"No trip to the brewery is complete without sampling the wares. Even if it's a place you visit regularly, you'll likely want to sample most of what it has to offer at least once. But while a greater variety may seem more enticing, it can also signal a potential red flag. Every kind of beer they have on tap means another tap that needs to be maintained. The more tap lines they have, the more likely it is that maintenance or cleaning gets neglected."
"There are plenty of potential mistakes you can make when visiting a brewery, but the issue of too many beers is one that's out of your hands. Tasting Table talked to Nick Meyer, founder of Eckhart Beer Co., about the brewery red flags that should send you running. He said there wasn't necessarily a specific number of taps to be on the lookout for, but that "the craft brewery scene has gotten out of control with how many beers they offer.""
"Companies that install and maintain draft beer lines report that issues with sanitation are common. Lines and taps should be fully cleaned at least every two weeks, but the vast majority aren't. The work is often assigned to third party companies, and if a bar or brewery has not taken that step, there's a risk that the lines are sitting and developing bacteria. Fewer lines mean fewer chances for any of them to sit dormant for a long time."
Sampling many beers at a brewery can be appealing but may indicate maintenance problems. Each draft line requires regular cleaning and upkeep. The more tap lines a brewery operates, the greater the chance some lines are neglected and beer sits unused. Draft lines and taps should be cleaned at least every two weeks, yet many establishments do not meet that schedule. Older or less popular beers can sit on tap for extended periods, raising risks of staleness or bacterial buildup. Assigning cleaning to third parties is common, but absence of regular cleaning increases health and flavor concerns.
Read at Tasting Table
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