Charging for a brewery tour?

I don't like getting charged for tours, even if you do get samples or a glass.

New Belgium does it right. Great tour, tons of free beer, awesome tour guides. It's a perfect way to make brand evangelists out of your customers. I know I've recommended it to everyone ever since. Next time I'm in CO, I'm definitely going back for a 3rd tour, plus buying merchandise and filling my growler.

 

yea they can write it all off to marketing expense, right?

 

Would be interested in hearing @TheJermis chime in since I believe Boulevard offers a free tour as well as a pay tour.

 

If my memory serves me correctly I think at one point Stone Brewing Co. had free brewery tours...then moved to a $3 tour where you get to keep the taster glass. I think they might donate some of that money to a local charity as well. I've been to some for free and some that have charged. The charge is usually so minimal that I don't mind paying (anywhere from $2-$6) and I've either had unlimited tasters or 4-8 after the tours. How someone could complain about being shown around a rad brewery for $3 is a little disturbing...

 

I took the New Belgium Tour this year, couldn't agree with you more, awesome time, love that place.

 

A tour for 4 persons with tasting included was donated with an estimated cost of $50-65.

 

I've been to several that charge a nominal fee, usually $5, and you get a beer...

 

The Paulaner brewery in Munich charged 8 euro for a tour, but 10 euro for a tour in English. Talk about sticking it to the Americans/Brits.

 

Most in Houston you pay for, but it always includes like 3 12oz pours or if you bring their pint glass in(or buy one they) will fill it instead.

 

I did the Blue Jacket tour with my beer drinking group in the spring, it cost $29...got samples along the way. The tour came complete with our very own hipster tour guide. It was so not worth it. I arranged it because someone in my group thought it would be fun. I went in with low expectations, and even those were not met. Samples were set up at each station which was nice; but that guide was terrible. For $29, the amount of beer we had coupled with the guide, made me want to invoice them for my time. Blue Jacket spent a lot of coin on their brewery operation and you do see some cool, unique things....but charging that much for it....

My brother paid $20 for the Boulevard Smokestack tour and absolutely loved it. Said the guides were great, and there was a good beer/food pairing sampling at the end.

 

I don't think it's that much of a big deal, personally. They are a business aren't they? I'm sure there has to be some kind of insurance cost if you are walking around a functioning brewery; I don't know.
But as many others have commented with whatever fee you are required to pay you typically get sample(s), a free glass of some sort, information about the brewery and typically a fun time.
As an example:
Troegs has a free tour and one you have to pay to walk around with a guide and get a free glass and samples.
Cape May Brewery you pay, I think it was $10 and you get a pick from 4 different glasses and 3 beers.

 

I don't mind paying. Plus the one's that do charge generally give you a glass or larger pours.

 

Doesn't CCB owner run strip clubs as well? Maybe "feel" was accurate. You know, promote both businesses during the tour.....would explain the charge as well.

 

I paid $20 for the Boulevard Smokestack tour, but that was more of an experience than a tour. Got a full pour of Tank 7, drank that during the really informative tour. Then had 4-4oz tasters of other Smokestack beers each paired with a unique food item. Then they let us go to their bar and choose a sample of our choice.

If you are going to charge for the tour, make it a unique experience, sounds like a lot of those are posted above, and Boulevard did a killer job. But if you are going to charge for a tour to show me some shiny tanks and explain the beer making process, don't charge. I've seen tours where they don't charge, but encourage you to buy a pint as what fun is a tour without beer.

 

Most I've been to are either free or there's a suggested donation of some sort. Handful I've been to have charged (usually like 5 bucks or something and it includes a pour). I don't mind paying it to check out new breweries

 

This is true. In Ohio, it is illegal to 'give' away alcohol (though most brewpubs and bars will give you a sample for nothing), so the Great Lakes tour was free but you had to pay for the samples. They were $0.25 a piece, up to four. Great Lakes recently changed the tour and now it is $5 and you get a little bit more beer and a more intensive tour.

 

I've paid for a tour. It included samples and a glass and I don't have a problem paying for it. I drove there to visit the brewery so I figured I might as well pay for the tour. I would pay more to see a movie not including the food and drinks so it was hardly the most expensive way to spend an afternoon. On the flip side I've also been on tours where you get free samples included with the free tour...so there's that.

 

I've worked for two breweries in the past that charged a nominal amount for the tour, $5 and you keep the pint or taster glass. I don't consider that ridiculous if its a good tour.

 

Some do, some don't.
In England Fuller's is £10, Jennings was £9, Young's was £5 about 12 years back. Passed on the Kernel tour at £20, yikes.

Cantillon was mentioned.