"Draft list last updated: April 22nd, 2013"

With you on this. I really like places that keep an updated tap list.

I have skipped over places that did not have an updated list in favor of those that did when visiting from out of town. What other details are lacking?

With such an emphasis on seasonals and one offs, it is more important than ever.

 

They probably dont care about updating the list no worries...it happens w a few distributors near me that actually have a great selection so i dont think theyre hiding anything...its prob just that they like fb and twitter more

 

Surprised more people don't feel so. I try not to judge a book by the cover but in the absence of other information--a tap list on line is what you get when you are visiting from out of town-. OF course some BA reviews are good, too. I agree that the social media outlet is replacing a bit of this but I don't use it.

 

I can only guess Dohertys was and still is focusing on there new location in Warwick. I constantly check there website and know that date. They should at least give updates on facebook like most do.

 

My preference goes to places with up to date lists, I avoid places with old lists. I like to see what my choices are before I pick a place. Www.beermenus.com in New York is great, places that keep their list up to date get preference from me.

 

I noticed no publicans have chimed in as yet. Interesting.

Perhaps that is because there really is no excuse. To me it shows, at best, laziness. At worst, it shows a lack of understanding of their customer base. In either case it insults the customer base, and makes me wonder what else the establishment lets slip. If they can't be bothered to update the tap list for months, perhaps they're also lax on food quality, cleanliness, customer service, food safety...

Also, it's just plain dopey marketing, especially if your defining business proposition is an extensive tap list. Not making an updated list available is like saying, "We have 100 beers! Now guess which ones!"

 

I factor posted tap lists as part of the service when I rate a location. If the list is not maintained or worse, maintained infrequently, it is bad service. If someone cannot maintain a list are they making sure tap lines are cleaned? It really is all part of the deal when you carry craft beer.

I try not to frequent these places; there are enough places that do keep a good list that are better choices.

 

In my younger days, when I wanted to go out for a beer, I would visit one of my regular bars and pick from whatever they had on tap. These days, it's much more of an effort for me to get out, and now I do so when I know a bar has something I really want to drink. Ultimately, this means that a bar that does not update it's online list is a bar that I do not end up going to. For me, this is due to practicality rather than prejudice.

There's a place by me that had not updated it's tap list in months. I was in the neighborhood recently and dropped in because they are also a bottle shop. The guy there was very nice and was going out of his way to accommodate me. We were talking about his plans for the bar/shop, and I courteously suggested that they update their tap list. I told him that I often go out of my way to a bar when I know what they have... and there are certainly others who do the same. It's simply good for business. That bar has been updating their list ever since.

 

I hate this. I often ask why they don't update. the most common excuse is time. they are too busy.

1. just have a twitter feed in the page instead

Or

2. just fuckin take it off the Website!!!

 

I run a fairly busy bar/restaurant with 20 rotating taps. A few are static that we keep on all the time, almost all local beers. Whenever we put a new beer on tap, I immediately take the time to update our draft page on our website, and will occasionally post it to facebook if it is a specialty/seasonal beer that people have been asking about. Wish more places would do this, because, as pointed out earlier, it gives people the ability to see, and maybe even decide what they would like to drink before getting here. Since I have taken over here, there hasn't been any instance of someone coming in and asking for a beer they saw on our website and we didn't have it and I take pride in that. Customer service IS the foundation of this business afterall

 

Used to go grab a few beers and eat at a local bar. Draft list goes from amazing to blah. They have NO web site and do not do any draft lists anywhere. I used to drop by a few times a month but the list was not always worth the ride. I asked why no online and was told we want you to keep coming in to see what we have. Well the food prices have gone up and the quality has gone down and I have not been there in over a year. If they had a list I would stop by for beers when the list was good but now I never go.

I will continue to go to places with updated lists online. I do not use fb or other social media.

Sure my $600-700 a year does not hurt or help them but multiply that by every person not coming due to not knowing what's on rap and I bet it adds up a bit.

Enjoy

 

That is a great way to do things. I do not have issue if you miss a few beers. Business gets busy and that's more important than instant web updates. Kegs kick, I understand. With $ limited I go to places with a list so I pay for things I like and not end up needing to go elsewhere when the list stinks. I do not go out as often as I used to but I use Philly tap finder when I do.

Enjoy

 

If it's not up to date, why have it at all?

We update ours in "real time".
It's really not that hard once it becomes part of the routine to changing a keg.

 

Most of the best places near me update very sporadically and typically don't have several of the beers I saw on their old list. It's annoying, really annoying (for me, at least). I completely agree with you on this and have wondered the same thing.

My opinion is that it's laziness more than anything. It's not how I'd operate my business. I feel having an updated tap list can only benefit the establishment, which is why the frequency of non-update tap lists on websites amazes me so much. I don't think an owner or employee who works at a place where this is common is going to come into this thread and admit their laziness though...