Rhinegeist: Promotional Products Case Study

Rhinegeist: How Gamified Branding Built a Brewery Empire
(Click for part 2: Taproom Games Checklist)

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“Rhinegeist had Cornhole and ping pong last time I was there.”
— Reddit user

People crave interaction — and they remember it!
Games make your brand unforgettable.
Unlike most brands, Rhinegeist doesn’t treat games as an afterthought—they’re central to the customer experience:

  • In-store play is mirrored by online sales and social content
  • Events range from speed dating to MLS partnerships, all with cornhole
  • They sell branded boards—turning brand recall into lifestyle adoption

Cornerstones of Marketing in Action

  • Product Strategy: Branded cornhole sets as SKUs in seasonal collections.
  • Retail Footprint: Partnerships with Liquor Barn and resale visibility at EZ Pawn.
  • Event Programming: Speed dating, Tour de Cinci, and tournament nights anchored by games.
  • Venue Integration: Cornhole in the taproom layout, directly under skylights for ambiance.
  • Engagement Tactics: Cornhole featured on Instagram Reels and TikTok challenges.
  • Customer Feedback: TripAdvisor reviews highlight games before food or beer.
  • Brand Personality: Playful, energetic tone reinforced through interactive experiences.
  • Experiential Depth: Multi-sensory environment: lighting, spatial design, and play merged.
  • Cultural Commentary: Games positioned as social currency—not just decoration.
  • Renter Packages: Custom-branded boards available for corporate or event rentals.

ROI Metrics

  • TripAdvisor reviews regularly mention cornhole favorably
  • Constant social proof via Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook
  • Featured in Cincinnati Magazine, MeetNKY, and more
  • Resale value: Rhinegeist boards seen for $99.99 with 5-star reviews on secondary markets

Real Visitor Feedback on TripAdvisor:

“Great beer, cool atmosphere, and cornhole!”

“The taproom is a giant indoor playground—cornhole, ping pong and more!”

“We enjoyed drinks and a spontaneous cornhole match—definitely coming back!”

Rhinegeist’s cornhole experience is consistently mentioned by name in 5-star reviews, helping create lasting brand recall.

At Tour de Cinci, Games Come Before Beer:

“I was very impressed with Rhinegeist’s laid-back yet fun atmosphere. The four of us enjoyed a game of cornhole”

Rhinegeist Brewery has successfully turned games like cornhole into a focal point of their events, encouraging social interaction, fun, and an instant connection to their brand before even cracking open a cold one.

Yelp Review Spotlight: Cornhole First!
Yelp reviews consistently highlight cornhole as a key part of the Rhinegeist experience, with visitors often mentioning the game before the bar or tables. It’s an engaging feature that sets the tone for the whole venue.

The Gnarly Gnome: Prioritizing Experience Over Product

In an interesting twist, The Gnarly Gnome, a well-known beer blog, highlighted cornhole before the beer itself when covering Rhinegeist Brewery. This speaks volumes about how cornhole has become a key part of the Rhinegeist experience, helping to create an engaging environment that goes beyond just tasting the beer.

“Before diving into the brewery’s offerings, visitors are immediately drawn to the cornhole sets, creating an interactive atmosphere that’s just as much a part of the experience as the beer itself.”

This perspective shows that Rhinegeist has successfully woven cornhole into the very fabric of their brand experience. It’s more than just a game—it’s a vital part of the social and interactive ambiance that sets the brewery apart, turning the venue into a full entertainment destination.

Maximizing ROI: Secondary Market Value

The Rhinegeist cornhole sets, originally sold as part of branded marketing campaigns, have been found on secondary markets like EZ Pawn for $99.99, with a stellar 5.0-star rating. This demonstrates that the product retains its value long after the initial use. By utilizing this, smart marketers can recoup some of their costs once the promotional period has ended.

The ability to resell branded items in secondary markets, like pawn shops or resale platforms, creates an additional opportunity for marketers to reclaim funds spent on promotional products. This strategy effectively extends the lifecycle of marketing assets, allowing businesses to generate revenue even after they’ve completed their primary use.

Seasonal Collections: Elevate Your Offerings

Rhinegeist’s Summer Collection showcases their Cincy Light Cornhole Set as part of their seasonal merch offerings, proving that cornhole sets are not only a year-round draw, but can be expertly incorporated into themed or seasonal collections.

Leveraging products like cornhole sets in seasonal collections adds versatility to your brand’s offering, allowing you to align your promotional items with the spirit of the season. Whether it’s a summer collection, holiday campaign, or event-themed packaging, adding cornhole or similar products brings excitement and an engaging interactive element to your seasonal strategy.

(Click for part 2: Taproom Games Checklist)

“Highly Recommend!”

“First time using this supplier and WOW are we happy. We did a self-promo of their Tailgate Cornhole and their Fast Four game. They are beautiful and they arrived in under 2 weeks… to Canada! Ordering was very easy, uploading our very large artwork file was easy, and dealing with them has been a breeze. Jackie, the account manager, is helpful and great to deal with. Highly recommend.”

– A Satisfied Client

“Hidden Gem of a Supplier!”

“I am totally wowed by their customer service. Quick responses, patient artwork services, and much faster than quoted production. I don’t mean to sound arrogant, but it’s rare that a supplier treats us better than we treat our customers. I often have the thought, ‘wow…if I treated my customers this way….’ With this supplier, those same words are going through my head, but I’m thinking we need to step up our game. As I was getting impatient on our 8th round of artwork (we turned it over to them at round 5), they were kind and responsive and just got it done. Hidden gem of a supplier I had no idea existed. Thanks—well done.”

– A Happy Customer

“Fastest Shipping Ever!”

“This is THE supplier for cornhole boards!! Friendly, quick response, and received an art proof the same day. Shipping was FAST and I mean FAST. Received the order two days after placing it. From sending the artwork to customer receiving the product was 4 business days.”

– Thrilled Customer

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