Tap health report cards

Who would do the inspection?

 

Tap cleaning isn't considered a food safety issue and most states don't have laws to ensure they are clean, unfortunately. (i believe...)

 

This is a great idea but does any 3rd party entity do tap line inspections? And if so, are they required and regulated to ensure uniformity? My guess is: no, no, and no. But I could definitely be wrong, and if these are being done (appropriately) then the info should be made available.

 

While I'd like to see some industry standard method for cleaning and certifying, this would add labor costs and increase prices.

 

Beer is definitely a food product. In my opinion it is incumbent on any establishment that serves draft beer that they keep track of their "lines" and that they have the means to keep the lines clean. All too often, the big wholesale companies will provide regular cleaning with the establishment "giving" them the taps in exchange. This is sheer laziness. The best places that I know prevent this type of sales pressure by choosing their own draft choices and cleaning their own lines.

 

It's not that stuff will grow in the beer, but that beer will leave behind organics and can harbor bacterial growth inside the pipes. But I guess we don't see any food borne illness come from it, so it doesn't really get looked at as a food safety concern.

 

I've had infected tap beer, and never having experienced it before, did not realize it until I finished. I couldn't get the metallic taste out of my mouth for about 24 hours. But, didn't get sick at all. So, yeah it sucks, but not generally a health hazard.

 

There's something called "cask Marque" in the uk that's along this line, however it is not perfect as I don't think they test often enough. Pubs pay to join the scheme then get a little certificate if they pass and go on the schemes app. It's also cask only

http://cask-marque.co.uk/about/

 

Sounds to me like an idea that should be floated among the companies that offer Tap Cleaning services, especially in states with laws that prevent distributors from offering free tap line cleaning services.

It should work, e.g., Philadelphia has something like that offered by a Tap Cleaning Service.

http://mainstreetbev.com/Main_Street_Beverage_Draught_Beer_Services/perfect_draught_beer.html

BTW, what are some examples of businesses required to post a healthy grade on the window? Don't think we have that sort of thing in PA, at least I don't remember seeing it.

 

"More than three dozen states do require regular (tap) cleanings..." according to Larry Bell of Bell's Brewery in 2013.

For just one example: Pennsylvania:

Or Rhode Island, where:

Of course, laws and regulations are only as good as they are administered via inspections, fines, etc.

Complicating the subject is that some states require wholesalers to clean them while others specifically prohibit the distributors cleaning the lines:
http://www.qualitydraftsystems.com/The_Inconvenient_Truth.pdf

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Had a friend that cleaned taps and I believe Stone cleans all their tap lines wherever their product is being served for no charge to the owner. And as well as other breweries they're affiliated with.

 

I believe that, if it is the case, would be restricted to CA and probably even more narrowly to the areas where Stone also has a distribution Company. Certainly they are not to be found in the SE PA area cleaning tap lines for their beer.

 

I would volunteer my services to sample beer from taps in my local area to make sure they are up to par.

 

I have had beer that tasted like I was being poisoned from dirty beer lines. One craft brewer of former note that is local.