9 replies to this topic

[irnscrabblechf52]

generally, i've been ordering whatever's on draft--not for any particular reason? if a beer is available draft and in bottle, is there a systematic way to determine which should be ordered?

[Sneakeater]

For the very little it's worth, I do the same thing you do. I always assumed that draft is per se better than bottles. Probably, that's wrong.

[plattetude]

Depends partly on the bar, partly on the beer.

If the draft lines are cleaned regularly and the kegs changed often enough, draft will be the best for most beers. For most beers, "fresher" = better. Exception would potentially be bottle aged beers (most Belgians, for instance), where the beer is bottled with residual yeast so that it continues to evolve as it ages. Instructive to go someplace that offers a range of Belgian beer and has some of the tap options in bottles too -- try them side by side to see that they can be wildly different.

Bottles can get skunky if not held properly (especially green and clear bottles). Odds are, though, if the bottles are skunky at a given bar, the lines won't be maintained well, so it's a toss up.

Christopher

[g.johnson]

Draught and bottled beers are different things (or should be). If you can get both, one (probably the bottled) will be shit (London Pride) or both will be (Bud).

[irnscrabblechf52]

Draught and bottled beers are different things (or should be). If you can get both, one (probably the bottled) will be shit (London Pride) or both will be (Bud).

yea i've only had london pride draft

[AaronS]

almost all bottle conditioned stuff will be much better on draft.

[ghostrider]

The very best beers, to my taste, are cask-conditioned. They are literally what the term states, aged in the cask with no added CO2. Most draft beers are brewed in vats & then transferred to kegs with added CO2.

Cask beers aren't easy to find, but IMHO are worth the effort. dba generally has one on tap -

http://www.drinkgood.../ny/default.asp

- or if you're ever in Jersey -

http://andyscornerbar.blogspot.com/

[Stone]

I think with any kegs/casks there is an issue with freshness/maintenance. At DBA, I would trust them to switch out a keg, even the hand-pulled casks.

In general, for less-discriminating fellows like me, it used to be that draft was less-expensive than bottles. I'm not sure that is still the case.

[irnscrabblechf52]

I think with any kegs/casks there is an issue with freshness/maintenance. At DBA, I would trust them to switch out a keg, even the hand-pulled casks.

In general, for less-discriminating fellows like me, it used to be that draft was less-expensive than bottles. I'm not sure that is still the case.

still the case (another factor in my decision making)

[AaronS]

I was thinking about this today and I can only think of one beer that's better in the bottle - beer table table beer by stillwater.

irnscr666 - there's a decent but not great place to buy beer on washington a few blocks south of atlantic. it just changed hands and is no longer full of ancient beer. good prices, the selection could be a lot better.