-friendly food. Prepare serving boards, plates, tongs and cutting boards in advance so snacks do not compete with the tasting setup.

Frequently asked questions

How much beer do I need for a beer tasting?: For tasting pours of 10–15 cl, calculate 0.6–0.9 litres per guest for six beers. For 10 guests, buy at least 6–9 litres, plus one or two extra bottles if you expect generous pours or repeat tastings.
How many glasses do I need for a beer tasting?: Plan one beer tasting glass per guest and keep 2–4 spare glasses available. For 20 guests, prepare 22–24 tasting glasses, along with 20 water glasses.
How long before a beer tasting should I chill the beer?: Put the beers in the refrigerator at least 4–6 hours before the tasting. Beers for later rounds can stay in coolers with ice, but do not chill every bottle at once if the tasting includes different serving temperatures.
What food should I buy for a beer tasting?: Plan two or three small snack portions per person for the first hour, using simple palate-friendly foods and enough plates or serving boards. For 12 guests, prepare roughly 24–36 snack portions and keep water available throughout.

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