25 Open Taps...How would you split them up?

will you be offering an occasional beer on cask?

 

Very nice, none of my nearby beer places are that diverse, that's for sure.

 

5 Taps of locals ,5 taps of regional, 5 taps of national , 5 taps of fruit ale and cider , 3 taps for the hard to get stuff you know you are going to hunt down , and alas two taps for bud light and miller light so people can get that buddy who doesn't drink fancy foo foo beer to come along because they have his manly beer on tap , then we can start the process of changing him into a real beer drinker once we get him in the doors

 

Most important to me is knowing what is on tap without going to the bar. A well updated website makes me a customer. Most of the places I like to go update their draft list frequently online. I really like that. I sit at work and do a "fantasy draft" So I get a sense of new things to try, and old staples. My 2 cents.

 

There are two approaches to this question.

One is from the beer geek/enthusiast perspective.

One is from the business/economic perspective.

Of course, since I don't imagine you are doing this as a charity or with the intention to lose money, it will need to be a balance of the two. That may mean having some beer available that would not score all that well on BA. Oh well, no need for snobbery. If someone wants a Budweiser or a Molson Canadian and enjoys it - good for them.

 

There is the mix between styles/breweries but also the turnover rate, whether it is to keep things fresh or to keep people coming back because they know they can always get something they haven't had from you (or perhaps anyone) before. One of the reasons I keep going back to my local beer bar is because they turnover at least a third of their taps weekly. That also helps them offer a variety within a style (because they aren't stuck with that many taps of that style for long) or do something like the 12 beers of Xmas on draft.

If I was you I'd spend some quality time at the competition - between seeing their taps and seeing what people are actually buying it should help you hone in on the right mix, or at least right enough to open and make some money while you are fine tuning.

 

I think variety is good. I agree with previous posts... I wouldn't get too hung up on having to have a certain amount of local vs national. I would encourage more to focus on carrying a majority of good styles and types of beers for seasons with a couple year round.

so in the fall and winter maybe have 13 good porters and stouts and some BA stuff. then in the spring summer change it to be 13 IPAs and crisp lagers and gose. This way your lineup stays fresh. I also agree with the thought that if you want to target certain breweries' whales, you will need to cultivate relationships with them and carry their year round stuff.

best of luck!

 

25 taps of Bourbon County. Maybe 24 with a tap of BCBCS.

 

13 local
2 ciders(for the non beer likers)
10 import(shelton bros exclusives)

 

Minimal local, the locals aren't all that good except for Jade which is rotating.

Ips'a are popular maybe 4 that are a bit different in style\
DIPA's to compliment the above maybe 2
BA Stout or Porter if around.
A RIS of some type
Definitely a few seasonal offerings, whether Pumpkin or Xmas
A local Pils or craft lager.
A German Pils or lager.
Hard Cider
A fruit beer of some style like Purple Haze which is a year round brew.
Since I'm in the market of making money PBR, Bud Light , probably a Yuengling to do pitcher specials etc.

You run a beer bar without BMC stuff offered in pitchers specials you'll go broke only catering to 5% of beer drinkers. Offering in cans only I don't think is sufficient. Putting beers on tap that are low in demand seems like a waste, I don't think offering Old Ales or Berliners make much sense, you'll tap them to die of neglect I think.

 

Stone is not national.

 

Cheers to the Gluten Free and Cider taps! My wife has a gluten intolerance and while most places are getting better with having a few bottles, seeing things like this on tap would definitely be appreciated. It would also get me to more beer bars

 

It might be a unique idea to have one or two taps for customers choice to keep folks interacting and up on your tap choices. Have 3-5 beers that your clients can vote on - either via your website or other outlets. It will allow for them to submit feedback about preferred styles so you can shape the direction of the taps. Maybe even have them submit 'dream tap list' that you can share with your distributors.

 

also @maltmaster420 insight - not only about approaches but looking at the sales numbers is super helpful. i think that while there are some passionate folks on BA there is also the larger majority who make up the revenue dollars and the key is the balancing act between them.

 

I hate when beers get tap space just for being local or regional. I get that it may attract customers but I have stopped going to my old local spot due to this. I want the best beers possible, regardless of where they come from.

 

It's pretty much national. and in about 2 years it will be global.

 

He's opening his bar in Seattle. Its a little bit different up here. I can't remember the last time i went to tap house and saw BMC on tap or where you could order beers in pitchers.

 

profit margins are smaller on sixtels so as an owner try to avoid them and go w/ stuff that moves and puts $$$ in the bank

 

I would think couple main points:
Get to know your competition and local customers. Would want to know why places are successful or not and what the locals want.
Diversity is good, but remember need some beers that non BA or adventurous drinkers will recognize and want to drink and feel comfortable.
Be flexible - serve what people want and that can change over time and seasons and recognize that what might be top of BAs list might not be top of list of big sellers

I'm not a buy local fanatic, but I do agree if you can get friendly with local breweries that is probably good way to have fun promotions and get some great local beer .... although people may have lots of choices to get that local beer, I know I would go to a bar to find beers I can't normally get locally so finding ways to bring in those great unique beers would be good to help business I would think too

 

Apex and Saraveza both have Hamm's, but I don't think either place does pitchers.