If you’re looking for a fun and different way to celebrate the fourth of July this year, I have the perfect party idea that is so much fun and easy to put together at the last minute too! Get ready to celebrate with some red, white, and BREW! This 4th of July beer tasting party is a great way to get all of your friends together, head outside, and celebrate America’s birthday with a cold one! 😉
I’m always on the hunt for new fourth of July party ideas and this one is PERFECT for those warm summer months!
If you’re not very familiar with different beers, don’t be intimidated! You don’t have to be a beer connoisseur to host a 4th of July beer tasting party or enjoy sampling and rating new or favorite beers. With a few simple tips and some free downloads, you’ll be able to put together this fun gathering in no time!
Choose to serve as many beer varieties that you’d like, but I’d recommend anywhere from 3-6 different types. That will give your guests enough to try and compare.
You can have your guests bring their favorite unlabeled beer with them (kind of like a beer pot luck) or choose to pick all of them yourself so that your guests don’t have any hints about what they’re drinking.
When selecting your beers, try to include a light beer, a pale ale, an amber ale, and a darker beer as well, like a stout or porter. For something fun and different add a sour beer into the tasting!
Serve the different beers in plain growlers or cover up the bottles with simple paper lunch bags, to prevent guests from seeing the brands and labels. Using these printable bottle labels, number each growler or bag and tie up the tops with string or twine.
Pour sample sized portions into tasting glasses for your guests. I used these tasting cups and LOVED them. They’re disposable, but also sturdy enough to wash and re-use again and again. (A good sample size is about 3-4 oz. So one regular beer bottle will pour about 3-4 servings).
Download and print these 4th of July themed beer tasting score cards for your guests to use when sampling and rating the different beers. Don’t forget to have enough pens or pencils on hand for everyone to use too!
Have your party guests compare flavors and aromas, add tasting notes, and rate the different varieties. After everyone has sampled them all, compare the favorites and present the different beers. Have full bottles for guests to choose from and drink when the tasting portion ends.
While drinking, definitely have some salty snacks on hand for your guests. They pair perfectly with beer!
They don’t have to be complicated. Pick menu items that are easy to eat with one hand and are not super messy, so that guests can sample at the same time!
Popcorn, chips, and pretzels with different dips are all great choices and really easy to throw together before the party! A charcuterie board would also be a great salty snack idea!
If you want to serve something with a little more substance, grill some sliders and top them with macaroni and cheese for a fun twist! (These beer burgers would also be great!)
For something sweet, beer brownies or a beer cake are always a good idea too!
For the 4th of July beer tasting party decor, stick with red, white, and blue, of course! Stars, stripes, and American flags are easy ways to add a festive touch! Have matching plates and napkins out for your guests too, which can double as festive additions to the decor. (The Target dollar section is always a good place to find fun and inexpensive party decor!)
Place some sparklers around your party space so that your guests can celebrate the 4th of July with some firework fun!
A 4th of July beer tasting party is a fun and easy way to get outside and celebrate the star spangled holiday with friends! It’s also a great way to learn more about different beer varieties, compare flavors, and, who knows…you might even find a new favorite!
Not into beer? Try hosting a champagne tasting party instead!
