I have been wondering why some beers taste so different on draft vs in a bottle/can and others are very similar in either format. I mean, the only difference in a keg is it's a bigger volume of beer per container and it stays pressurized with the tap system. In a bottle/can it stays pressurized from its our carbonation. There are tons of examples of either - very different or close to the same in either form - my 2 most recent experiences are listed below. I had a 21st Amendment Bitter American on draft and was surprised how good it was - the nose was flowery and citrusy - so I bought a 6 pack. It was still good but not near as good as the draft version - less aroma and flavor. With that said what beers have you found that are almost identical on draft or in the can/bottle? Maine Beer Co. Lunch is close to the same in either from. What beers have you had that are the same OR very different on draft vs bottle/can?
I found that Ale Asylum was better on tap than in a bottle. They have a best by date on their bottles, so I have no real idea when they were actually bottled. For the most part, I usually can't tell a difference as my palette can be so different on a day to day basis due to a number of variables. I have noticed that if I chewed some gum even an hour or 2 before drinking a beer, that beer can taste much different than it did the day before.
I think there are many factors at play with beer on tap vs bottle/can. Dirty and otherwise contaminated lines can play a role in what you're getting in the glass flavor wise. You also may not be told how old the beer is on draft - could be fresh and delicious or old and less so? I've had Resin and Jai Alai and they were just as delicious as the cans I normally get. I had a pour of Marshall Zhukov at a bar and it had a burnt soy sauce taste that lingered for a while. Out of the bottle a week or so later was as advertised and delicious (no trace of Soy sauce.) So I tend to chalk up the first, not good taste, to the bar/tap lines and not CCB. Just a few examples I've had. But overall I rarely see a difference.
