Tap Room Magic: Creating a Space Your Guests Will Love

From the music in the taproom, to the color of the coasters, and even the weight of each glass, the environment surrounding a diner impacts the flavor of their drink, even before it is served. And once the beverage is on the table, each of the five senses shift the flavor of every sip of beer. The memory of the experience is also influenced by senses beyond our taste buds, especially because each of our senses is tied to different areas and types of memory.

Combining the latest scientific research on taste with success stories from the hospitality industry, taproom owners and operators will learn what hidden triggers are leaving customers with delightful memories, or a bad taste in their mouths. This seminar will walk participants through all the sensory elements of a brewpub environment in order to curate a total experience that is both memorable and ultimately, tasty. Whether working to build a taproom concept from the ground up, or hoping to redirect experiences that are missing the mark, we’ll dissect brewery identity as collected through the senses to uncover ways to expand and improve customer satisfaction. Plus, some opportunities to surprise and delight the senses of your customers and staff.

The impact of sound, sight, comfort, environmental temperature, and other sensory inputs on the overall drinking experience inside the taproom (and how it might change at home).
How to prime the expectations of customers to set them up for satisfaction, rather than disappointment using taproom elements like the menu, glassware, and lighting.
How to use different types of memory and expectation to serve a tastier pint customers want to tell their friends (& followers!) about.

Mandy Naglich

How to Taste / Drinks with Mandy

Mandy Naglich is certified taster, Advanced Cicerone®, National Homebrew Competition Gold Medalist, drinks educator, and writer. Her first book, How to Taste: A Guide to Discovering Flavor and Savoring Life, chronicles her adventures in the world of professional tasting and the methods anyone can use to get in touch with their senses. Mandy lives, writes, and brews in New York City, but she documents her drinks adventures around the world at @drinkswithmandy.