Brewery POP Displays That Move Beer: Tap Handles, Tin Tackers, LED Signs, Case Stackers
Updated September 2026 by Brad Lugar, owner of Steel City Tap Co., Birmingham, AL.
Quick answer: Point of purchase (POP) is anything at the place the beer is sold that gets it picked: the tap handle on the faucet, the tin tacker on the wall, the LED sign in the window, the case stacker in the grocery aisle, the coaster under the glass. For a brewery the physical pieces outperform screens every time, because bars do not install your screen and grocery stores do not plug it in.
We make brewery POP in Birmingham, AL, and we have watched a lot of "retail display technology" get pitched to breweries that would have been better served by a 12 inch piece of printed metal. This is the list of what actually works, ranked by how often it is still on the wall a year later.
What is a POP display, and how is it different from POS?
POP is point of purchase: the physical marketing at the spot where the decision is made. POS is point of sale: the register system that takes the money. Breweries buy POP. Bars buy POS.
The brewery POP pieces that earn their cost
1. Tap handles
The highest return POP a brewery owns. It sits at eye level at the exact moment of decision, it goes into every draft account, and it stays there for years. Fully custom shapes start at 100 units and take 6 to 8 weeks after design approval; stock shapes with your print start at 12. See custom tap handles.
2. Tin tackers
The printed metal sign that goes on the bar wall. Bartenders hang them because they look good, and once they are up they do not come down. A tacker is the cheapest square footage of permanent branding a brewery can buy in a bar. Full color on aluminum, any shape. See tin tackers.
3. LED signs
The window piece. An LED sign is what gets a passerby to walk in, and the bar owner keeps it lit because it makes the room look open. Custom shapes, built to your logo. See LED signs.
4. Case stackers and shelf displays
The grocery and package store piece. A printed corrugated or PVC stacker turns a pallet of cases into a display and puts your brand at the end of the aisle. This is the POP that sells packaged beer, and it is the one most craft breweries skip because they think it is only for the big brands. It is not. See point of purchase.
5. Coasters, keg collars, and labels
The small stuff that touches every drinker. A coaster under the glass, a keg collar the distributor sees, a label on the can. Cheap, high volume, and the pieces that make the brand look like it belongs on the shelf.
What about digital POP?
Screens, interactive displays, and motion sensors have a place in big-box retail where the retailer owns the hardware. In a bar, a brewery cannot install a screen, and in a grocery store the retailer will not plug one in for you. Spend the money on the tacker and the handle.
How to plan a brewery POP kit for a new account
The kit that works for a new draft account is a tap handle, a tin tacker, and a stack of coasters. For a new package account, a case stacker and shelf strips. For a flagship bar, add the LED sign. Match the art across all of it so the customer sees the same brand on the faucet, the wall, and the can.
Where to get it made
Tap handles come from us. Tin tackers, LED signs, coasters, and large format signage are built by our sister shop Classic Printing & Signs, and apparel by Presto Embroidery. Same building, same phone number, one art file. Start with a quote request and tell us which accounts you are trying to open.
Frequently asked questions
What is POP for a brewery?
Point of purchase marketing: the tap handle, tin tacker, LED sign, case stacker, coaster, and keg collar that sit where the beer is sold and get it picked over the brand next to it.
What is the difference between POP and POS?
POP is point of purchase, the physical marketing at the place the decision is made. POS is point of sale, the register system that processes the payment.
What is the most effective brewery POP display?
The tap handle. It sits at eye level at the moment of decision, goes into every draft account, and stays on the faucet for years. Tin tackers are second.
What should a brewery send a new draft account?
A tap handle, a tin tacker, and coasters. For package accounts, a case stacker and shelf strips. Match the art across all of it.
Do digital POP displays work for craft breweries?
Rarely. Bars will not install a brewery's screen and grocery stores will not power one. Printed and built pieces like tackers, handles, and stackers stay up and keep selling.