Your customers demand quality beer and we know you want to exceed their expectations. Your customers are seeking to taste beer the way the brewer intended and that only happens when it has been stored, tapped, and poured correctly. Never fear, we have you covered. These tips will have you serving draft beer at its finest which will have your customers running back for more.

Temperature: The optimum temperature for storing and serving most cold beer is between 34-38ºF. Unpasteurized beer should be chilled on the colder side to keep the live bacteria and yeasts that ferment the beer dormant. From the moment you receive the keg until it is empty, it’s important to maintain the proper temperature or you will sacrifice the quality of the beer. High temperatures can causes excess foam, while low temperatures produce a flat taste because the flavor is not being released.

Pressure: Keep each beer at the CO2 level determined by the brewer. Deviations from the brewers pressure recommendation can alter the taste, the foaminess, and the appearance of the beer. Beer that is kept at a pressure that is too high or too low can cause excessive foaminess or flatness. Temperature and pressure work together to retain the beer’s intended taste and aroma.

Handle with Care: All kegs should come with a “contents are fragile, handle with care” sticker. Okay, that may be a bit of an overkill. But the more settled a keg is before you tap it, the better the beer will taste. Excessive shaking or rolling around right before tapping will release the wrong about of foam leading to inconsistency.

Tracking: Keep track of the beer you have on tap. How long ago was it tapped? Is this a variety that ages well? Draft beer, especially non-pasteurized, is generally best consumed within 30 days. We know the thought of beer going down the drain breaks your heart as much as it does ours. But it just won’t do to be serving past prime beer.

We believe you have to treat beer like a living creature if you want to taste it how the brewer intended. Draft Beer Services offers biweekly, monthly, or quarterly preventative maintenance plans to fit your needs and budget. Knowing that your system and beer lines are in pristine condition leaves you one less thing to worry about. Give us a call today!