Most of us are familiar with traditional direct draw draft systems that transfer beer from keg to faucet across a short distance. These systems are a great option for bars that have a keg cooler close to the taps, but if your bar’s cooler is further away, direct draw will not work. Fortunately, long draw draft systems can bridge the gap for bars or restaurants with this problem.
Long draw systems, or remote systems, are essential when your cooler is too far from your bar area. However, not all remote systems are the same, and there is a lot of planning involved with building and installing these systems. Before you choose a system, let’s explore how long draw systems work and what the installation process looks like.
How Do Long Draw Draft Systems Keep Beer Cold?
Long draw draft systems allow you to run your beer lines over long distances so you can store kegs in one area and pour pints in another. They utilize a glycol refrigeration system to keep the beer cold as it travels the beer lines, ensuring a perfectly chilled pour that’s as cold as the cooler.
Long draw systems can typically run 25 feet or longer, making them an excellent choice when your cooler is not close to your beer taps. Remote systems also offer versatility when it comes to designing a layout for the beer lines and other equipment due to their ability to extend across longer distances. However, there are many factors to consider when installing a long draw system.
What to Consider When Installing a Long Draw System
There are several things you should be aware of when installing a remote draft system. These systems require in-depth engineering and designing, so it is important to hire experts who have successfully installed several long draw draft systems. Stuever & Sons has completed countless remote system installations, and we can help make sure you choose the best model and the best design for maximum efficiency and pour quality.
Before purchasing and installing a long draw system, keep these things in mind:
- Decide if your long draw beer lines will run underground or overhead. This will determine how the beer will need to flow from the cooler to your taps – by pumping or pushing. Our team can advise you on which method will be best for your business.
- Determine how far the keg storage is from your taps. This will help our team determine the system size you need, which will determine the cost of the system.
- Determine which types of beer will be served through the long draw system. Different types of beer pour better with different types of gas. Having an idea of the beer types you plan to serve is helpful at this stage.
- Decide whether you want the beer to be pushed or pumped through the new remote system. This will also determine the type of gas needed, and our team can assist with deciding which option will be best for the type of beer you serve as well as optimizing the space in your bar.
Some additional tips:
- Your cooler must be able to maintain a temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. This will lessen the likelihood of any pouring or beer quality issues from your long draw system.
- Use the preferred gas system for the specific long draw system you choose. The type of propulsion used to move your beer matters, and with a long draw system you want to ensure a steady flow of approximately 2oz of beer poured per second.
Trust Your Long Draw Draft System Installation to Stuever & Sons
We hope this guide provides some insights into long draw system installation and use. If you think your bar or restaurant would benefit from a long draw system,reach out to us. Our team has handled numerous long draw draft system installations and can provide even more information on how one of these systems could work within your business. We’d love to work with you and help you serve delicious, cold, perfectly poured draft beer as soon as possible.