Tap (Draft) vs. Bottled Beer

Because draught beer gives you headaches, duh!

 

My friend refuses to drink from glasses because he wants people to know he's drinking Bud Light Platinum.

 

Thanks like bragging about eating bologna

 

A while back some friends of mine owned a bar/restaurant, and they made the same sort of observation about their clientele. They would sell a ton of draught beer, but not the BMCs. Those guys were strict bottle drinkers- didn't even want a glass. We surmised that image had a lot to do with that decision, but I figured we were just being cynical at the time.

 

Why would you want to show that you're a sheep? That's what I should ask him.

 

I agree with this, at least to a certain extent. If you watch commercials for these products, people primarily drink from bottles. They have established a sort of "coolness" factor with drinking from a bottle.

Side note: you'll never see beer being consumed in these commercials...there's some kind of regulation against showing someone actually drinking beer. There are always cuts away before they drink, and you'll even see people clink their glasses together then set them back down without taking a drink.

 

For me it depends on secondary fermentation. Often most Belgians are better from the bottle than on tap.

But, Guinness nitro cans are unreal. I don't think I've ever had Guinness taste better than out of a nitro can; although I have yet to visit St James Gate.

 

I agree

 

I've only ever had Peroni once and it was on-tap so correct me if I'm wrong but isn't it a green bottle? That right there would give the draught version a huge advantage. Other than that, I still pick tap 9 times out of 10 because it doesn't make sense to me to buy something at the bar that I could drink at home for less money. Only if I come across a bottle that I know I won't find at the store will I occasionally splurge (i.e. Cantillon at a place like Ebenezers).

 

Corrected my spelling

 

One reason for bottle over draft would be if you have reason to suspect the lines are not regularly cleaned.

 

Sometimes you just have that need to wrap your lips around a nozzle.

 

Given that the lines are clean for the draught, I'd prefer draught over bottles but if both are available in town, I'll take both, thank you very much. Caveat, I have to like the brew.

 

I think its mostly a feeling that I can always buy the bottle at another time, but experiencing the same beer on draught is an opportunity that I may not get as often. Most of the places I go to regularly are very good with maintaining tap lines, so I don't have the concerns there.

 

is it proper to use the term "draught" when drinking anything other than an English beer?

 

There are certainly pro's and con's to each option. Many have already been said about draft: QC problems, carb, cleanliness, and others.

For a "normal" beer, which I would certainly classify Peroni as, I think there is little difference. If it's in a green or clear bottle, however, erring on the side of the draft saves oxidation off-flavors from light. Also, the screw tops on many mainstream bottles would create the same amout of CO2 variability you may expect to find at a questionable pub.

On the other hand, certain beers benefit from bottling. Belgians and other yeast-driven beers tend to benefit from time in the bottle. St. Bernardus Abt. 12, for example, tastes (in my opinion) far inferior on tap. Also, many german wheat beers taste better when the yeast gets kicked back up into the beer from the sediment layer in the bottle, whereas this isn't as prevalent in draft options.

Conversely, many beers are better when they are fresh and aren't subjected to the effects of age and light. IPA's and hoppy stouts tend to carry their nice flavors and aromas better if they are pulled properly from a keg. If you've ever tried a Scandinavian IPA after it has been shipped over to the states, and had the same on draft, you'll know what I mean.

So, rule of thumb for me: if you want a yeast driven, strong, or darker beer, I tend to prefer the bottle. If you're drinking for freshness in a big or ddry-hopped IPA, go for the tap. Also, the tap is a novelty. Even if Abt 12 isn't as good from the lines, it's still fun to try it fresh if you never have. Beer is all about being adventurous and trying new things, anyway.

 

That must be the subconscious reason I never drink from a bottle. I'm so homophobic, I eat hot dogs sideways.

 

The only reason I order bottles at bars is if I would have a hell of a time finding it at a store.

 

Nicely done.

If you could just fix this quote, "If it's in a green or clear bottle, however, erring on the side of the draft saves oxidation off-flavors from light." I would be even happier.

Time and O² cause oxidation, not light.

But really, truly, the rest is spot on mate.

::: Applause :::

 

Is it lebenon bologna? That stuffs only made in Lebenon pa.