Tap (Draft) vs. Bottled Beer

I'd say it really depends on the beer. I have had many on tap beers that by the time the waiter gets it to me its almost not enjoyable because it has warmed up quite a bit. Dirty tap lines are also a huge problem and that can ruin beers instantly. I would say the majority of the beer I drink comes from a bottle though.

 

For me it depends on the style of beer. I usually prefer the bigger bold beers out of a bottle and the less complex beers from a keg. Assuming the staff pouring the keg knows a little bit about what they are doing. To add to that my favorite way to enjoy a beer is on tap right at the brewery. I can't think of a better way.

 

unless im at my bar at work, i ask for a bottle and a room temp glass.

 

As long as I know the place keeps it's kegs fresh and it's lines clean I go with tap

 

It is beer specific for me. For some reason Firestone DBA is a beer that always tastes better on draft. Most IPA's I tend to prefer bottled/canned.

 

I used to think draft beer was better. But I found that bottles were as good if not better pretty much all the time. Plus you get much more bang for the buck from bottles. But a draft at your local bar does go down very well sometimes.

 

Tap by far! But I have some really awesome places in my area that keep their lines super clean and know how to fill a pint properly.

 

Always prefer kegs - especially if we're talking about homebrews, where I can keep my lines clean. I personally think home brewed beer tastes exponentially better out of a keg. For non-homebrews the few places I venture out to these days for beers all specialize in having a great beer selection or are breweries, so they seem to keep their lines clean. Haven't had a beer taste bad out of a tap in years (unless of course the beer tastes bad to begin with). I will say though that for some reason Myrcenary does taste better out of a bottle to me. Haven't figured that one out.

 

Yes, it's often bad at regular restaurants and bars as well as beer focused bars. It's truly the minority situation when a place does have clean lines.

 

Drinking beer on draft is sometimes better than the bottle or can. However, the draft lines are often not maintained properly, damaging the taste and head retention.

 

There's just something about having that bottle in front of me that makes it so much better. I mean, I love Pliny on tap, but I love it even more when that bottle is next to my glass.

 

I don't go to places that don't respect the beer enough to keep the lines clean.

 

Tap is always better, unless it is a beer that needs aged. Then I always get impatient with the full pint in front of me. I want to drink it, but I know it's better to wait 30-40 minutes for it to age.

 

Dirty tap lines is huge, but also relation of coolers to taps. Some places have a good 20-feet of line where the beer is sitting room-temp between the cooler & the tap. Buyer be-aware.

 

I run the kegs at work, solving all of everyone else's problems...

 

why does that matter? serious question

 

A few pints can be sitting in the lines warming up, especially if it is a beer not ordered often.

 

Bottles at home. Tap when I go out. As far as dirty lines, you should be able to tell something by the turnover of the beer and the volume of business the place does.