A well-designed bar means not only a visually attractive interior and a likable ambiance.
Each bar owner understands that the key role is played by the proper equipment. It affects the process of serving customers, the taste of your beer and whether your customers will try more of your drinks.
The top 10 draft beer equipment must-haves include a kegerator and beer storage kegs, a gas cylinder and keg couplers, a beer tower with a tap and custom tap handles, a cooling system, drip trays and beer line cleaning.
Keep reading to know more about all these items.
1. Kegs
Kegs are special stainless steel or aluminum containers used for the storage and dispensing of beverages.
They offer many advantages over glass bottles and tin cans: drinks stay fresh longer and do not lose a bit of taste. Kegs reduce the amount of waste generated from packaging materials and are easy to store and transport.
Depending on your needs, you can purchase: Corny keg or sixth barrel keg (suitable for small bars), quarter barrel keg and half barrel keg (for large-scale production).
If you have a European beer system, it will need European kegs, for example, 50 liter keg.
2. Kegerator
A kegerator is equipment designed to cool beer in kegs. In fact, this is a special refrigerator to store a barrel and dispense its contents through beer lines to draft beer faucet.
The main advantages of a kegerator are an endless supply of fresh cold draft beer, as well as significant space saving. There are many different types of kegerators available on the market, including full-size, compact built-in, and even portable variants.
You can also buy a 2-in-1 kegerator designed for simultaneous storage of beer in kegs and bottles. By the way, for glass bottles with beer or wine, you can install a separate bar fridge with adjustable shelves.
3. Gas cylinders
CO2 and nitrogen cylinders are used for dispensing beer and other carbonated beverages.
The main difference between CO2 and nitrogen tanks is the type of gas they contain.
- CO2 is a colorless odorless gas that is used to carbonize most traditional beers.
- Nitrogen is an inert gas that is used for beer dispensing, which requires a lower level of carbonization: stouts, porters and ales.
Since the gas cylinder is under pressure, it is adjusted by special gas regulators. This helps to avoid overpressure, which can lead to leaks or explosions.
4. Keg couplers
These are the devices used for draft beer dispensing. They are attached to the barrel and beer line, which allows easy dispensing of the beverage from the barrel to the tap.
The main advantage of keg couplers is that they provide a more efficient and consistent beer flow, without the need to manually pour it from a barrel.
There are several basic models of such connectors:
- D-type (for US Sankey keg valves)
- U-type (fits some European keg valves and is used for Guinness etc)
- S-type (for European Sankey keg valves)
- G-type (triangle-shaped model for some European keg valves)
- A-type (fits most German keg valves)
- M-type (for some German keg valves like Schneider and Einbecker)
5. Beer dispenser
Beer Tower is a device used to serve beer in bars, pubs or restaurants. This is a high vertical container, containing a large volume of beer and equipped with a beer tap at the top.
The main advantage of a beer tower is that it allows you to serve customers easily and quickly, thus increasing the volume of beer sold.
You can choose the following types of dispensers:
- With a different number of taps: from 1 to 16.
- Made of brass, chrome, ceramic or stainless steel;
- Different models: elbow, wall-mounted, T-towers, Y-towers double, cylindrical, ceramic, under-counter, European or indie-style.
6. Draft beer faucet
A draft beer faucet is a piece of equipment designed for craft beer dispensing from a barrel into a glass. It is an important tool in any bar because it allows you to serve this drink easily and spectacularly, stimulating guests to try even more of your beers.
Beer taps come in different types and their functions depend on the specific needs of the bar and the type of beer served: there are automatic models, standard with a forward sealing, for ales and stouts, European, etc.
7. Tap handles
Beer taps are not just a convenient tool that facilitates dispensing of alcoholic beverages. They acquaint your customers with the philosophy of your establishment, as well as with the range of products.
Custom tap handles are best suited for this purpose. In contrast to standard models, the original products are maximally tailored to your needs: you can have any desired material, size, shape and branding.
You can apply a logo, slogan or picture on your beer taps – all for the successful promotion of your bar!
8. Cooling system
There are two popular cooling systems on the market today: air-and glycol-cooled.
In air cooling systems cooled air circulates around beer lines, while glycol cooling uses liquid refrigerant, a mixture of water and glycol.
The main advantages of air cooling are its affordability and ease of installation. However, this may not be so effective for maintaining a constant temperature, reducing foaming or in bars where the kegs and the beer tower are at a considerable distance from each other.
The optimum option is glycol cooling. It is known for its precise temperature control, fast cooling and ability to reduce foaming. The glycol chiller is also ideal for long-drawn bars.
9. Drip trays
Drip trays are important components of any modern bar. They are used to collect excess liquids that spill or drip from the beer tap during drink dispensing.
The main advantages of drip trays are that they maintain cleanliness and protect from sticky floors and slippery surfaces, which reduces the number of accidents and injuries. They also improve the presentation and hygiene of your establishment.
There are various types of drip trays: counter-mounted, under-counter, portable, wall-mounted, etc.
10. Beer line cleaning
Drip trays alone are not enough to maintain cleanliness. We recommend cleaning the beer lines regularly to minimize the risk of beer infection with bacteria, wild yeast or beer stone.
For this purpose, you will need special tools and detergents to quickly and efficiently clean your draft beer system from various contaminations.
You can purchase all the necessary equipment for your establishment, including custom tap handles, bar fridges, kegs, glycol chillers, beer lines, shanks, and beer dispensers, from various sources.
Ensure efficient and hygienic beer dispensing in your establishment with proper cleaning and maintenance. With this equipment, you can quickly arrange your establishment and start serving delicious fresh beer!
