How Draft Systems Get Beer From Keg to Glass
Beer holds a special place in the hearts of many. Its smooth pour, frothy head, and crisp taste elevate the drinking experience to new heights.
But have you ever paused to ponder the journey of beer from keg to glass? Let's explore the intricacies of delivering draft beer and uncover the inner workings of the direct-draw beer system.
What is Draft Beer?
Fresh beer served straight from a keg, not bottled or canned, is called draft beer. Instead, it flows through a system of tubes and taps to reach your glass. The word "draft" comes from an old word meaning "to pull" or "to draw." So, draft beer is pulled or drawn from the keg when you order it.
Beer is often served in bars, restaurants, and pubs straight from a keg located in a cooler. Many people prefer it because it tastes fresh and has a frothy layer on top of a beer, referred to as the head or collar. When poured from a properly installed and maintained draft system, it's like getting beer right from the brewery.
Draft vs Draught Beer
Before we get into how direct draw systems work, let's clear up the confusion between "draft," pronounced [dr-ah-ft], and "draught," pronounced [dra-ft].
Draft Beer
In North America, "draft" is the preferred spelling for most contexts. When discussing imported or specialty beer on tap, "draught" is sometimes used, but it's less common.
"Draft" is the standard term for beer served fresh from a keg. So, when you see "draft beer," it refers to beer on tap. This term is widely used in bars, restaurants, and breweries.
Whether you're in a lively brewpub in Manhattan or a casual bar, enjoying a pint of "draft" beer is a unique experience. It's a symbol of craftsmanship, with each pour bringing the brewery's essence right to your glass.
Draught Beer
In the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, "draught" is more commonly used to describe unpasteurized beer served directly from a keg or cask. Draught beer is often preferred to highlight the traditional and authentic experience of enjoying beer on tap.
Whether in a cozy English pub or a traditional tavern, sipping on a pint of "draught" beer offers a taste of quality and history. Each pour delivers the authentic flavor of the brewery, making every glass unique.
How Does a Draft Beer System Work?
A straightforward draft beer system uses gas pressure to transport beer from a keg to the tap for serving. The beer kegs are stored in coolers, ensuring they remain chilled at the right temperatures until they're ready to be served. Once a customer orders a beer, the bartender pulls the tap handle, initiating the flow of beer.
Draft Beer is pressurized beer in a keg that goes through a carbonation process at the brewery. A coupler is attached to the keg, allowing the beverage gas to be pushed into the keg and beer to be pushed out. Typically beverage gas is carbon dioxide (CO2) or a blend of nitrogen and CO2, (depending on the type of beer in the keg or the distance from the keg to the tap), which helps propel the beer through the system. This pressure also maintains the beer’s carbonation levels in the keg, ensuring it remains fresh and effervescent.
The gas pressure is regulated based on a number of factors, including the distance from the cooler to the tap, the storage temperature of the kegs, the ABV% of the beer in the keg, the elevation of the location, and the CO2 Volume in the kegs from the brewery. A Draft System that has the correct pressure balance and temperatures should dispense at a rate of 2 ounces per second and should be relatively foam-free with a slight head at the end of the pour. The patron should then be able to enjoy a chilled and properly carbonated beer with each pull of the tap handle.
Type of Draft Beer Systems
Remote Long Draw Draft Beer System
This type of draft beer system is utilized when there is a long distance from the keg to the tap. Glycol is used due to its ability to help maintain the beer temperature and deliver cold beer at long distances. In a glycol-cooled remote (long draw) draft beer system, the beer in the keg is stored at 36-38 degrees utilizing the cold air in the walk-in cooler. Insulated Trunk Lines consist of multiple beer lines tightly surrounding, and taped to glycol coolant lines, ensuring all beer lines are in direct contact with the glycol cooling lines. Trunk lines are run from the walk-in cooler to the tower, and glycol power packs are used to refrigerate and circulate the glycol coolant running through the cooling lines. The coolant bath in the glycol power pack is maintained at a temperature between 27-34͒, and pumps circulate the coolant through the cooling lines. This type of system is not designed to cool the beer running through the beer lines, it is designed to maintain the beer temperature in the beer lines as they run through the long trunk lines.
