Today’s beer scene overwhelms with endless craft brews, local favorites, and international best sellers. Many beer lovers, but not all, extol the merits of drafts over bottled beers. Before you visit a local sports bar for an evening of pies and pints, consider the pros of draft brews compared to bottled beers.

Freshness

Draft beer is deemed fresher because it stays in chilled air-locked kegs not bottled on shelves. Bottled beers, however, are pasteurized to kill germs, which makes them safer to consume over an extended amount of time. Although bottles stay sterile longer, they can “skunk” faster when exposed to ultraviolet radiation (UV). When light hits beer in glass bottles, it reacts with the hops, making beer bitter. The flavor of draft is preserved until the keg is tapped.

Packaging

Sports bars that stock both draft and bottled beer have to store them differently. Draft beer comes in metal kegs. A 50-liter keg, which pours 140 beers, is massive full or empty, but weighs about 130 pounds when full. A cornelius keg, the lightest option, weighs 55 pounds when full. 

An individual bottle of beer weighs considerably less than a keg. The weight of a 24-bottle carton of beer is 36 pounds. Although cartons are stackable, the cardboard may tear if it gets wet. Most sports bars stock multiples of each variety to optimize their storage capacity and meet the taste preferences of their patrons.

Portability

Bottled beer is more portable because of its weight. Most adults can transport a 24-pack up or down stairs with ease. Moving a keg is nearly impossible without a trolley because of its awkward shape and weight. Bottles are easy to store as well. They can be put in a refrigerator of any size. Hooking up kegs to draft spouts requires a cold room directly behind the bar, multiple tubes, and carbonation. 

For flavorful drafts and bottled beers, head to Riverfront Pizza & Sports Bar in Covington, KY. Since 1981, this well-loved sports bar has been a family favorite for delicious made-to-order pizza. Call (859) 261-4800 to schedule a delivery, or visit their website to browse their menu.