Over the past several decades, small-batch, independently produced beer (sometimes called “craft” beer) has become a major market segment in the beverage industry. Although once controlled almost completely by several big-name “mega-breweries,” the North American beer market is now rife with small but influential breweries, each with their own variety of ales, lagers, and stouts. With new beer being released and new breweries opening every day, offering customers a variety of unique and interesting craft beers has become a highly profitable business venture for many bars and restaurants.
Craft beer, although increasingly popular, can sometimes be expensive. Because it is sold in smaller batches, the price per bottle can often be significantly higher than the mass-produced standby brews. As such, many bars have begun stocking a wider selection of draft beer in an effort to keep costs down without having to cut their selection. Anything bought in bulk (such as buying kegs vs. individual beer bottles) will save money in the long run, but keeping a supply of beer kegs cleaned and maintained introduces a new set of responsibilities for your bartenders and cleaning staff. Here are a few tips and practices to keep in mind to get the most out of your beer supply.
Clean Tap Lines Regularly
It may seem obvious to those just starting out, but after a few months of maintaining several dozen kegs of beer at a time, routine cleaning is going to start to seem like a massive chore. But frequent cleaning is absolutely necessary to keep your beer clean and tasting fresh. Ideally, tap lines should be cleaned every time that a keg is replaced, but this is usually not realistic, especially during busy hours. On average, tap lines should be cleaned out at least once every six weeks to prevent scale, mineral, or bacteria build-up.
Keep Taps and Faucets Clean
Cleaning tap lines comes with the territory when offering draft beer, but it is also important to keep your tap faucets cleaned on an equally consistent schedule. Tap faucets tend to retain some moisture after each pour, making them a breeding ground for potentially harmful bacteria if left uncleaned. Taps and tap faucets should be removed, scrubbed, and sterilized at least twice a week, if not at the close of business every evening.
Get the Most Out of Each Pour
Buying in bulk is an easy way to save money, but the lack of discrete packaging can also introduce more opportunity for wasted product. Make sure that your bartending staff is well-trained in how to properly (and efficiently) pour from a tap head to avoid wasting beer. If a beer is consistently pouring with too much foam, or is otherwise not pouring correctly, have your bartenders or storeroom staff stop and troubleshoot the keg setup to ensure that everything is in proper working order rather than pouring away beer to get rid of foam.
Advertise
Even the most highly-demanded beers won’t make you any money if your customers don’t realize that you have them. Custom tap handles are a great way to catch the eye of beer-savvy customers, but they can often be difficult to read for anyone who is not standing right next to the tap. A prominently displayed chalkboard listing each of the beers currently available on tap is a great way to keep your customers up to date on your selection. Some customers who would normally be willing to try out that rare, high-dollar brew may simply default to a more familiar favorite instead of asking about today’s kegs, particularly if the bartender already looks busy.
Keeping your supply of draft beer moving can sometimes be a tricky endeavor, but a careful combination of regular cleaning, well-trained staff, and clear advertising will help avoid waste and maximize profitability. A well-maintained rotation of interesting craft and local beers can work wonders for establishing a destination-style beer culture in your bar. While keeping a fleet of kegs maintained will certainly require more care from you and your staff, the extra profit and community-building potential will more likely than not prove to be well worth the extra effort.
