It was Saturday, and I was drinking beer at a nameless bar in New Yorks East Village. Enter two 30-year-old frat bros (brotherhood lasts for life, dude), who took a seat at the bar next to me:
“But wait ‘til you taste it on tap,” Pastel Chino Bro said, as he motioned toward his friend’s bottle.
Youve heard it, or hell, said it before. Beer is better on tap, right? That’s what we’ve been told, but does a keg really deliver beer in its most satisfying form? And if so, why? Sounds like we should ask some experts.
“When I walk into a craft bar, I immediately gravitate toward the draft list,” said Benjamin Pratt, co-owner and beer manager of Manhattan’s As Is. It’s easy to see that he practices what he preaches at the Hell’s Kitchen bar, which features one of New York City’s most impressive draft lists with around 20 beers (and 6 draft cocktails, plus some fantastic house-made pork rinds). “You can make a decent assessment of a beer bar based on what they have on draft at any one time.”
Because a good bar—whether it’s a craft beer bar or your favorite neighborhood dive with just three options—will put time into its draft program. “If a bar puts a beer on draft, they’re making a bigger commitment to that beers presence in their establishment. A bottle or can placement is secondary,” said Gabriel Magliaro, co-owner of Chicago’s Half Acre Beer Company, brewers of perfectly balanced ales like Daisy Cutter Pale and Vallejo IPA. Pratt and Magliaro are draft beer supporters, but unlike Pastel Chino Bro and Aviator Bro, there’s more behind their reasoning than, “Because it’s on tap.”“The biggest issues for beer are time, temperature, light, and how well a brewer did their job,” said Magliaro. “Most distributors and bars keep kegs cold all the time. A consistent temperature will give that beer a huge advantage.” Unlike bottles, kegs and cans protect the beer from light at all times, but cans might not necessarily be kept in the walk-in.
Chances are, if youre at a busy bar, they go through a lot of beer, and the beer youre drinking from a keg is pretty fresh. “In today’s beer world you have to be most concerned with old beer,” said Magliaro, “In a bar, draft should be moving faster [than bottles], so I’d take the fact that its probably fresher as my largest beer-ordering concern.” This is especially important when ordering a hoppy beer, like a pale ale or an IPA, which degrade in flavor over time. At As Is, Pratt orders hop-driven beer as its released from the brewery and only takes as much as the bar can sell in that given week. “Those beers are best served as close to when they were brewed as possible, so we never stockpile them,” said Pratt. His kegs can kick within two days of being put on tap, so new deliveries arrive constantly.
There’s still another plus for draft beer, which brings in a bigger profit than bottles. Pressure and temperature are easy to customize with most modern draft set-ups, which leads to a slight textural difference. “When pouring from a draft system, you’re getting a different carbonation level/mouthfeel than you might from a bottle or can. By having the keg hooked up to the draft system, there is constant pressure being applied to liquid,” explained Pratt. “I usually think that a fresh beer, poured off a clean draft system, has a certain energy that a bottle or can poured beer can lack.”
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, though. Negligence can screw up a draft experience. The ultimate responsibility is on you and the bar owner to figure that out. “Dirty draft lines can screw up good beer, but you won’t know that until you order,” warned Magliaro. “If there are consistent off flavors, you might want to consider a different bar altogether.” It’s important to talk to the bartender. Ask what’s fresh. Ask what he or she is excited about. Getting a vibe for the place and how they treat their beer will lead to a better beer experience. Don’t play yourself.
There isn’t anything more beautiful than a freshly poured pint for Pratt, “I would take a fresh draft of Heady Topper to can any day, if I had the choice.” Draft beer has more going for it from a scientific standpoint (as long as it’s properly delivered), and at the same time, there’s something inherently special about it. The bar committed to that keg, treated it right, and poured that pint just for you. It’s an act of love, and as Magliaro advised, “There are a zillion factors in getting the best experience from beer, but for my money… If there’s draft, then I’d say go draft 100% of the time.”
