Beer tap handles can serve not only a functional purpose, but also a decorative one as well. There are times when custom beer tap handles are more appropriate then others. Just as there are times when beer keg taps are best just serving their purpose. A lot of this decision comes from when and where your beer keg handles are going to be displayed.

Beer tap handles can range significantly depending on how you plan on using beer tap handles. If the keg is going to remain behind the bar at your establishment, it probably doesn't make as much sense to have decorative beer tap handles as it would if you were hosting a social event and the keg was in a central location to the guests. Consider all of these issues and more when selecting your beer tap handle:

1. Only spend the extra money on custom beer tap handles when guests are actually going to see the handle.

2. Out of several beer tap handles you may have on hand it is not necessary for them all to be personalized beer tap handles.

3. If beer tap handles add to the decor of your establishment, consider them more as an investment.

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Consider the placement of the beer tap handles before making your decision

A generic beer tap handle can be purchased for less then $20 where a novelty or custom beer tap handle can run anywhere from $45 to $75. The extra money doesn't make much sense if the beer tap handles will only be seen by you and your employees. However, if you are hosting an event or catering a party and the keg will be in a visible spot, a custom beer tap handle with your company's name on it may pay itself off when the guests take notice.

I recommend: Keg Works explains the process of draft beer and the importance of the beer tap handle. Micro Matic has generic beer tap handles that are friendly to the budget.

Buy a few custom beer tap handles to round out the run-of-the-mill handles

Having a mix of generic beer tap handles and personalized handles can allow you some versatility when it comes to your business. If most often you serve beer from kegs behind the bar, but on occasion you host an outdoor promotional event or offer catering services on the side, consider purchasing one or two custom designed beer keg tap handles for the events, but then use the cheaper generic handles on a regular basis. Saving the custom handles for special events will not only lower the chances of something happening to them, but it will even out your budget rather then purchasing all custom handles that are only seen a few times a month.

I recommend: Beer Avenue allows you to browse a large selection of beer tap handles. Beer Collections carries beer taps in several different materials as well as styles.

Consider what beer tap handles can offer the decor of your establishment

Depending on the set-up of your bar or restaurant, you may be able to display the beer tap pulls in a way that they add to the ambiance of your business. If this is the case, spending more money on each handle will be worth it because they will constantly be on display. And if each of the keg beer handles is labelled with your customer's beer of choice, it will ease in their selection process as well. These are instances where spending more on each handle is a smart budgetary decision.

I recommend: Tap Handles has everything from a beer tap in the shape of a boot to ready made brand specific handles. Beer Taps carries beer taps in various shapes and sizes.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  It is smart to have an extra beer tap handle or two on hand in case one breaks or walks off in the wrong hands.

Whether you want to add a signature touch or simply want to dispense the alcohol, beer tap handles are essential in running a quality business. Used to open and close the beer faucet, the handles are simple to install, either on a tap or keg.

Although brand-name beer tap handles are the most popular, don't limit yourself to that option. If you want to promote your company's logo or celebrate a holiday or event, then odds are you can find a company to help you meet these needs. Before selecting your beer tap handles or keg handles, consider the following:

1. Familiarize yourself with the multitude of commercial beer tap handles that companies offer.

2. Find a beer tap handle wholesale supplier to provide quality products for your facility.

3. Customize your beer tap handles or keg handles to bring added flare.

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Become familiar with the different beer tap handles

In order to properly operate beer taps, you need to have handles. Keep a multitude of these in stock; the last thing you want to worry about is not being able to operate the beer taps. Same for beer keg taps; you want to have enough beer keg tap handles around since you never know what may happen.

I recommend: Choose from generic beer tap handles at KegWorks. It features several pub-style handles with or without an oval shield. On beertaps.com you'll find an array of beer tap handles for sale that can be used just as easily with a kegerator or draft system.

Locate a beer tap handle wholesale supplier

By using a supplier or distributor, you can almost guarantee the product you receive is a quality product. The beer tap handle manufacturer can work with customers such as yourself to ensure the best beer tap handles are shipped, and you benefit by receiving these goods at a discounted price.

I recommend: Primarily serving the beer industry, Rapids Wholesale Equipment Company provides beer keg handles, as well as tap handles. Green Mountain Taps can produce beer tap handles made out of wood, metal or wrought iron at wholesale pricing. Contact its facility for a free consultation.

Consider custom beer tap handles or keg beer handles

Decorative beer tap handles are a great way to promote your business and create extra flare. Get people talking by injecting some creativity on your beer taps. Or if you're catering to a specific market, such as train enthusiasts, offer up a locomotive keg handle.

I recommend: One of the fastest growing companies, Taphandles sells custom beer tap handles for breweries or other companies who sell beer. Bring your design idea, and it can help your dream become a reality. Click on the design link to learn about the entire process. Catered to your special event, team, company logo or other unique designs, AJS has a casting department to help create perfect beer keg taps. BCH Unique offers one-of-a-kind design and produces beer tap handles in custom or standard shapes. It works exclusively with those in the beverage industry.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you're looking for more old-school beer tap handles, then look into antique stores. Collecting these items is popular; odds are you can find a seller online if you strike out at stores.

