Comments on: Calling For The End Of The Multi-tap… http://www.beerscribe.com/2010/02/15/calling-for-the-end-of-the-multi-tap/ Dedicated to the art, complexity, and business of beer... Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:23:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Sean Inman http://www.beerscribe.com/2010/02/15/calling-for-the-end-of-the-multi-tap/comment-page-1/#comment-1139 Sean Inman Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:09:32 +0000 http://www.beerscribe.com/?p=402#comment-1139 I have noticed this "numbers" confusion too. I try to keep up to date on new beer bars in Los Angeles and I have been reliably let down by any place over 30 taps. Most seem to be merely posers who have noticed a trend toward craft beer and are looking to make a buck. Most taps being industrial brand extensions with a few noticeable craft brands like Stone or Widmer and nothing local or small. Turnover and high sales seem to be the driving factor in these establishments. I was at one recently and asked the bar manager if the new local brewery would be represented and all I got was a polite smile. I went so far as to give the contact information for the brewery but I don't see the staff taking the time to educate customers about a new and untested brand. I have noticed this “numbers” confusion too. I try to keep up to date on new beer bars in Los Angeles and I have been reliably let down by any place over 30 taps.
Most seem to be merely posers who have noticed a trend toward craft beer and are looking to make a buck. Most taps being industrial brand extensions with a few noticeable craft brands like Stone or Widmer and nothing local or small. Turnover and high sales seem to be the driving factor in these establishments.

I was at one recently and asked the bar manager if the new local brewery would be represented and all I got was a polite smile. I went so far as to give the contact information for the brewery but I don’t see the staff taking the time to educate customers about a new and untested brand.

]]> By: Steve http://www.beerscribe.com/2010/02/15/calling-for-the-end-of-the-multi-tap/comment-page-1/#comment-1024 Steve Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:31:41 +0000 http://www.beerscribe.com/?p=402#comment-1024 I've frequented the Ginger Man in Houston for over 12 years. It used to be *the* place for beer but I now find their 70+ tap selection boring. A couple of relatively new beer bars have only a dozen or so taps but feature the more "hard to find" beers and rotate in new ones a lot quicker. They may have fewer taps, but a higher percentage of beers that I'm actually excited about drinking. I used to be excited by seeing a wall of taps, but I've definitely shifted into the "quality of selection over quantity" camp. I’ve frequented the Ginger Man in Houston for over 12 years. It used to be *the* place for beer but I now find their 70+ tap selection boring. A couple of relatively new beer bars have only a dozen or so taps but feature the more “hard to find” beers and rotate in new ones a lot quicker. They may have fewer taps, but a higher percentage of beers that I’m actually excited about drinking. I used to be excited by seeing a wall of taps, but I’ve definitely shifted into the “quality of selection over quantity” camp.

]]> By: Tim http://www.beerscribe.com/2010/02/15/calling-for-the-end-of-the-multi-tap/comment-page-1/#comment-1014 Tim Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:48:51 +0000 http://www.beerscribe.com/?p=402#comment-1014 Hear, hear. There's a reason to limit the tap numbers aside from just quality. As the number of taps grow, so does the size of the bar/restaurant. How can a pub maintain maintain any charm or atmosphere when it's large enough to turn over 70 kegs every two weeks. I've found that my taste in pubs has matured along with my taste in beer. Like you, I tend to prefer the places in the 6-12 range that have good beer, but that's not main attraction. Hear, hear.

There’s a reason to limit the tap numbers aside from just quality. As the number of taps grow, so does the size of the bar/restaurant. How can a pub maintain maintain any charm or atmosphere when it’s large enough to turn over 70 kegs every two weeks. I’ve found that my taste in pubs has matured along with my taste in beer. Like you, I tend to prefer the places in the 6-12 range that have good beer, but that’s not main attraction.

]]> By: Hannah http://www.beerscribe.com/2010/02/15/calling-for-the-end-of-the-multi-tap/comment-page-1/#comment-1011 Hannah Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:25:31 +0000 http://www.beerscribe.com/?p=402#comment-1011 I cannot agree more. I too had, at first, felt extreme excitement walking into a bar with tons of beers on tap, knowing that I could find any number of new brews to try, as well as old favorites. However, as my tastes have grown, along with my understanding of keg beer and draft systems, I tend to steer clear of such establishments, in fear of the quality of the beers. Time for beer bars to understand that it's not just quantity, but quality, that will set them apart from all the rest. I cannot agree more. I too had, at first, felt extreme excitement walking into a bar with tons of beers on tap, knowing that I could find any number of new brews to try, as well as old favorites.

However, as my tastes have grown, along with my understanding of keg beer and draft systems, I tend to steer clear of such establishments, in fear of the quality of the beers.

Time for beer bars to understand that it’s not just quantity, but quality, that will set them apart from all the rest.

]]> By: uberVU - social comments http://www.beerscribe.com/2010/02/15/calling-for-the-end-of-the-multi-tap/comment-page-1/#comment-1010 uberVU - social comments Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:19:48 +0000 http://www.beerscribe.com/?p=402#comment-1010 <strong>Social comments and analytics for this post...</strong> This post was mentioned on Twitter by BeerScribe: Calling For The End Of The Multi-tap... http://tinyurl.com/ydo398b... Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by BeerScribe: Calling For The End Of The Multi-tap… http://tinyurl.com/ydo398b...

]]>