Branding & Marketing Tips

In today’s world, both websites and social media platforms are crucial for a brewery, bar, or restaurant’s online presence. However, consumer habits show distinct preferences for each, depending on the context of their search or interaction. 

In this guide, we’ll go over the basics, walk you through how to leverage these tools effectively, and show you how understanding these trends can help your venue better meet your customers’ expectations.

As a restaurant, bar, brewery, or any venue with a food and beverage program, having a modern, functional, and aesthetically pleasing website isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity.

No matter the size of your business, your new potential customers often interact with your website first—and first impressions matter. 

In this piece, we’ll explore the top website trends shaping the online presence of hospitality businesses in 2025. These trends will help your venue stand out and attract more customers while creating a unique and modern experience to establish the perfect guest experience from start to finish.

For bar owners, hospitality managers, and small business owners, selecting the right gin brands is more than just filling the shelves—it’s about curating a distinctive customer experience. Gin has soared in popularity, becoming a staple of modern cocktail culture. With its complex botanical infusions, gin offers versatile, memorable flavors that can attract a wide range of customers. But with so many choices available, which brands should you prioritize to bring out the best in your gin menu?

This guide explores the seven best gin brands that have proven themselves through quality, craftsmanship, and unique flavor profiles. By understanding what makes each brand special, you and your staff will be better equipped to create a standout gin selection that delights your patrons, reinforces your brand’s reputation with a robust gin drinks menu, and helps you continue crafting classic and innovative gin cocktails.

Crafting a gin drinks menu is a unique opportunity to showcase gin’s incredible versatility while attracting enthusiasts and newcomers to your establishment. A thoughtfully designed menu does more than list drinks—it enhances customer experiences, builds brand loyalty, and drives sales. This guide will explore the essentials of creating a compelling gin drinks menu that aligns with your brand and satisfies diverse customer preferences. From selecting suitable gin varieties and ingredients to designing the layout and pricing strategy, each step is geared toward bar owners, hospitality managers, and small business owners looking to elevate their offerings with an enhanced gin drinks menu.

As a bar owner, hospitality manager, or small business owner in the service industry, the quality of your spirits can make or break your customer experience. Vodka, as one of the most versatile and widely consumed spirits, is a staple that can enhance both your cocktail menu and bottom line. But with countless brands vying for attention, choosing the best vodka brands for your establishment can be challenging. You need vodkas that cater to a variety of tastes and price points while maintaining quality.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the seven best vodka brands from mainstream to premium that should be on your radar. Each offers unique advantages that can elevate your bar offerings and improve customer satisfaction.

Designing an exceptional vodka drinks menu can significantly impact the success of your bar or restaurant. Vodka is one of the most versatile spirits, known for its neutral taste, which makes it adaptable to various flavor profiles. Whether managing a bustling nightclub, a cozy restaurant, or a casual bar, having a well-crafted vodka drinks menu can enhance customer experience, increase sales, and keep patrons coming back.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through the steps of designing a vodka drinks menu that appeals to a wide range of tastes and aligns with your brand identity and operational goals. From understanding your target audience to creating a balanced selection of classic and signature cocktails, this article will provide the tools necessary for designing a vodka drinks menu that stands out.

Curating the perfect wine list is an art; pricing those wines is a science.

The delicate dance between offering diverse and appealing wine varieties while ensuring profitability requires a strategic approach. This comprehensive guide will unravel the intricacies of pricing wine for your restaurant, bar, or business.

Whether you are a brand-new restaurant owner or an expert sommelier, understanding the factors that influence wine pricing is crucial for both customer satisfaction and the financial health of your establishment.

From integrating wine prices seamlessly into your menu strategy to deciphering the impact of production costs, this article will provide you with actionable insights and proven strategies. We’ll explore how to strike the perfect balance between providing value to your patrons and optimizing your profit margins.

Let’s uncork the secrets of effective wine pricing.

UPDATED: 2/26/2024

Without a doubt the craft beer industry has faced some serious headwinds over the past few years. Overall, the Brewers Association reports that in 2022 the industry has seen “mixed signs of recovery.” According to the organization’s Year in Beer 2022, there are now 9,500 breweries operating in the United States, with 550+ new ones opening and only 200+ closing in 2022.

With so many breweries in the marketplace, the road to success isn’t the unpaved path it used to be. We’ve seen former financial advisors, consultants, head brewers, and many more all begin their own businesses. But whether you’re looking at a serious career change or a brewer taking the next step, the question remains the same: Where do you begin when figuring out how to start a brewery?

In this comprehensive guide, we’ve laid out all the important considerations and steps you’ll need to take if you’re looking to open your own taproom or production space.

UPDATED: 2/22/24

Bar games conjure a variety of mental images. Visions of darts and billiards evoke the dive bar aesthetic, reminding us of a time the beer-and-skeeball combo was exclusive to reluctant parents at Chuck E. Cheese. But as Bob Dylan once said, “these times, they are a’changing!” And in 2024, offering the right game at your bar and brewery can have a huge impact on cultivating clientele.

The concept of bar and brewery games dates back to the 6th and 5th centuries B.C. when Ancient Greeks could be found playing Kottabos, a game that involved flinging wine sediment at targets in exchange for prizes.

Today, more than ever, people are looking for that ‘x’ factor when it comes to visiting a brewery, bar, or taproom. It’s no longer enough to just make or serve great beer, unfortunately. Don’t get us wrong. That certainly helps. But when people go out to spend their hard-earned money, they’re looking for more from the hospitality industry.

“I think that taprooms are going to have to innovate more than ever as consumers migrate back from taprooms to traditional bars,” predicts West Sixth Brewing Co-Founder Brady Barlow. “Events are key. Increased community engagement is key. Food helps, for sure.”

Games continue to attract patrons and keep them coming back for more. And while the concept of pairing games and alcohol is ancient, bar and brewery owners are concocting new ideas for what the pairing can look like in modern taprooms.

Keeping games on hand gives guests a reason to stay longer (and thus spend more) while elevating the customer experience, making your taproom a destination. Having theme nights and group games as a recurring event increases engagement, and can be used to create a regular crowd on what would otherwise be a slower night.

Depending on your free space, clientele, and overall vibe, your choice of games may change. One thing is sure: introducing games adds something unique for patrons to enjoy and creates a deeper sense of community as guests interact in ways that get them talking, laughing, and connecting not just to one another but to your establishment and brand.

While most bars and breweries provide games free of charge, others choose a paid system with a per-game or day-pass fee. These fees are nominal (between $1.50-$5.00) but can add up and require minimal investment. Others, like Cleveland, Ohio’s Tabletop Board Game Cafe, off year-long memberships for around $25, giving patrons a reason to return on a regular basis.

If you’re looking to make your bar, brewery, or taproom a bit more fun and up your food and beverage sales, try bringing some of these games on board.