Direct Draw Draft Beer System
A direct-draw draft beer system has taps directly off from a walk-in cooler, a back bar kegerator, or a kegerator under the counter. The beer kegs are stored, cooled, and tapped in the same cooler. The beer in the keg, beer line, and beer tower connected to the faucet is chilled by circulated cold air. It is recommended to store kegs at 36° F for optimum performance.
This is the most common and straightforward draft beer system when delivering draft beer from a keg to a tap over a short distance. It is a less expensive option than glycol chilling. Operators experience minimal beer waste due to the short length of the beer lines. The cost of a direct-draw draft beer system depends on the number of beer kegs and taps, the size of the walk-in cooler or kegerator, and the overall quality of the installation.
Draft Systems Parts & Components
Keg Cooler
Most beer kegs are stored in a walk-in cooler and are kept cold by cold air circulating around the kegs.. The cooler's primary function is to keep the beer cold, at an optimal temperature of 36°. This temperature is essential to help preserve carbonation in the beer keg, maintaining its freshness and crispness from keg to glass..
Keg
Ah, the keg — the heart and soul of any beer draft system. Kegs come in various sizes and materials. But stainless steel reigns supreme in the beer world. Inside each keg lies a valve that allows gas to flow in and beer to flow out. To extract beer from the keg, gas pressure is applied, forcing the liquid up through beer lines and out to the tap.
Each product line within the draft systems connects to a distinct beer keg stored in the walk-in cooler. These kegs are linked to CO2 or nitrogen cylinders via gas blenders and pressure regulators.
Coupler
The coupler serves as the bridge between the keg and the rest of the system. This nifty device connects to two tubes: one for gas in, and one for beer out. By connecting the coupler at the top of the keg and opening the valve, the coupler initiates the gas flow into the keg pushing the beer out.
Gas
Gas is the unsung hero of all draft systems, responsible for propelling the beer from keg to glass, and maintaining the proper carbonation level in the keg. Most establishments use bottled carbon dioxide and nitrogen gasses to pressurize their kegs. A regulator is added to allow operators to control the pressure levels. It is recommended that each keg have it’s own secondary gas regulator because different style of beer kegs can come from the brewery with different CO2 Content, so different pressures are needed to properly maintain carbonation.
Tubing aka Beer Line
As the beer flows through the system, it travels through tubing called beer line. This beer line ensures the beer maintains its integrity as it journeys from the keg to the faucet. In setups where beer must travel long distances from keg to tap, the beer tubing is tightly grouped around glycol cooling lines, wrapped in insulation and jacketed. These cooled and insulated groups of tubing are called Trunk Lines.
Faucet aka Taps
Last but not least, we have the beer dispensing faucet—the gateway to your beer-filled dreams. Controlled by pulling the tap handle, the faucet has a plunger that when opened allows the flow of beer into your glass. Different beverages can use different faucets.
Getting It Right
Setting up your beer system perfectly is crucial for serving great beer. It's not only about putting the parts together. But it's about getting everything working just right. A draft beer system needs to find the perfect balance between gas pressures in the keg and the resistance built in the system. Temperature can also affect how it pours. That's why it's best to have a professional install your system. They can make sure everything is set up correctly and explain how it all works in detail.
Conclusion
Knowing how a draft beer system works helps us see the skill in each pour. Whether it's a traditional British pub or a trendy craft beer bar, draft beer systems stand for quality. They connect people with their favorite beers in an authentic, engaging way.
At GS Draft, we love providing top-notch draft beer solutions for businesses and beer fans. We offer a wide range of parts and components, including glycol-cooled systems, direct draw setups, and more. We are committed to helping you get the perfect pour every time.
Feel the difference with GS Draft. Enhance your draft beer experience like never before. Whether you own a bar, looking to add a bar keg system, or you're a homebrewer needing professional equipment, we have everything you need. Make your draft beer dreams come true. Cheers to great beer and memorable moments with friends and family!
