I have always thought that draft was the best way to enjoy beer. I have noticed lately that draft beer seems flat and tasteless. I know light beers are not as foamy and do not hold a head like regular beer.

Tonight we had a pitcher of Miller High Life and it was as flat as tap water. Is it dirty lines, dirty glasses,flat kegs or a combination?

I like beer with a head on it and I like to see bubbles rising in the glass. I think a certain amount of foam adds to the taste.

What is going on?

Could be a combo of all of the above.

Some beers that don't get ordered, can sit in the walk in for a long period of time.

We were practically giving away beer from an old Tecate keg that sat around for who knows how long. It was pretty stale.

Well, part of the problem is you ordered Miller High Life. It's nowhere near the middle of my favorite beer list.

I prefer bottles because a keg just tasted like a gigantic can unless you were somewhere in the middle of it.

Whoever is running the bar, needs to know what temperature and gas pressure at which to store beer. Dirty or really long lines, such that a pour could be "all line," could be the problem.

But, maybe someone didn't change the gas, or it's too low, or beer is wrong temp.

I'll take beer that is a lil flat, over a beer with too much gas in it, but neither is what a good bar should be serving.

The problem w/ most bars is they serve all their beers from the same cold room. Your ice cold tongue blistering domestic should not be in the same serving room as ales.
I get irritated by this all the time when they serve my stout/pale/wheat/bitter/scotch ale/etc. in a frozen glass so I can't taste it because my tongue is numb.

But this is about High Life and it should be ice cold. Ice cold liquids retain more gasses. Was your beer a bit warm? If so, it's probably degassed a bit.

But like Arc, I lean toward less gas. For my stomach's sake.

quote:

Originally posted by maxwayne:

Tonight we had a pitcher of Miller High Life and it was as flat as tap water. Is it dirty lines, dirty glasses,flat kegs or a combination?

What is going on?

Miller High Life. There's your problem.

It's probably the gas mixture. Dirty (not rinsed of soap completely) glass will also affect effervescence. I've sent many a tap beer back because it was flat and asked for a bottle instead. I also liked to pour my own. None of this sliding it down the side so there is no head as apparently servers have been taught to do. Nope, splash it right to the bottom until there is about 1 1/2" of head and about 1/2 full, then continue to fill gently so as not to increase the head much. 1 to 1 1/2 inch head is perfect and better more than less as it will dissipate in a minute or two.

I became a craft beer snob about 12 years ago. I'm having a marvelous Troeg's Nimble Giant as I type this. What I remember about Miller anything was it always gave me the sh*ts.

Now when I think of Miller my next question is usually "Did you sit in the gutter while you drank it?"

quote:

Originally posted by flesheatingvirus:

quote:

Originally posted by maxwayne:

Tonight we had a pitcher of Miller High Life and it was as flat as tap water. Is it dirty lines, dirty glasses,flat kegs or a combination?

What is going on?

Miller High Life. There's your problem.

This 100%. The problem is that you are drinking piss swill. It will never taste good. It will only taste like nothing (water) when it's served ice cold, which is why it's usually served at this temperature.

A lot of craft beers, well most of them it seems, are ales which tend to be much less carbonated than lagers which I don't like.

We have a local craft brewery called Iron Hill Brewery in the PA-NJ-DE area and almost every one of their beers seems like it comes to your table almost flat. YUCK.

I don't go there much anymore.

quote:

Originally posted by maxwayne:
I have always thought that draft was the best way to enjoy beer.

Do you also believe that ketchup goes well on a steak?

Don't know if its the tap or not but it tastes better out of an Iced mug than out of a bottle.

Stella tastes pretty good out of a tap BTW.

Most people aren't aware4 just how much maintenance and cleaning is required of tap systems.

Unfortunately, many of these people also own bars.

Iron Hill blows. Why would you name a beer Hoppylicious? What man is going to order that without getting his a$$ kicked by his buddies?

Sanitizers required by health dept is the primary reason of flat beer currently, not to mention the horrendous taste

Nothing pisses me off more at a bar than frozen beer glasses. Immediately waters down the beer and ruins the head. I always make a stink if I see them grab one before pouring my beer.

Very interesting, never thought of that.

quote:

Originally posted by snwghst:
Sanitizers required by health dept is the primary reason of flat beer currently, not to mention the horrendous taste

quote:

Originally posted by Scurvy:
Nothing pisses me off more at a bar than frozen beer glasses. Immediately waters down the beer and ruins the head. I always make a stink if I see them grab one before pouring my beer.

frozen is no good but refrigerated or on ice is the way to do it

quote:

Originally posted by smithnsig:
Don't know if its the tap or not but it tastes better out of an Iced mug than out of a bottle.

Stella tastes pretty good out of a tap BTW.

tastes better because you can smell it,

your nose helps with taste, drinking out of a bottle is not a good way to drink beer, glass,, cup whatever, many times better

bubbles rising in our beer...hmm never had a beer with nitrogen?

Anyhow, lot's of factors here. The cleanliness of the lines, tap, glass, pitcher. The age of the keg, temperature all play factors in the final product.

If you want the best of any beer know the source. Pour it straight into the glass, don't tip it. Let the head develop and drink right through it. You'll be able to smell it and taste it.

Cheers~