How To Navigate a Craft Beer Tasting Room

Face it, trying a new craft beer can be an enlightening experience or downright disgusting. Finding out the hard way Simcoe hops aren’t for you is no fun when you spent $12.00 on a six pack. Breweries are hip and smart to offer tasting rooms that give us a place to try out their line up and debut one off specialities, collaborations, movie nights, fundraisers, food trucks and more. Tasting rooms have become a community space of like minded drinkers.

First time tasting room visitors, this is for you! We’ve got a few tips to help make your experience rock.
Use the buddy system! If you’ve got a friend who is a craft beer connoisseur, ask them to go with you. (They’ll probably say yes.) They can tell you all kinds of things that will enhance your experience.
Go early. Fridays at 4:45pm are hopping (pun intended!) and first time tasting room visitors could feel like it’s a craft beer herd of cattle. It’s busy, lines move fast and it isn’t the time to stand around talking to the employee pouring samples about the home brew system your dad’s cousin built in his barn! We suggest if you really want to learn about the beer, give the brewery a call to see when their tasting hours are slow so you can chat and learn. It might be a Wednesday or Thursday but totally worth it to enjoy the

• Wear real shoes. This may sound silly, however flip flops on polished concrete floors aren’t safe stone cold sober, let alone after trying a brewery’s line up of tasty brews.
• Get a growler to go if it’s available. You’ve had a chance to try some new things, what better way to keep the experience going? Drinking fresh beer at home is cheaper, safer, and just as enjoyable as going out. Growler refills are cheaper, so you can take it back to fill up on more delicious beer later! Logo pint glasses are fun too.
• Be social. Tasting rooms are a great way to meet new people. Check in on FourSquare, Twitter, Facebook, Untappd – whatever you use and let your friends know you’re there!
  
  Tasting rooms might seem daunting at first, but they can be a source of fun and discovery. You’ll be able to try things in small doses and decide what you really like before splurging for an entire six pack, bomber or pint at the pub.

P.S. Ladies – you’ll get a lot of attention with an empty growler at your desk waiting for a refill after work!