When to order a bottle or can instead of draft: • When you’ve tried a couple beers that taste a bit off and suspect the tap lines are dirty or need maintenance • When you see something that you really want that isn’t on the tap list • When six customers is more than the bar has seen all week • When the glassware can be described as “crusty” • When you’re sitting in your apartment and realize you shouldn’t set up a draft line behind the kitchen wall, because that would probably piss off your landlord • When the 70 year-old bartender winks at you and says, “This one’s on the house, honey,” and hands you a bottle of cheap lagerRelated:
Any beer that’s stored in a cask will almost always be billed as “on cask”. Anything on draft (or draught) or on tap are simply being served from a keg.
By sending a gift to someone, they will be more likely to answer your questions again!
The Language Level symbol shows a users proficiency in the languages theyre interested in. Setting your Language Level helps other users provide you with answers that arent too complex or too simple.
If you post a question after sending a gift to someone, your question will be displayed in a special section on that person’s feed.
“But wait ‘til you taste it on tap,” Pastel Chino Bro said, as he motioned toward his friend’s bottle.
It was Saturday, and I was drinking beer at a nameless bar in New Yorks East Village. Enter two 30-year-old frat bros (brotherhood lasts for life, dude), who took a seat at the bar next to me:
When to order a bottle or can instead of draft: • When you’ve tried a couple beers that taste a bit off and suspect the tap lines are dirty or need maintenance • When you see something that you really want that isn’t on the tap list • When six customers is more than the bar has seen all week • When the glassware can be described as “crusty” • When you’re sitting in your apartment and realize you shouldn’t set up a draft line behind the kitchen wall, because that would probably piss off your landlord • When the 70 year-old bartender winks at you and says, “This one’s on the house, honey,” and hands you a bottle of cheap lagerRelated:
Chances are, if youre at a busy bar, they go through a lot of beer, and the beer youre drinking from a keg is pretty fresh. “In today’s beer world you have to be most concerned with old beer,” said Magliaro, “In a bar, draft should be moving faster [than bottles], so I’d take the fact that its probably fresher as my largest beer-ordering concern.” This is especially important when ordering a hoppy beer, like a pale ale or an IPA, which degrade in flavor over time. At As Is, Pratt orders hop-driven beer as its released from the brewery and only takes as much as the bar can sell in that given week. “Those beers are best served as close to when they were brewed as possible, so we never stockpile them,” said Pratt. His kegs can kick within two days of being put on tap, so new deliveries arrive constantly.
Youve heard it, or hell, said it before. Beer is better on tap, right? That’s what we’ve been told, but does a keg really deliver beer in its most satisfying form? And if so, why? Sounds like we should ask some experts.
How Do Draught/Draft Beer Systems Work – Beer Taps Explained
FAQ
Is on tap and draft the same thing?
Does draft mean tap?
Is draught the same as tap?
What does on draft mean at a bar?
What does ‘on tap’ and ‘draft beer’ mean?
Yes, they mean the same to me. It means that the beer is coming out of a tap from a barrel and not served in a bottle. “On tap” means that the beer is drawn from a large container, such as a keg, and poured directly into the glass. The opposite of “on tap” would be beer in a bottle. “Draft beer” is beer that is on tap.
Is beer on tap better than draft beer?
But when it comes to the best way to enjoy your beer, the debate between beer on tap and draft beer has been a long-standing one. Beer Dads and beer enthusiasts often argue that draft beer is superior in taste and quality compared to bottled beer or canned options.
What is draft beer?
Draft beer, also known as draught beer, is the type of beer served directly from a keg or cask instead of packaged in bottles or cans. You’re likely familiar with the sight of bartenders pulling down on a tap handle to fill a glass with this beverage. That’s draft beer making its way from the keg to your glass.
What does on Tap Beer mean?
It means that the beer is coming out of a tap from a barrel and not served in a bottle. “On tap” means that the beer is drawn from a large container, such as a keg, and poured directly into the glass. The opposite of “on tap” would be beer in a bottle. “Draft beer” is beer that is on tap. I haven’t heard it referred to as “on draft”.