Why sell draft beer at your bar

The beer market and the consumption of craft draft beer have been growing in recent years. More and more bars and restaurants are looking to include varieties of this product on their menus. And the main reason is: selling draft beer makes money. By following a few practices, selling craft draft beer can generate profits of 20% to 30%. Some reasons help explain why you should sell draft beer:

• Widespread consumption of the drink in Brazil
• Growing demand for craft draft beer varieties
• A product available exclusively in bars and restaurants
• Easy to transport and store
• Better return compared with canned beer
• A higher average ticket at your bar

Brazilians' taste for draft beer

Basically, selling draft beer is profitable because consumption in Brazil is growing strongly. The country is the third-largest beer consumer in the world, according to research by Credit Suisse, Euromonitor and Statista. 

Beyond demand, Brazilians' palates have also evolved. Over the years, the taste for craft beers and draft beers has grown. Today, trying the most diverse varieties of draft beer has become a true experience. According to a Euromonitor study, 66% of beer enthusiasts consider drinking craft beverages to be modern and cool. 

Bars and draft beer houses exist to meet that need. After all, to buy bottled or canned beer, consumers can go to convenience stores or supermarkets. And that is where your establishment can stand out: serving a good draft beer at the right temperature to someone looking for something different from what they already drink every day.

And anyone who thinks draft beer is consumed only by people already inclined to leave the house is mistaken. During the pandemic, growler sales grew in Brazil. Going to the bar to pick up the drink became an interesting alternative for those who prefer to enjoy a quality draft beer in the comfort of home. That is why investing in this format or even in delivery sales can be another way to boost your bar's profits.

The logistics of selling draft beer

Usually distributed in kegs, draft beer is easier to transport and store. If we compare it with the storage logistics of bottled beer, the difference is clear. A keg with a capacity of 50 liters of draft beer is approximately 50 cm tall and 40 cm in diameter. Meanwhile, for the same quantity of beverage, you would need 50 one-liter bottles of beer or more than 140 long necks. So, besides taking up less space in your stockroom, draft beer is transported more easily and in greater volume.

Of course, you need to invest to serve good-quality draft beer:

• Cooling: draft beer must always stay at the right temperature. The most common cooling systems are electric draft beer dispensers and cold rooms, but there are alternatives such as the kegerator and the refrigerated counter. Remember: choosing a system that doesn't suit your situation can affect profitability.

• Gas: this system includes the cylinders and gas lines. The gas is responsible for pushing the liquid from the keg to the tap through the extraction valve.

• Dispensing: here come equipment such as draft lines, the coupler, the tap and the drip tray. Each of these is essential for getting the draft beer into the glass.

Despite the investments, the return on draft beer sales is higher compared with profit on canned beers. After all, once the system is installed, the main expense will be restocking the product. And that is another advantage: while breweries build variables such as containers, labels, marketing and labor into the price of their products, draft beer distributors charge only for refilling the liquid.

On top of all that, the profit from selling craft draft beer is even greater because customers are already used to paying more for the product. Consumers recognize its quality and its higher added value. This way, your bar's average ticket goes up, and so does your bottom line.

How to boost your profits by selling craft draft beer

A few important tips can help you increase your profits. Learn how to attract customers and avoid unnecessary spending.

Avoid wasting draft beer

Waste from a keg can exceed 20% of the total. That figure includes beer lost to bleeding the line, "little samples" and, above all, the head. Knowing how to pour draft beer matters most here, since about 70% of the foam returns to liquid form.

As a way to avoid waste, myTapp developed a self-pour system for draft beer dispensers, which lets the customer be charged for the amount they pour into the glass themselves. This process ends up being fair to both sides, and waste is reduced to 5% of the keg.

The variety of craft draft beers and the consumer experience

There are many types of draft beer, with different flavors, textures and aromas. Having a varied menu is an important point for attracting customers, but beyond that, you need to know what you are selling. Consumers don't always understand the product, and many are looking for new experiences. So be the reference for knowledge that your customer is looking for and help them find the best flavor for their palate. 

Check out some tips for improving the experience at your bar:

• Besides the traditional flavors, try to include less common varieties on your bar's taps. Always have something people need to try.

• Create a menu with dishes that pair with specific types of draft beer.

• Invest in new ways to enjoy it, such as the self-pour draft beer system from myTapp, for example.

As we have seen, there are many reasons to sell draft beer. Attracting customers, easier logistics and greater profitability are important incentives for anyone planning to start investing in the business. How about installing a tap at your bar today?

Want to learn more about myTapp and how we can bring self-pour

draft beer technology to your establishment? Request a contact!

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