The Real Reason Beer Tastes Better On Draft

What's a better way to unwind after a long week than relaxing with a plate of chips and a pint of cold beer? Beer, as all beer lovers will attest, comes in various forms. There's the regular bottled beer from popular brands, of course, but there's also something that a lot of fans vouch for – draft beer, also known as draught beer. Here's a fun fact: draught beer got its name from the tradition of serving beer to people straight from the barrel back in the day. "Draught" has its origins in the Old English word "dragan," which meant "to carry or pull."

Essentially, these beers are poured directly from the tap and are kept in kegs. So why exactly does draft beer taste better than beer straight from the bottle? Several theories point to what could make draft beer stand out from its peers. Here's your answer. 

Draft beer is guaranteed to get special attention, no matter where it's being served. "If a bar puts a beer on draft, they're making a bigger commitment to that beer's presence in their establishment. A bottle or can placement is secondary," Gabriel Magliaro, co-owner of the Half Acre Beer Company, told Bon Appetit. Their words of a beer enthusiast on Reddit summed it up well: "Draft beer feels more special because it takes more effort. The bartender has to clean the glasses, pour the draft slowly, and put more effort into maintenance."

As per Magliaro, what really works in draft beer's favor is the fact that it's often kept at a steady temperature. Plus, kegs are always kept cold and can protect beer much better from light than, say, a bottle. Moreover, it's much more convenient to control variables like pressure when you're working with a draft setup as opposed to cans and bottles. Draft beers are thus guaranteed to feel better and satisfy your tastebuds.

Additionally, it's highly likely that draft beer is being sold rather quickly at a bar and kegs are relatively fresh and taste much better. Beers like IPA especially benefit from being served fresh because their taste deteriorates over time. Redditor McKoijion says it's also worth noting that kegs cost a bunch, and bar owners don't want to keep stuff just lying around, which means that you're almost always going to get fresh beer. Convinced yet?