Direct draw vs long draw is a question of distance. A direct draw system keeps the keg in a refrigerated cabinet right under the tap, so beer travels only a few feet. A long draw system stores kegs in a walk-in cooler and pushes beer through a chilled trunk line to taps that can be dozens or hundreds of feet away, usually kept cold with glycol. If your kegs can sit under the bar, direct draw is simpler and cheaper. If they cannot, you need long draw.
This guide compares the two, explains where air cooled systems fit, and shows which direct draw beer coolers we carry for each size of operation.
Direct draw vs long draw at a glance
| Factor | Direct draw | Long draw (glycol) |
|---|---|---|
| Where kegs live | In a keg cooler or kegerator under the tap | In a walk-in cooler, often in another room |
| Line length | Short, a few feet | Typically 25 ft or longer; trunk lines have run up to 1,000 ft |
| How beer stays cold | The cabinet itself | Glycol circulated beside the beer lines and into the tower |
| Keg capacity | Limited by cabinet size | Limited by walk-in size |
| Install | Self contained cabinet; add tower if not included, CO2 and fittings | Professional design and install |
| Beer lost when cleaning lines | Low, little beer in short lines | Higher, long lines hold more beer |
| Cost | Lowest | Highest of the draft system types |
Sources: Micro Matic’s guide to commercial beer tap systems and Draft Beer Intelligence’s three types of draft beer systems.
How a direct draw system works
Micro Matic calls direct draw the most common and straightforward commercial beer tap system. The keg sits inside a refrigerated cabinet, a coupler taps it, CO2 pushes beer up a short line, and a tower on top of the cabinet (or through the bar top above it) holds the faucets. Because the lines are short, very little beer sits in them, so product loss during line cleaning is much lower than with long runs.
The limits are space and volume. You can only pour what fits in the cabinet, and kegs must be changed at the bar. That makes direct draw a strong fit for small bars, restaurants with a few taps, hotel suites, offices, brewpub tasting counters and patios.
Direct draw beer coolers we carry
| Model | Width | Keg capacity (as listed) | Temperature range | Our price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viking VCDE215-SSA1A | 15 in | One 1/6 barrel plus a 10 lb CO2 tank | 34 to 60 F | $4,287 |
| Viking VCDE224-SSB3A | 24 in | One 1/2 barrel or three 1/6 barrels; dual tap tower | 34 to 60 F | $6,558 |
| Viking VCBR652-SS01A | 52 in, 2 doors | Back bar cooler with tap and drain hole; tower sold separately | 33 to 70 F | $7,637 |
| Viking VCBR672-SS01A | 72 in, 3 doors | 19.74 cu ft back bar cooler | Not listed on our page | $9,124 |
| Viking VCBR692-SS01A | 92 in, 4 doors | 28.5 cu ft back bar cooler | Not listed on our page | $10,746 |
The 15 and 24 in models install built in or freestanding and keep the CO2 inside the cabinet. For a patio or outdoor kitchen, the Marvel 24 inch outdoor twin tap beer dispenser ($3,939) is another direct draw option; our outdoor kegerator guide covers weather rated units. See all Viking commercial refrigeration.
How a long draw glycol draft system works
In a glycol draft system, kegs stay cold in the walk-in, and an insulated trunk line carries the beer lines bundled tightly against coolant lines. A glycol power pack chills a propylene glycol and water mix and pumps it out through the trunk, up behind the faucets in the tower and back again. Draft Beer Intelligence notes the coolant is typically cycled between 28 and 34 F, and recommends:
- Sizing the power pack to the distance from the walk-in to the taps.
- Keeping the walk-in at 34 to 38 F.
- Installing the power pack where it gets airflow and an ambient temperature of about 50 to 90 F, not on top of the cooler.
- Asking your installer for full barrier trunk line tubing.
Long draw gives you freedom: kegs out of sight, many taps, towers far from storage and high volume service. The trade offs are cost, a professional install and more beer in the lines to waste if anything goes wrong. A long run has to be designed and balanced so beer pours cleanly at the tap, which is work for an experienced draft installer.
Where air cooled systems fit
Air cooled systems blow cold air from the walk-in through an insulated duct around the beer lines. Draft Warehouse’s air cooled vs glycol comparison says they suit short runs, typically under 15 ft, where the walk-in sits right behind the bar. Micro Matic adds that they are becoming less popular because holding temperature over the whole distance is hard. Glycol is the usual choice beyond that range.
Which draft system should you choose?
- Choose direct draw if you pour a handful of beers, the kegs can live under or behind the bar, and you want the lowest cost and simplest upkeep.
- Choose air cooled only if the walk-in shares a wall with the bar and the run is short.
- Choose long draw glycol if the kegs must be stored away from the bar, you run many taps, or you serve high volume.
One clarification: we sell glycol chillers from Ss Brewtech, such as the Ss Brewtech 1/5 HP glycol chiller ($999), but these are built to hold fermenters and brite tanks at temperature (the 1/5 HP model is listed for up to 3 vessels). They are not draft trunk line power packs, so a long draw bar should get its power pack through its draft installer.
Frequently asked questions
What is a direct draw beer cooler?
A refrigerated cabinet that holds kegs and dispenses beer straight up to a tap tower mounted on top or through the counter above it. The short line keeps beer cold without glycol.
How long can a direct draw line be?
In a direct draw cooler the keg sits right under the tower, so the line is only a few feet long. Once the taps move away from the kegs you are in remote territory: Draft Warehouse suggests air cooled for runs under about 15 ft and glycol beyond that, and Draft Beer Intelligence describes typical long draw runs as 25 ft or longer.
Is a glycol system worth it for a small bar?
Usually not if your kegs can sit under the bar. Glycol is the most expensive draft system type and needs professional installation. It pays off when kegs must be stored away from the taps or you run many lines.
Do direct draw systems waste less beer?
Generally yes. Micro Matic notes that the short lines hold little beer, so product loss during cleaning is substantially lower than in long run systems.
Plan your draft setup
For more on bar refrigeration, read our back bar cooler buying guide and our beverage fridge temperature guide. Questions about keg capacity or tower options? Call 866-777-2590, Monday to Friday, 9AM to 6PM PST. Orders of $999 or more ship free by freight; smaller orders ship for a flat $200. Returns follow our return and refund policy.
