Ryan Downey, owner of Draft Punk in Seattle, highlights the critical need for clean draught systems after discovering alarming cleanliness issues during his jobs. From rodent infestations to toxic substances in cooling systems, the state of draught lines significantly impacts beer quality. Technicians like Nicholas Martel emphasize that even the best-crafted beer can turn into a bad experience if the serving equipment isn't cleaned properly, thus acting as a vital 'last line of defense' for breweries to ensure their products meet quality expectations.
"I saw probably 300 cockroaches," says Downey, an Advanced Cicerone who opened Draft Punk in 2019. These behind-the-bar jobs have led Downey to adjust where he eats and drinks. "When I go out now, I only go out to my accounts that care about quality beer."
A brewery can write an airtight recipe, source top-shelf raw materials, and brew a flawless beer, but all those efforts are for naught if a draught system is dirty.
"We've all gone into a bar and thrown down $10 for a pint of beer that you've wanted to try, and it tastes like movie theater popcorn," says Nicholas Martel... "It's the last step of quality assurance in our product."
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