The Best Craft Beers for Every Taste
When it comes to stocking your bar, choosing the best craft beers can completely transform your drinks menu. Craft beer brands are no longer a niche; they are a must-have in venues across the UK. They offer distinctive flavours, eye-catching branding, and a customer experience that drives footfall, boosts margins, and keeps people talking. In this guide, we’ll cover why craft beer matters, what to stock, and how to make the most of it in your venue.
Why Craft Beer Matters in Venues
The rise of popular craft beers reflects real shifts in consumer preferences. Customers are more adventurous, more informed and keen to try unique beers.
Here’s why your venue should care:
Wider appeal: Craft beer attracts diverse customers including younger drinkers, enthusiasts and tourists.
Stronger margins: These beers often command higher prices thanks to their quality and premium perception.
Brand identity: Stocking reputable craft beer brands aligns your venue with a modern, quality-led image.
Repeat business: Rotating selections and seasonal styles encourage customers to come back to see what’s new.
Whether you manage a city bar, a countryside pub or a food-led venue, craft beer makes a clear business case.
Best Craft Beers On The Market
With so many choices out there, it helps to focus on a curated range that balances flavour, appeal, and supplier reliability. Below are top recommendations from the Value for Venues selection.
IPA / Pale Ale
Beavertown Neck Oil – Session IPA (4.3%, Can & Keg)
Brewery: Beavertown, London
Why it’s great: A gateway IPA with juicy tropical hops and a smooth finish. At 4.3% ABV, it’s sessionable and crowd-friendly.
Pair with: Burgers, loaded fries or grilled halloumi.
Best for: Trend-forward bars and pubs aiming to capture craft lovers and casual drinkers alike.
American Pale Ale (APA)
Beavertown Gamma Ray – APA (5.4%)
Brewery: Beavertown
Why it’s great: More intense than Neck Oil, this APA features citrus and stone-fruit hops. A solid choice for customers wanting a bolder beer.
Pair with: Fish tacos, veggie wraps or herby sausages.
Best for: Venues with craft-savvy customers looking for distinctive choices.
Lager
Greene King Flint Eye – Dry-Hopped Lager (4.5%)
Brewery: Westgate Brewery, Bury St Edmunds
Why it’s great: Combines traditional lager crispness with gentle hop character. Familiar yet exciting.
Pair with: Classic dishes like fish and chips or a light Caesar salad.
Best for: Pubs needing an easy-sell craft lager that doesn’t alienate traditionalists.
Hazy IPA
Greene King Hazy Day – Hazy Pale Ale (4.3%)
Brewery: Greene King
Why it’s great: A juicy, fruit-forward hazy pale ale. Delivers on trend while maintaining accessibility.
Pair with: Creamy cheeses, citrusy salads or roast vegetables.
Best for: Venues seeking stylish, Instagram-friendly beer offerings.
Session IPA
Greene King Level Head – Session IPA (4.0%)
Brewery: Greene King’s Westgate Brewery
Why it’s great: Easy-drinking and beautifully balanced with grapefruit and tropical notes. It’s versatile enough to suit varied palates.
Pair with: Fish tacos, chicken skewers or lightly spiced burgers.
Best for: Venues that need a crowd-pleasing craft beer without going overboard on ABV or bitterness.
Seasonal Ales
Greene King Seasonal Craft Range
Brewery: Greene King
Why it’s great: Limited-edition seasonal beers keep things fresh and give customers a reason to return.
Pair with: Sharing boards, light salads or fruit-forward desserts.
Best for: Venues looking to stand out on social media and experiment with limited-run flavours.
Browse our entire beer selection.
Stocking Tips and Supplier Considerations
Choosing how and what to stock should align with your venue’s style and capacity.
Core vs. rotation: Keep favourites like Neck Oil or Level Head on tap, and rotate one or two others based on season or availability.
Serving formats: Keg and can formats are easiest to manage. Cask ales add heritage appeal but require a bit more care.
Supplier support: Use your Value for Venues rep to arrange samples or get sales advice based on local trends.
How to Market Your Craft Beer Selection
Your beer list can be a talking point. Try these tactics:
Tasting events: Invite customers to try multiple styles with food pairings.
Menu design: Use tasting notes and brewery backstories to create appeal when creating your menu.
Staff knowledge: Train your team on flavour descriptions so they can upsell with confidence.
Social media: Share updates on new taps, seasonal specials and behind-the-bar content to build excitement.
Stocking best-selling craft beers is a strategy to raise your venue’s profile, margins and repeat visits. Whether you start with a few sessionable options like Level Head and Neck Oil, or go full throttle with a rotating craft tap, your customers will appreciate the effort. Monitor sales, rotate wisely and turn your venue into a destination for beer lovers.
Speak to Value for Venues today to boost your craft beer sales.
FAQs
What are the most popular craft beer styles to stock?
The go-to styles include IPAs, pale ales and modern lagers. Seasonal sours and limited-edition ales add variety and excitement.
How do I choose the right craft beer brands for my venue?
Start with familiar, sessionable styles then test one or two adventurous brews. Ask your beer supplier for samples and see what sells best.
What food pairs well with craft beer?
Craft beer pairs brilliantly with pub classics like burgers, spicy dishes and roasted meats. Lighter beers suit fish and salads, while sours work with desserts.
Are craft beers profitable for venues?
Yes. Customers expect to pay a bit more, and that added margin boosts your bottom line. Craft also drives higher engagement and loyalty.
How can I promote craft beers effectively in my venue?
Highlight them on your menu, create tasting notes, run events and use social media to build buzz around your latest arrivals.
