What to Buy for a Beer Tasting

A beer tasting needs more than a selection of bottles. You’ll need enough tasting glasses, chilled storage, water, snacks and clear materials so guests can compare beers without confusion. Plan supplies around the number of guests and the number of beers being sampled. The easily forgotten items are spit buckets, spare pens, serving tools and enough fridge or cooler space to keep the tasting order intact.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 50
Tableclothsqty 8

Tableware

Beer tasting glassesqty 60
Water glassesqty 60
Platesqty 60
Cutlery setsqty 60
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving tongsqty 6
Spit bucketsqty 8
Waste binsqty 6

Kitchen

Water carafesqty 8
Serving jugsqty 8
Measuring cupsqty 8
Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knifeqty 4
Corkscrewsqty 2

Equipment

Coolersqty 6
Refrigeratorsqty 2
Speaker
Microphone
Extension cordsqty 3
Power stripsqty 3
Coolersqty 4

Decorations

Sample cardsqty 60
Menusqty 8
Table numbersqty 8
Name stickersqty 60
Table signsqty 8
Pensqty 60
Clipboardsqty 8

Lighting

Table lampsqty 8

Cleaning

Dish brushesqty 4
Bucketsqty 4
Dishclothsqty 12
Cleaning clothsqty 12

Catering

Groceries
- Pilsener - 12 bottles
- White beer - 12 bottles
- Weizen - 12 bottles
- IPA - 12 bottles
- Pale ale - 12 bottles
- Double - 12 bottles
- Tripel - 12 bottles
- Stout - 12 bottles
- Alcohol-free beer - 24 bottles
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Ginger beer - 6 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 12 bottles
- Sparkling water - 8 bottles
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Milk - 4 liters
- Lemons - 12 pieces
- Aged cheese - 2 kilograms
- Brie - 1 kilogram
- Goat cheese - 750 grams
- Dry sausage - 1.5 kilogram
- Smoked almonds - 1 kilogram
- Salted peanuts - 1 kilogram
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Pretzels - 6 bags
- Olives - 1,5 kilogram
- Grapes - 2 kilogram
- Apples - 30 pieces
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Butter - 500 grams
- Hummus - 1 kilogram
- Cucumbers - 6 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilograms
- Mayonnaise - 1 bottle
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Salt - 1 pack
- Pepper - 1 can
- Ice cubes - 20 kilograms
- Napkins - 300 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 3 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Rinse aid - 1 bottle
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Paper towels - 6 rolls

Tips

Allow one tasting glass per guest for a simple setup, or one glass per beer if you want to avoid rinsing between samples. For six beers and 20 guests, that means either 20 or 120 glasses.
Plan about 75–100 ml of each beer per guest for tasting. For 20 guests and six beers, buy or allocate at least 9–12 litres in total, then add a small margin for spills and refills.
Provide one water glass and regular water access for every guest. Set out bread or another plain palate cleanser between flights, rather than relying only on beer and snacks.
Use at least one spit bucket for every 8–10 guests, especially when several strong beers are included. Put waste bins close to the tasting tables so used napkins, plates and empty packaging do not collect on the tables.
Check cooling capacity before placing the beer order. Keep enough refrigerator or cooler space for all bottles or cans in tasting order, and arrange labels, menus, sample cards and pens before guests arrive.

Frequently asked questions

How much beer do I need for a beer tasting?: Allow 75–100 ml of each beer per guest. For 20 guests tasting six beers, plan for 9–12 litres in total, plus a small buffer for spills and extra pours.
How many glasses do I need for a beer tasting?: Buy or borrow at least one tasting glass per guest. If you are serving six beers without rinsing glasses between samples, you need six glasses per guest instead.
How many snacks should I buy for a beer tasting?: Provide roughly 100–150 g of snacks per guest when the tasting is not a full meal. Include enough plain bread or similar palate cleanser for guests to take a small portion between beers.
When should I chill the beer for a tasting?: Move the beer into refrigeration or coolers at least 12–24 hours before the tasting. Keep the bottles or cans in their planned tasting order and leave enough space for stable chilling.

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