Beer kegs everywhere, from major brand name breweries to modest basement home bars, can sport custom beer tap handles. A myriad of logos advertising major beer brands, sports teams, businesses, clubs, or organizations appear on beer keg taps. You may design your own personalized beer tap handles. Several beer tap handle manufacturers offer design assistance. Costs for beer keg handles depend upon the material you wish to use. Wood, metal, ceramics, plastics, and composites are possibilities for making beer tap handles. Manufacturers can sculpt individual handles or use molds to satisfy a bulk order.

Beer tap handles pricing and costs depend on the intricacy of design and choice of material. Simple wood and plastic handles typically run in the $30-$40 range, while prices rise to over $50 for higher priced woods. Prices for fancier beer keg tap handles sculpted from metals may be over $90. On the other hand, brewery taps advertising major companies can cost as little as $10. Most beer tap handle wholesale suppliers offer discounts for bulk orders.

When pricing decorative beer tap handles, consider:

1. Designing your own custom beer tap handles.

2. Shipping costs, especially for overseas suppliers.

3. Consulting a variety of wholesalers.

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Design your logo or image for your personalized beer tap handles

Some manufacturers will take your trademark, logo, or a photo and put it on beer tap pulls of your choosing. Others have design departments that will assist you in getting just the right look for your handle.

I recommend: BeerAvenue.com offers free quotes for putting names on beer taps handles they have for sale. They quote prices from $40-$90 for their stock. Bass Custom will help you create your own personalized beer tap handles. This site details prices for making your tap handle. Most handles start at $90.

Select a beer tap handle to suit your theme, logo, or image

Custom beer tap handles appear in all shapes, from brewery symbols to animals to sports teams. You may save by finding an existing shape that will fit your logo rather than designing a new pattern.

I recommend: GarlicGal.com has a good variety of shapes and sizes of beer keg handles, with prices ranging from $10 to $60. BeerSodaSports.com displays handles for many breweries around the world in addition to their selection for all kinds of sports. Prices are from $20 to $70, with most handles in the $20-$40 range.

Find a beer tap handle manufacturer to fit your budget

Several wholesalers and manufacturers provide pictures and prices of their products. Choosing from beer tap handles for sale takes a little browsing.

I recommend: Iron Tap provides some unusual tap handles that appeal to the shopper looking for something different. Most prices are in the $50 range. Micro Matic stocks a wide range of tap handle shapes and sizes with moderate prices.

A beer tap handle is a piece of bar equipment that the bar owner, the brew manufacturer and customers all take interest in. The functioning purpose of this part is to enable the dispensing of beverage from its container. The ultimate purpose of the showpiece is to lure business. Once a customer is in the bar, the remaining decision becomes what to drink.

A line of radiant handles definitely gets noticed and draught beer specials make it a likely choice for some. It is a particularly striking tap handle that can draw attention to a specific beer and away from others. If it gets your attention, it has done its job. Bar owners can increase their beer sales by more fully understanding the importance of this flippantly regarded piece of equipment by learning more about the following:

1. Decorative beer tap handles

2. Custom beer tap handles for recognition

3. Beer keg taps for functionality

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Explore the importance of beer tap handles to your business

Beer keg tap handles join flashy wall signs as highly visible marketing tools for a beer maker. Standing proudly high above the bar top, the handles flirt with bar patrons for business. The handles, in all their regalia, are successful at advertising the beer name brand.

I recommend: For information on how tap handles benefit sales at your bar, view the Tools of the Trade section at ProBrewer.com. Northern Brewer Warehouse points out a few reasons why beer tap pulls are important.

Market your beer with custom beer tap handles

Small and local breweries can stand out just as much as top beer brands with custom tap handles. Unique to the brewery, the handles offer brand recognition that customers immediately notice on approaching a bar. Shiny totems of wood, plastic or metal covered in intricate paintings or decals garb attention and are a few of the choices to be considered when creating a custom tap handle.

I recommend: Taphandles devotes its manufacturing to tap handle excellence for the success and promotion of its customers. The custom tap handles for sale are one of a kind and are sold exclusively to each brewery. Maine Wood Concepts manufactures wood handles. Take your design to them for production or take your idea and they will develop it into production.

Know what beer keg handles are and how to use them

The purpose of the handle is to open the tap to regulate the beer flow. With the movement of the handle, the hole opens and gravity, or pressure if it's a pressurized tap, draws the beer from the cask. In other situations, where the cask is stored away from the bar and a pump is used to pull the beer, the handle activates the pump.

I recommend: Visit Beer-Times.com to learn about using brewery taps. Go to HomeFurnish.com for details on traits common to all tap handles and other aspects where they are unique.