How do you feel about guest drafts at brewpubs?

I think it's a great Idea and it strengthens the craft beer scene. It also shows that a brewpub isn't afraid to have 'competition' with their own beers.

 

My favorite brewpub in my area has 65 taps, maybe 7-10 of which is their beer. I love it, because the guest taps are often chock full of rarities, one-offs and of course some solid year round offerings. In a smaller brewpub, I still appreciate it. Not sure if it shows confidence or lack of in their product, but it gives customers more choice. Variety is the spice of life.

 

I appreciate it when it’s a result of unusual business or personal relationships and allows me to purchase beer that I ordinarily would not have access to in my area.

 

Mixed feelings on this topic. I'd rather see a quality brewery or brewpub cranking out their own beers and having them on tap, but if they're small production or only specialize in a handful of styles, it's beneficial to have those guest taps to fill the voids. It may even be that the brewer isn't very familiar with a particular style and opts to carry someone else's product in that place. I respect that acknowledgment of ability and their gap in product variety. Otherwise the only other time I'd be on the look out for guest taps at a brewing facility of some sort is if their in-house beer is just mediocre (can name a couple I've visited, usually with good food that keeps them in business), then I may not visit unless they have at least one quality guest tap.

 

I think more brewpubs should have guest taps. It's a fantastic idea.

 

It seems to me this benefits everybody. My local five miles away can literally tap into a keg from 50 miles away and I benefit. The brewers have different strengths with various styles and my local who makes a good stout can bring in a good lager or Kolsch which benefits both brewers who don't then have to brew all over the map to suit a range of customers.

 

No problem with that at all. In WV we have a brewpub that carries some WV stuff that we can't get in distro here (we live so close to Ohio that the other breweries just kind of ignore our area).

 

I don't have a problem with it, as long as it is well thought out. Usually if I am going to a brewery I want to drink their beer. However, I have been to breweries where they focused on a few styles that were not that interesting to me. In that case I like the option of choosing something different.

 

I think its great as long as the guest tap is equal to or better than the brew pubs offerings.

 

I'm all for it, especially in the case of a small brewery where it gives them more time to produce a better beer than just fill the pipeline.

The ONLY time I don't like guest beers is when they are not clearly marked - I don't want to accidentally order a beer from another brewery if... there's no tap handle; it's not listed as being from another brewery on the beer board; it's listed on the printed menu in small letters beneath, or better yet, with an asterisk and then in small letters beneath. I've run into this a few times and it's irritating.

 

If that's the way they want to run their business, then what the hell. It's America. Folks should run their business how they see fit. The market will decide if they have chosen wisely or not.

 

I definitely agree that it strengthens craft beer culture.

I would say 3/4's of all the brewpubs in my area also carry other local beers. Myself personally, I usually just get the house made stuff but it certainly is nice to have more options than just what they make there.

 

Frontier Brewing in Casper, not a brewpub, always has good guest beers on draught and tap takeovers every Thursday that I can remember. Pretty sweet!

 

I might just be spacing out but I'm having a hard time thinking of many places here in MA that offer them (it's certainly way lower than 68% whatever it is). I wonder whether there might be a regulatory sort of thing going on where a standard license only covers beers brewed on premise.

I'd be happy to see more of it though. Never hurts to have more choices and there's not really time to physically visit every single brewery these day anyhow.

 

Easy money.

Plus for some smaller places, it' has better margins than stuff they make themselves.

To answer op, I'm not exactly a fan anymore. If it's a brewery tasting room, I don't think guest taps can benefit. But I do know it's a regulatory thing in NM. You pretty much can't sell out of state beer without a real license. These smaller breweries can guest tap all they want without much of a hiccup or change in their license. It definitely benefits the local scene. But far too many use it as a crutch. Am I going to a beer bar or a brewery? Sometimes it's blurred too much for my liking.

 

My local guys have guest taps and I think it is a good thing.

 

Loves it. New beers to try.

 

Live Edge Brewing in Burt, NY (hour outside Buffalo) has 4 of their own beers, but 16 guest taps. Thing is, their 4 beers are fantastic and the guest taps rival most craft bars. They get Lawsons, Singlecut, Founders seasonals, and a bunch of local stuff. Do i wish they made more of their own brews? Sure because i know they have the talent to pull it off. But what they have, along with the food is great so i don't mind much

 

It's a good community and this is the easiest way to support one another. I love it

That said, I rarely ever go for a guest tap unless its a brewery I really, really am into