Designing a Beer Tap Handle Even without a Strong Brand

Don't let the expense or scarcity of materials stop you from envisioning and designing your tap handle design since resin handle fabrication can help with such issues.

Designing tap handles is a little different because they:

• May be used in a variety of tap rooms outside your own brewery.
• Are extremely dimensional.
• Have a variety of materials on them.
• Reflect your branding and beverage.

They may ultimately influence customers of other bars who are on their way to choosing which beer to enjoy. Additionally, they are just extremely cool objects to handle and use, especially if they happen to be your centerpiece.

That said, below are just a few helpful tips that may guide you throughout the design process.

a) The Creation of the Tap Handle

When designing a tap handle, it's a good idea to take inspiration from the inside of your brewery. What themes run through your brewery? What are the materials that are most visually appealing? What colors predominate the most? Who or what is in the background of the tap handle? While it's crucial that the handle coincides with your identity, you also want to make sure it blends in with the place.

If you don't already have a robust visual brand system in place, matching and enhancing the interior design of the brewery is a particularly wonderful place to start.

All visual components must be harmonious and have a unified aesthetic if you don't already have a branding strategy in place. If you don't have a branding design system, you might want to maintain your visual brand on your own.

On the other hand,  if you already have a brand design in place, make sure to consult your brand standards document or your designer while making a handle. You must also keep in mind that any existing brand design must come first.

b) The Elements on a Tap Handle

Resins are poured into specially designed molds to produce many tap handles. Compared to using genuine materials, this production process results in a significantly lighter and more economical tap handle. This can seem unusual at first, but resin can be used to make some fantastic finishes and textures that mimic natural materials. Wood,  metals, stone, you name it! 

Don't let the price or lack of materials stop you from envisioning your tap handle design because resin handle fabrication can help with such difficulties.

Another clever technique to cut costs is to create a "generic" base handle design and then add detachable nameplates or other tangible components. For instance, you might have several interchangeable magnetic beer nameplates on a single handle. Similar modifications can be made to the tap handle's other parts, such as adding a removable, interchangeable dimensional topper.

This is useful should you discontinue a brew or produce a new one. With this method, you don't have to worry about the cost of a full tap handle since you can just acquire new nameplates.

c) The Brewery Logo

The brewery emblem is an essential component of a tap handle, but the name or style of the beer may be more significant. Consider how your logo interacts with the nameplate on the handle of the drink; you generally don't want those two aspects to compete with one another. It's a brilliant idea to put the brewery name along the sides of a handle so that from a distance, you can still read it and the beverage name on the front.

Both flat and dimensional logos may be printed on a handle. For instance, you might utilize a logo on a sphere or include other components from your logo in the design of your tap handle.

Conclusion

Indeed, a beer tap handle is a great way to add some personality to your bar, regardless of whether or not you have a strong brand. By taking into account the color and shape of your tap and the materials you want to use (we recommend resin), you can create a unique and eye-catching design that will make your bar stand out.

With a little creativity, you may also come up with a beer tap handle that reflects your bar's style and personality and makes your customers want to come back for more.

If you are looking for a great source of high-quality beer tap handles, look no further than our amazing selections here at Steel City Tap Co. We provide custom tap handles, keg collars, stickers & more for breweries, distributors & beer bars. Check out our online shop for more of our well-designed collections and their prices.