Are you thinking about installing a draft beer system in your premises or contemplating revamping your cellar equipment? If so, it is important that you fully understand the differences between the different types available to ensure you choose the one that best meets your needs.
When making the decision you should always be aware that the aim of any draft beer system is to get the product from keg to tap as quickly and in the best condition possible. When choosing a new draft beer system there are three options available to you. These are glycol cooled, air cooled or the direct draw system.
Every one of these systems is designed to dispense the beer allowing you to offer your customers a high quality product time after time. Whichever system you choose you want it to deliver properly balanced and temperature controlled beer. The three systems vary in cost, the process is different and they use different components. So, within this blog post we will look at them in more detail and hopefully give you the information needed to make an informed decision.
Glycol Cooled Remote Beer Cooling Systems – The Long Draw System
The glycol cooled remote beer cooling system is one of the most popular systems and is ideal if you need a long draw dispensing set up. If you are unsure about long draw systems they usually run for 25 feet or more. The glycol system works particularly well because of its beer cooling properties over long distances.
So, how does it work, well the cold air in the cellar keeps the beer in the keg cold and the glycol that continually flows through the coolant lines help keep the draft beer cold while transporting it to the beer towers. This helps ensure that your beer will be dispensed at a consistent temperature. One thing to be aware of is that the glycol remote beer system is the most expensive of the three systems we are looking at in this blog.
The main components of the glycol cooled beer system are:
GLYCOL POWER PACK
- Compressor
- Evaporator fan
- Thermostat (to regulate the temperature)
- Glycol reservoir with a coil or plate chiller (contains cooling refrigerant)
- Supply and return lines
- Glycol trunk lines
TRUNKLINE
- Beer lines
BEER TOWER
- Faucet(s)
- Drip tray
Are Glycol Cooled Beer Systems Effective?
Even though this system costs more and is more complex than the other two beer cooling systems it has its benefits and presents people installing them with a number of opportunities. Because you have a lot of flexibility when it comes to where you place equipment, it gives you a range of options when it comes to the layout and design of your bar area.
This is because the walk-in cooler can be situated a long way from the beer tower, however you need to be aware that over longer distances, there is the possibility of problems when it comes to dispensing the beer, wastage, and the equipment needed will be more expensive. That said, a long draw system that is designed and installed correctly can provide you with years of cold and perfectly poured beer.
Tips on How to Get the Best Out of a Long Draw System
- Make sure you pick the right glycol power pack based on how far it is from the walk in cooler to dispensing point.
- Never situate the power pack above a cooler or where there is low circulation of air.
- Check manufacturer’s requirements to ensure you have the proper glycol mix ratio.
- Walk in temp should always be 34-38 degrees fahrenheit which is around 3 degrees celsius.
- Ask whoever is installing your system for full barrier trunk line tubing.
Air Cooled Beer Systems
An air cooled system is one that utilises circulating cold air to keep beer cool within the cellar, throughout the beer lines and into the taps. This relatively simple system of getting chilled air from cellar to tap was the only way to keep lines chilled before glycol appeared on the scene. Even though it has been around a while, the air cooled system is still a viable and cheaper option for short draw systems.
This system is relatively low cost and is a great option for beer enthusiasts with a home cellar or for use in mobile bars and smaller premises.
The Main Components of an Air Cooled beers System
FORCED AIR BLOWER
- PVC Blower tubing + insulation
- Air Duct
TRUNKLINE
- Beer lines
BEER TOWER
- Beer Faucet(s)
- Drip tray
In a forced air cooled system the beer is stored, chilled and tapped within the cellar area then transferred to the taps through beer lines. This beer is kept cool throughout the process by circulated air.
There are two methods of execution when it comes to air cooled systems: single and dual duct systems and whichever one you choose will be dependent on your specific requirements.
How Effective are Forced Air Systems?
Irrespective of whether you have a single or dual duct set up its effectiveness will depend on the refrigeration temperature. Whoever installs the system needs to take account of the standard design of your cellar, the length of your air ducts and what heat is generated by the blower.
To ensure your setup is successful, the cellar must have a consistent temperature of 34-38 degrees fahrenheit. This system has a maximum recommended length of 25 feet which requires 1,00 btu (British thermal unit) per hour refrigeration capacity. You could exceed 25 feet but would have to keep any 90 degree bends to a minimum and ensure your walk-in cooler is not continually being opened. This is because 90 degree bends cause a loss of cooling efficiency and if you are continually accessing the cooler, the air will warm up and lead to pouring issues.
Some tips if you are Considering an Air Cooled Beer System
- Make sure you properly size the blower so that it delivers the correct amount of CFMs (cubic feet per minute).
- Keep the number of 90 degree bends in the air duct to a minimum.
- Ensure all seams are sealed to reduce air leaks.
- Make sure all beer connections are secure to stop air leaks.
The Direct Draw Beer System
This is the simplest and most popular draft beer system when it comes to getting beer from the keg to tap over short distances. This is usually the number one choice for bars where your kegs are within several feet of the taps. Direct draw systems are particularly popular with people who have a home or garden bar.
Significantly less expensive than glycol chilling, this type of system benefits from minimal beer waste because the beer lines are short. The cost of this type of system varies depending on which equipment you use: Kegerator or walk-in cellar, how many beer lines you have and the actual quality of your installation.
What Components are There in a Direct Draw System?
COOLER
- CO2 Tank
- Primary Regulator
- Air Line
- Secondary Regulator
- Keg Coupler
TRUNKLINE
- Beer lines
BEER TOWER
- Draft Tap
- Tap handle
- Drip tray
A direct draw beer system can be situated in either a cellar, a kegerator or a converted refrigerator under the bar top. In this kind of draft beer system the tap goes straight into a cooler box or a beer tower that itself connects to a self contained cooler. The beer whether it is in the keg, line or tower is kept cool by circulated air. The temperature in the self contained refrigeration unit is regulated by a thermostat in order to keep the kegs at the optimum temperature of 34-38 degrees fahrenheit.
Are Direct Draw Systems Effective?
This is a highly effective and profitable system if you design and maintain it properly because it is a straightforward way to dispense beer. Other benefits are that there are no hidden beer lines and because of the short length of the lines much less beer is wasted during cleaning.
Some Good Tips For Anyone With A Direct Draw Beer System
- Make sure your cellar is just used for keg beer, keep footfall to a minimum to ensure you keep temperatures at an optimum level
- Make sure the walls are not too thick to stop the shanks warming up
- Use longer shanks if possible to expose a larger surface area as this will conduct more cold air to the tap
What to Consider When Choosing your Draft Beer System?
So to summarise there are a few things you need to consider when deciding on the best draft beer system which include:
- Which beer dispensing system are you using at the moment?
- What is the distance from your keg to the dispenser?
- How many different types of beer do you plan to offer?
- How much is your budget?
- What are you aiming for?
For anyone running a small bar or just looking for nice draft beer at home the best option is a kegerator or short draw system. This is because not only is it cost effective but also very easy to use.
Most large pubs or restaurants that have a dedicated cellar located over 25 feet from the bar would be better served by a long draw beer system with a glycol power pack. Hopefully the information provided by Drinksflow in this blog will help you choose the perfect beer cooling system and cellar equipment whether that is to allow you to enjoy a nice cold beer at home or maximise the profits for your business.