The Brewery Red Flag That Should Send You Packing

With the explosion of the craft beer industry over recent decades, it's become common to see dozens of beer taps in restaurants, bars, and taprooms all over the country. In 2024, the overall beer market in the U.S. generated $116.8 billion in sales, with craft beer making up $28.8 billion of that number. Needless to say, beer is big business, and customers' tastes are as varied as ever. But even though there are seemingly endless beer styles and seasonal brews to try, seeing too many tap lines at a brewery is a big red flag. That's because the beer lingering in those taps may not be so fresh.

Our sister site, Tasting Table, spoke with Nick Meyer on the topic. Meyer is the founder of Eckhart Beer Co., a Brooklyn brewery and taproom. Meyer said, "If I go to a place with 25 beers, I wonder how old the oldest beer on that list is. It could have been sitting around for a long time." In other words, the more variety to choose from, the less play each keg may be getting. And the longer the beer sits in a keg, the less fresh it's going to taste — and no one likes a stale beer.

Pasteurized draft beer, like most domestic beers, will stay fresh in a keg for 90-120 days. Unpasteurized beer, more common in craft brewing, only stays fresh for 45-60 days. Once beer passes that timeframe, the carefully crafted expressions and flavors can become muted. These include the hops that make IPAs taste bitter (and sometimes similar to cannabis) and the subtle, caramel-like maltiness found in brown ales, for starters.

An overwhelming number of beer taps can also impact the customer experience, as they may experience "decision fatigue" when contemplating too many options. Nick Meyer discussed this when speaking with Tasting Table. "My belief is guests think they want that, but then it's overwhelming, and then they choose the same two things," he said. And when they look to the bartender for advice? Unfortunately, it can be hard for staff to stay informed if they have a vast array on tap.

Is there a sweet spot for the number of draft beers a brewery should offer? That really depends on customer tastes, the size of the venue, and sales volume. A small brewery could get away with just six beers on tap, while a medium- to large-sized taproom with plenty of traffic could manage well with 16. The next time you walk into a brewery, take note of how many beers are on tap, the size, how busy it is, and most importantly, if it has the kind of brew that you like.