How to Make a Beer Menu Design With Examples (Free Template)

A well-designed beer menu is an asset for any restaurant or brewery. It represents your brand and helps entice visitors. A standout beer menu should appeal to a broad audience, mesh well with the restaurant’s cuisine, and maximize profits wherever possible. 

Let’s explore the essential components of crafting a captivating beer menu, both in the physical space of your restaurant and online. From menu design to pricing and descriptions, we’ll provide actionable insights to create a menu that appeals to both beer drinkers and your bottom line. 

This is everything you need to know to develop, engineer, and design your perfect beer menu.

The Power of Good Restaurant Menu Design

Your menu is not merely a list of drink options; it’s an extension of your brand. Your restaurant brand is an essential part of how your guests perceive your business and feel during their dining experience. Plus, when you’re an establishment that offers varied beer, lunch, and dinner options, you can really have fun and get creative with your branding. 

Your beer menu is a powerful tool that influences customer decisions and helps drive sales. Start with menu engineering – the art of strategically designing menus to increase sales and maximize profits. The goal? Harmonize costing and pricing information with your restaurant vibes and brand.

By understanding the psychology behind menu design, you can leverage the following categories to enhance your beer menu:

• Layout and Organization: Arrange your menu items in a logical and visually appealing manner, considering the flow of information and highlighting popular choices.

• Visual Cues: Utilize images and symbols to provide visual representation of menu items, making it easier for everyone to understand and choose their brews.

• Descriptive Language: Craft compelling dirnk descriptions that highlight the unique features and benefits of each beverage. 

How to Make a Beer Menu

Creating an engaging beer menu requires attention to several key elements. Let's explore each step in the process: 

Write Out All Menu Items

Start by taking note of every single item that will go on your menu. Then, home in on popular beers that cater to more casual tastes. Think IPAs, lagers, stouts, pilsners, etc.

Beyond your standard list of beer-favorite food and drinks, are there any specials or deals you can include? Certain drinks or food items that are only available during happy hour? Be sure to also include a variety of options like allergy-friendly choices.

Categorize Menu Options

After you’ve narrowed down what you’ll offer, it’s time to assess how to best organize everything in your menu template. Group menu items into clear categories like light and dark beers to facilitate navigation. 

How will you make high-price items stand out to drive revenue? Will food and drink specials be available, for example? Will the most expensive beers go first? A menu engineering worksheet can be super helpful in outlining categories.  

Set Menu Prices

A whopping 45% of diners go out to eat multiple times a week, with another 20% going out to eat once a week. How can you stay competitive and keep your loyal customers coming back? The key is to determine pricing that strikes a balance between affordability and profitability. Consider offering deals or combo options to incentivize ordering.  

A restaurant menu pricing strategy is critical for operators looking to be intentional about their profitability. You must keep tabs on consumer habits and wage trends, to name a few. Craft a menu strategy that ties into navigating inflation and protecting profitability. 

Create Menu Descriptions

When deciding how to position your offerings, put yourself in your customer’s shoes and imagine what would make your beers stand out to. Figure out how to present menu items in a way that feels aligned with your overall vibe. 

The best place to start? Craft concise and appealing descriptions for each item. Use language that evokes imagination and appetite. Highlight any unique features or ingredients that set your menu apart. Use descriptors that are vibrant and that diners can “taste.” You can also be quirky with your beer to show personality and avoid generic verbiage. 

Decide on a Menu Color Scheme 

Visuals also play a major role in menu design. Choose colors that resonate with children and reflect your brand identity. Consider brand colors as a starting point, then get creative from there. Chron’s The Psychology of Colors for Restaurant Designs is a great resource for exploring design options.  

Design your Beer Menu

Design a visually appealing menu layout that is easy to read and navigate. Consider using playful fonts and graphics that align with your target audience. Colors can make a huge difference and allow you to lean into your restaurant’s brand.  

Not sure where to start? Check out our free menu templates for inspiration. There are lots of other tools and resources like Adobe Suite, Canva, or Pinterest that can help, too. 

Think About Photos

Allowing your customers to put a “face” to their drinks can be helpful. High-quality, appetizing food photos can entice diners to try new dishes. 

Include images strategically and ensure they accurately represent the menu items. Dive into menu design best practices that can be helpful for any establishment looking to deliver a top-tier menu. 

Choose Menu Fonts, Spacing, Composition, and Layout

You have a color scheme, a general idea of how you want your menu items to be laid out on the page, and possibly a few photos you want to include. Now, it's time to put it all together to create a restaurant menu.

Use clear and legible fonts, appropriate spacing, and a balanced composition to enhance readability and create a cohesive visual experience. Test different menu layouts to determine the most effective one.  

For example, do your diners prefer a simpler menu or one with a more vibrant personality? Or a combination of both? Seek feedback from your staff, focus groups, or conduct A/B testing to optimize the design. 

Proofread Your Menu

Thoroughly proofread the final menu for any errors or inconsistencies. One misplaced comma or small typo could change your guests' perception of the restaurant.  

Ensure that all menu items, descriptions, and prices are accurate and up to date. According to our Restaurant Success Report, 31% of restaurateurs update their menu on a monthly basis and 24% do it seasonally. Make sure your customers aren’t ordering from outdated menus since that can lead to disappointment and a poor customer experience.

5 Great Beer Menu Examples

Brewery X – Anaheim, CA 

Brewery X has a variety of different kinds of menus. For example, their to-go menu highlights crowlers (32 ox), growlers (64 oz), and cans to-go. In terms of the beer menu itself, they place their new releases first followed by additional options categorized by genre. The menu itself is clean in black, white, and green to tie into their overall branding.

Evil Twin – New York

Evil Twin takes unique approaches to both their online and in-person menus. Their online menu is photo-forward and includes attractive photos of each beer option. In-person diners can choose from the large, clean digital menu board hanging inside.

All Season Brewing – Los Angeles, CA

All Season goes for a basic old-school approach with the classic letterboard. They easily show the name of each beer along with its type and price. While this it a little more manual to update, it shows an approachability.

Zilker Brewing Co – Austin, TX

Zilker goes even more old-school with a chalk board menu in their brewery. They add a bit more detail by including the name of the beer along with its description and ABV. Their online menu is also quite detailed and includes photos of each option. This clean outline of all beer options is segmented by type and includes a ton of detail to allow diners to “taste” the descriptions.

City Works – Watertown, MA

In addition to showcasing the available beer options, City Works also outlines how they serve beer. From noting the intelligence of their staff to cleanliness and other aspects, they make sure folks understand what they’re getting. Additionally, they show the different glass types and define several beer terms.

Designing a captivating beer menu goes beyond just listing food options. By incorporating effective menu engineering techniques and thoughtful design elements, you can create a menu that not only appeals to a wide audience but also represents your brand and drives profitability. 

Remember to regularly evaluate and update your beer menu based on customer feedback and changing trends. Ensure it remains fresh, exciting, and relevant to beer lovers.