Tap Into the Madness: How to Build Your Craft Beer Bracket

Bracketology’s not just for the hardwood. While the athletes are busy sweating out double-overtime thrillers, we at The Growler Guys are focused on a different kind of pressure – the kind that comes from a perfectly carbonated tap. Whether you’re a hophead, a stout devotee, or a cider seeker, creating a craft beer bracket is the best way to elevate your tournament viewing. Here’s how to host the ultimate Beer Madness competition from the comfort of your living room.

How Do You Create a Craft Beer Bracket?

To create a craft beer bracket, start by selecting an even number of beers (typically 8, 16, or 32) and grouping them into regions based on beer styles (think IPAs, stouts, lagers, and sours). Then assign each beer a seed and conduct a blind taste test for each head-to-head matchup. The beer with the most votes moves to the next round until you crown a champion of the cooler.

Selection Sunday: Curating Your Craft Beer Lineup

Before the first tip-off, you need your Starting 64 (although we recommend a more manageable Starting 16). Keep the competition fierce by scouting your best local breweries and regional favorites. At The Growler Guys, we feature over 45 rotating taps, so you can easily scout your talent in one stop.

When building your craft beer bracket, group your selections in regions based on beer styles.

• The IPA Region: Pit a West Coast bitter-bomb against a juicy New England Hazy.
• The Dark Side: Let stouts, porters, and barrel-aged beauties battle for supremacy.
• The Crisp & Clean: Lagers, pilsners, and kolschs compete for the most crushable title.
• The Wildcards: Sours, fruited ales, and hard ciders bring the upset potential.

Mastering the Blind Taste Test

The secret to a fair craft beer bracket is anonymity. You can’t let a cool label or big brewery name influence the results. To run a true blind beer tasting, have a referee pour samples into small tasting glasses.

Mark the bottom of each glass with a number or letter that corresponds to your bracket. As the games play out on the big screen, have your guests vote on flavor profile, aroma, and mouthfeel. The beer with the most votes advances to the next round.

Fueling the Fanatic: Game Day Food Pairings

You can’t survive a triple-header on beer alone. Keep your palate sharp and your energy high with a solid defensive line of game day food.

At The Growler Guys, we’re famous for our loaded pizzas and appetizers that are built to share. If you’re hosting at home, pick up a few of our signature pies like the Dragon’s Breath or Coastal Classic. You can also never go wrong with a great pepperoni pizza – it’s the palate cleanser you need for the next round of heavy-hitting IPAs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many beers should be in a standard craft beer bracket?

For a single-day event, starting with 16 is the gold standard. It provides enough variety to be exciting without causing palate fatigue. If your tournament runs over the entire three weeks, starting with 64, it lets you feature a wide range of local breweries and niche styles.

What is the best way to seed the beers?

You can seed them based on popularity (top sellers vs. obscure finds), ABV (lowest to highest), or IBUs. A classic 1 vs. 16 matchup might pit an award-winning IPA against a local experimental microbrew.

Can I include different styles in the same bracket?

Absolutely! While some purists prefer an All-IPA bracket, a mixed style bracket is more dynamic. We recommend creating four distinct regions: hoppy, dark, sour, and easy-drinking. The winners of each region then meet in the final pour for the ultimate title.

Bring the Taproom Home with The Growler Guys

The best part about March Madness is the unpredictability, but your beer quality should never be a gamble. Skip the store aisles and head to your local Growler Guys for a fresh growler fill to fuel your craft beer bracket.

Thanks to our state-of-the-art CO2 purging systems, your beer stays fresh and carbonated long enough to last through every buzzer-beater. Not ready for a 64-ounce commitment? Grab a crowler. At 32 ounces, it’s the perfect size to give your bracket at least one Cinderella story.

Stop by your nearest Growler Guys today to browse our tap list and let our certified Beer Stewards help you seed your craft beer bracket.