What to buy for a beer tasting

A beer tasting needs more than a selection of bottles. You will need enough tasting glasses, water, cooling space, serving equipment and clear labels so guests can compare each beer without confusion. Plan one tasting glass per beer style or round, plus water glasses for every guest. This shopping list covers the practical supplies that are easy to overlook, including bottle openers, beer cards, table equipment and waste bins.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 45
Registration desk
High tablesqty 4

Tableware

Sample glassesqty 180
Water glassesqty 50
Platesqty 50
Cutlery setsqty 50
Serving plattersqty 8
Pitcherqty 4

Equipment

Coolersqty 6
Refrigerator thermometerqty 2
Coffee maker
Kettle
Bluetooth speaker
Extension cordsqty 3
Power stripsqty 3

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 3
Chef's knifeqty 2
Bread knife
Serving tongsqty 4
Measuring cupsqty 2
Bottle openersqty 6
Waste binsqty 4

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 8
Name badgesqty 50
Beer ticketsqty 10
Menu Boardqty 2
Buntingqty 6
Tealight holdersqty 12

Catering

Groceries
- Pilsener - 24 bottles
- Weizenbier - 24 bottles
- Blond beer - 24 bottles
- Tripel - 24 bottles
- IPA - 24 bottles
- Double - 24 bottles
- Stout - 24 bottles
- Alcohol-free beer - 24 bottles
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Tonic - 4 bottles
- Ginger beer - 4 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 8 bottles
- Spa Red - 4 bottles
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea bags - 1 box
- Sugar - 1 pack
- Milk - 4 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Lemons - 8 pieces
- Ice cubes - 10 kilograms
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Butter - 500 grams
- Brie - 1 kilogram
- Aged cheese - 1.5 kilograms
- Aged cheese - 1,5 kilogram
- Blue cheese - 750 gram
- Dried sausage - 1 kilogram
- Fuet - 750 grams
- Hummus - 1 kilogram
- Olives - 1 kilogram
- Pickles - 2 jars
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Pretzels - 4 bags
- Salted peanuts - 3 bags
- Unsalted nuts - 2 bags
- Grapes - 2 kilogram
- Apples - 3 kilograms
- Perfection sugar - 1 pack
- Mayonnaise - 1 bottle
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Pepper - 1 grinder
- Salt - 1 pack
- Napkins - 250 pieces
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Aluminum foil - 1 roll
- Cling film - 1 roll
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Cleaning spray - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Microfiber cloths - 10 pieces
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Hand soap - 3 bottles
- Paper towels - 4 packs
- Bandages - 1 pack

Tips

Plan at least one tasting glass per beer served in a round, and keep a few extra glasses available in case one breaks or needs replacing.
Allow one water glass per guest and place a pitcher on each tasting table. Guests need water between beers, especially when several rounds are served.
Check cold storage before buying the beer. A standard refrigerator or cooler should have enough room to chill the bottles without leaving food and drinks competing for space.
Buy or prepare one beer card or label for every beer, including its name, style and serving order. Print these before the event so bottles do not get mixed up during setup.
Provide at least one bottle opener per tasting table, plus waste bins near the tables. Missing openers and overflowing bottles are two problems that usually appear only after the first round starts.

Frequently asked questions

How many tasting glasses do I need per person?: For a simple tasting, one tasting glass per person is enough if you rinse or replace it between rounds. For five beers served without washing glasses, plan five tasting glasses per person, plus 10% extra.
How much water should I buy for a beer tasting?: Allow at least 500 ml of water per guest for a tasting of up to three hours. Provide one water glass per person and keep extra water available for refilling pitchers.
How many bottle openers do I need for a beer tasting?: Use at least one bottle opener per tasting table, with one spare at the serving area. For four tables, prepare five openers so one lost or broken opener does not stop the tasting.
When should I chill the beer for a tasting?: Move the beer into cold storage at least 12 hours before the tasting when possible. Check the temperature and serving order on the day itself, then keep each round cold until it is ready to pour.

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