draft vs bottled or can

Welllll... (do I really want to be the one that does this...)...with beer, there are no absolutes on a subject like this, since there's always exceptions, but, in general, in the US, for the big brewers draft beer is not pasteurized, bottled and canned beer is. So, it's a bit more perishable and a bit more "alive". But, in the US most commercial big brewery draft beer is very heavily filtered so it's not exactly "real ale". There are exceptions, even among the major brands- Coors beer in cans and bottled isn't pasteurized but, again, filtered and, at least, used to be refrigerated just like keg beer. And all those "real draft" beer brands were also filtered rather than pasteurized, altho' eventually some of them were advertised as "pasteurized", so that made no sense at all.

In the UK, there is a different between "keg" beer and "draught real ale"- their "keg" beer IS pastuerized, as are, IIRC, many kegs of draught imported to the US from elsewhere in Europe. So, in this case, typical US beer is a bit "superior" to the imports.

And many bottled beers from US microbrewery AREN'T pastuerized.

Is draft actually considered better or worse by most drinkers?

"Most drinkers"? Well, since "most drinkers" in the US means Budweiser drinkers, who cares? But among beer lovers, draft beer, well kept, served correctly, is the preferred product (again there are exceptions). Even among drinkers of the standard US brands, draft beer, served correctly is often rated above bottled or cans, many times because bottled beer is more likely to be affected negatively by light or age, (draft is usually pulled when it gets too old) and often the beer is drank directly from the can or bottle which does not allow a nice head, does not allow for excess carbonation to be released, and in the case of cans, allows the beer to come into contact with the aluminum can top during drinking. All things one shouldn't do with good beer.

Doesn't Miller do the same thing with their "cold filtering" and thats why they think they can call their bottled beer "Genuine Draft"

I would emphasize those caveats. I've had plenty of bad draft beer. It seems bottles are more consistent in that regard unless you've got a local that really knows how to handle their draft beers.

Since I got into beer in the 60's and 70's, I confess to having a knowledge of the "big brewers" products from that era (and further will confess to a nostalgia for *some* of the products of the local and regional breweries of that time). MGD is from a period after that (i.e., post micro-age) so I don't know exactly what they do or don't do to it. It was actually the Second "real draft in a can/bottle" era in US brewing- most brewers had a similar product in the late 60's- the best known and longest lived was Piels Real Draft.

Yes, I agree, of course (in fact, I'll say that I'm usually disappoint with MOST draft beer from the average bar or chain restaurant.) On the other hand, there are a LOT of old bottles of beer out there...

My favourite "draft" beer in cans was the old Hamms draft...in keg shaped cans.(I'm talking 1970's)

Sounds like you're from the N.E. so you probably never had > >

Oh My I remember "old Hamms" that was a long time ago.

Jay

exceptions).

Also, there is the fact that, occasionally, the stuff going into bottles is completely different from what goes into kegs.

I just got back from a trip to CO. I brought back two corny kegs of Il Vicino's Wet Mountain IPA. This excellent IPA is much different than the swill going into bottles under the same name. The bottled stuff is farmed out to a bigger constract brewer and is nothing like the microbrew on draft, which is brewed on the premises of the Colorado Springs pizza/brewpub. OTOH, another little local microbrewery here in the SFBA (Hoptown) puts the same stuff in both kegs and bottles.

It's the old adage, "Buyer beware".

nb

Hey, I love Il Vicino! Did you check out their shallow open fermenters in the basement? Too cool.

Also, while in Colorado have you ever checked out Only The Best Brewing in Divide? It's an all lager strong-arm outfit (a couple of guys fill bombers and kegs by hand). Some of the best lagers I've ever had come out of this place.

_Randal

Yes, I got the royal tour. The fermenters are old glycol jacketed dairy tanks. But hey, whatever works, right!?

I was surprised they were not entered in the GABF. I was at IV's the day before the festival and was under the impression they were going to enter. It's a shame they didn't. The gold medal winner, Hoptown IPA, is what I drink (I live 6 miles from the brewery) cuz I don't live in CO. It is very similar. In fact, IV's IPA was my favorite, and the standard I hold American IPA's to. Hoptown is the only IPA to even come close. I haven't tasted them back to back yet, as I need to get a CO2 source for my keg (one leaked and went flat and oxidized). But, they are very close. If Hoptown got the gold, Wet Mountain should have at least placed.

No, didn't get to try any other local CO brews. Was so busy I didn't even get to go the the GABF. I almost stopped in Leadville for a Fat Tire on draft, having heard much good about it. Didn't make it. Finally tasted "Flat Tire" in the bottle. If there was ever anything to it, it was lost in the bottling, much like Wet Mountain.

nb

Same goes for Sierra Nevada (at least up until a couple years ago when i stopped working at a liquor store) with their Pale Ale (in bottles) and Draught Pale Ale (in kegs) although there really isn't a huge difference and SN didn't try to hide the fact that the beer was slightly different.

mike