One of our clients recently asked us about the best way to install a new draft beer system for their bar.  Rather than guesstimate, we consulted with our good friends at Draft Profits, a company that designs, installs, and services draft beer systems throughout the Front Range of Colorado.

Draft Profits is a company that designs, installs, and services draft beer systems throughout the Front Range of Colorado. The team at Draft Profits is an expert on draft beer systems and even travels around the country to educate bar owners. They are some of the most knowledgeable people on this subject who have probably forgotten more about draft beer systems than we'll ever know!

The experts at Draft Profits were able to provide us with a great deal of information on this subject. We decided this information was too valuable to keep to ourselves, so we’re providing it to you in this feature-focused guide.

System Type 1: The Kegerator (Direct-Draw Systems)

An air-cooled system using kegerators is one of the simpler draft beer system options you can use in your bar. It offers the following advantages:

  Core Features & Technical Considerations

This system is defined by its simplicity. The core feature is that the beer is kept cold right below the tap, resulting in a very short run from the keg to the glass. Key components often included are the dispense tower, drip tray, couplers (used to attach the line to the keg), and regulators (which control gas pressure).

However, there are several operational drawbacks to consider:

• Space: The refrigeration unit takes up significant and valuable space directly behind the bar.

• Capacity: Typically, 6 taps is the upper limit for most standard kegerator systems.

• Keg Size: Smaller kegs are often required, meaning they need to be changed more frequently.

Efficiency: Backup kegs must be stored in a separate walk-in cooler, making the process of changing a keg less efficient.

  Who is this system best for?

Due to these considerations, this system is typically best for lower-volume bars or establishments that only want to offer a small, curated selection of beers on tap.

💡 Pro-Tip from Bar-i: When choosing a kegerator, pay close attention to the interior height and coupler type. A standard US half-barrel keg is tall, and not all under-counter units can accommodate it with the coupler attached. Ensuring compatibility from the start will save you major headaches.

 

System Type 2: The Walk-In Cooler (Long-Draw Glycol Systems)

As craft beer has grown in popularity, many bars now offer a larger selection, making 12-tap (or larger) systems the more efficient choice. With this setup, kegs are stored remotely in a walk-in cooler, and the beer travels to the taps via a cooled trunk line.

Core Features & Technical Considerations

There are 2 different options when you use a 12-tap system:

• Long-Draw Lines: The defining feature is a "long run" of beer lines, often bundled in an insulated "trunk line," that travels from the cooler to the bar.

• Glycol Cooling System: In the long run, a glycol chiller is an essential feature. This unit pumps cold glycol alongside the beer lines within the trunk line, ensuring the beer stays perfectly chilled all the way to the tap, preventing foam and waste.

• Draft Towers: These systems require more complex, multi-tap towers at the bar, which house the faucets and connect to the trunk line.

Who is this system best for?

This system is the standard for most modern bars, craft beer pubs, and restaurants that want to offer a wide selection of draft beers while maximizing efficiency and quality.

Essential Add-On Features That Boost Quality and Profitability

Beyond the basic system type, several key features can dramatically improve your operation and profitability.

• Foam on Beer Detectors (FOBs): A FOB is a device that automatically stops the flow of beer when a keg empties. Business Benefit: This prevents the entire beer line from filling with foam, which significantly reduces the beer wasted when changing a keg. For systems with very long runs, this feature is a must-have.

• Per-Line Pressure Regulators:  Cheaper systems often use one gas regulator for a whole group of beers. A crucial upgrade is a secondary regulator for each individual beer line. Business Benefit: Different beers (e.g., stouts vs. lagers) require different gas pressures for a perfect pour. This feature gives you precise control, improves beer quality, and prevents the foaming issues that increase your draft beer costs.

• Gas Mixers: For most long-draw systems, blended gas (CO2 and Nitrogen) is necessary. A gas blender is a feature that mixes these gases to the perfect ratio for different beer styles. Business Benefit: This ensures you are not serving flat ales or over-carbonated stouts, protecting the quality of the product you serve.

💡 Pro-Tip from Bar-i:  If you plan to serve a mix of ales, lagers, and nitro stouts, a gas blender with dual-pressure regulators is one of the smartest investments you can make for your draft system.

The Most Important "Feature": An Inventory System to Protect Your Investment

You can invest in the best physical draft beer system in the world, but the most critical "feature" for profitability isn't part of the hardware—it's your management software. Every pint you pour has the potential for loss, whether from foam, giveaways, or unrecorded sales. Without a precise tracking system, you are flying blind and likely losing significant money on every keg.

The ability to compare exactly how many ounces of beer were poured versus how many ounces were sold is the single most important feature for turning your expensive draft beer program from a cost center into a profit engine. This is where Bar-i comes in.

Conclusion: Don't Just Build a System, Build a Profitable Program

Choosing the right draft beer system is about selecting features to match your bar's goals. But protecting that investment with a precise inventory system is what truly separates the average bars from the top-performing ones.

"You've learned the key features of the hardware; now it's time to see the software that ensures it's all profitable."

 

PLEASE NOTE:  Bar-i is a bar inventory technology and services company. We do not sell or install draft beer equipment. We have written this blog as the majority of our clients serve draft beer, and we have seen first-hand how the design of draft systems has a significant impact on draft beer yields and profitability. The purpose of the article is to share that knowledge so you can make smart decisions when installing or upgrading your draft beer system.