How to Create the Perfect Draft List

The beer game is booming, bigger than it ever has been. No matter the style of the restaurant, customers all across the country expect to see a variety of options available when they dine out. Curating a draft list can seem a little daunting at first, but have no fear, with this list of tips, you’ll be a pro at selecting the perfect combination of draft beer to keep your customers thirsty for more, all the while showcasing them in a stylish, eye-catching way. 

Start With The List

It might seem like a no-brainer, but the physical (or digital–it is 2022, after all) presentation of your draft list is going to set the expectation from the beginning. Take some time to think long and hard about how your draft list is organized and set up. Here are a few quick tips:

• Most draft lists are organized by beer variety. There’s no explicit reason to deviate from this – this style of breaking things up will make it easy for your guests. 
• Within these categories, consider how you might organize the list. Do you want to organize them by gravity? Flavor profile? Subtypes within a variety? There are no wrong choices here, provided you’re doing it intentionally.
• Make the list look polished. Instead of just printing off a piece of paper, take some time to find the right presentation. If your draft list is the focus of your beverage program, show it off in its own slick presentation. If you’re curating the draft selection within a wider bar program, create a nice, clean bar menu and save a special spot for your beer list.
• Use a menu maker like MustHaveMenus to easily design your draft menu. With 20,000 templates, there’s bound to be something that fits the vibe of your brewery. 

Show Off Your Range

Beer comes in dozens of styles, and beer aficionados love to have lots of options. In recent years, India Pale Ales in particular have become a popular choice, but don’t let the demand fool you. From scotch ales to goses, there are many niche options to choose from that will have your beer fans frothing at the mouth. It’s good to start with a baseline, so be sure to hit the classics; you’re going to want a nice lager, a white ale, a pilsner, at least one IPA, and maybe a light beer or two for the more calorie-conscious drinkers. Beyond that, though, let your imagination run wild! Experiment with a few unusual sours, an oatmeal stout, or a fruit beer. 

If you really want to demonstrate range or show off your more unique selections, consider adding a section to your beer menu for flights! Beer flights are more popular than ever and coupled with an attractive presentation, you can curate unique elements within each dining experience. 

There are lots of options when it comes to theming your flights. Choose the best beers of the season, pick a specific variety or style and show off a few options, or choose a few truly unique offerings and show them off. Attention to detail like your beer flights will make each dining experience special and have beer lovers returning time and again.

Check Out The Scene

Lots of cities all across the country have favorite local breweries, and when curating a unique draft list, these places should be your first stops. Anyone can just peruse a website or pop into a tap room, but you should take the initiative and try to meet with someone from the brewery in advance. Talk to them about their craft and find out what they’re passionate about! Lots of breweries also have weird brews they create as passion projects, too. Ask them to keep you updated, and show them that you want to host what they make. If they’re in a really unique territory, maybe even ask them how they’d organize a flight of their own beers! Your relationship with local breweries is an unalloyed boon, tend to it and watch it bloom.

Ask Some Locals

When you’re building your draft list, you have a team you can lean on! Your service staff likely already know a decent bit about beer varieties, if they’ve worked in the business for long, but they’re customers too. Ask your front-of-house team what they think is worth cultivating on your list. By giving them some creative input, not only are they likely to feel a sense of ownership, but they’ve also probably got an inside scoop on beer options you’ve never heard of. This knowledge is crucial for creating something truly unique, and teamwork will make it even easier for them to share that knowledge with your guests.

Create Your Draft List

With this information in mind, it’s time to get started on the draft list for your brewery, bar, or full-service restaurant. With an excellent, eye-catching design and a unique list of delicious beers, you can turn new guests into loyal, beer-loving customers with ease. 

Photo Credit Flickr/Bernt Rostad