What advantages does craft beer offer for the hospitality industry?

With the growth of craft beer, more and more restaurants are offering new styles. However, craft beer is still a niche product. The big brewing giants work with exclusivity clauses that prevent new brands from entering hospitality businesses. Even so, after reading this article you’ll surely consider introducing at least one craft beer in your venue.

The best restaurants always have a wine list with extraordinary references, capable of seducing the most demanding diners. We must also bear in mind that the price of these wines is usually high, but no one is surprised. We all understand that a sirloin or a roast is elevated by a quality wine. In contrast, few high-end restaurants also have a quality beer list. It’s no secret that the best beer is infinitely cheaper than the best wine, while the result is just as, if not more, satisfying.

In this sense, beer offers the same, if not more, pairing possibilities than wine. The combination of its four ingredients (water, barley malt, hops and yeast) gives beer an infinite variety of aromas, flavors and textures. Unlike the typical international lager, craft beer offers a wide range of sensory experiences. Its value for food pairing in hospitality lies in this versatility. Different beer styles allow you to pair any meal from start to finish. The right beer not only accompanies the dish, it enhances it.

In addition, offering craft beer is a differentiating factor compared to the competition, whose offering is usually limited to pouring standard draft beer and stocking a few mass-market bottled brands. Having craft beer gives your business an exclusive edge. It’s a gourmet product capable of building customer loyalty and creating new consumption habits. This turns craft beer into a tourist attraction. Who doesn’t enjoy the local food when they travel? The same goes for beer. If a given business offers a special, local beer, its popularity is likely to grow.

These are some of the reasons why introducing craft beer in hospitality is a good decision. Perhaps the first barrier is a lack of knowledge about the product, but any manufacturer or distributor will help you overcome it. You can also consult other professionals and experts for advice. Craft beer is a bet on both the future and the present. Little by little, you’ll see how your customers respond to it.