Beer taps

A beer tap is the valve on the front of the font that the customer sees — it opens the line, controls the flow and shapes the pour.

  • A compensator tap lets you slow a line that pours too fast
  • Nozzles unscrew u2014 a creamer builds head, a plain spout does not
  • Strip and clean taps weekly with the lines; drips are usually a seal

Showing 1–24 of 32 results

Showing 1–24 of 32 results

Taps divide into standard and compensator types. A standard tap is a simple on-off valve and suits a short, well-balanced line. A compensator has an adjustable restrictor inside it, which lets you slow the flow to match a line that would otherwise pour too fast and throw all head u2014 useful where the run from cellar to bar is long or the pressure is higher than the line really wants.

How to choose

What to know

The nozzle on the end changes the pour more than people expect. A plain spout gives a clean fill; a creamer or sparkler nozzle forces the beer through fine holes and builds a tight head, which is what a lot of stouts and northern-style ales are served with. Nozzles usually unscrew, so one tap can do both jobs.

What to know

Taps come apart for cleaning and they need to, on the same weekly cycle as the lines. A tap that drips, sticks or pours slower than it used to has almost always got a worn seal or a partly blocked nozzle rather than a fault in the body.

Common questions

What is a compensator tap?

A tap with an adjustable restrictor built into it, so you can slow the flow without changing the gas pressure. It is the usual answer to a long line that pours too fast and gives nothing but head.

Why does my tap drip?

Nearly always a worn seal rather than a broken tap. Taps are designed to be stripped, and a seal kit costs a fraction of a replacement.

Have a look at

Beer coolersBottle openers & sealers