If you've ever looked at a beer menu and wondered whether to order a craft beer or a draught beer, you're not alone. The two terms are often used together, and it's easy to assume they mean the same thing. In reality, they describe two completely different aspects of beer.
Craft beer refers to how a beer is brewed, while draught beer refers to how it's served.
Once you understand that distinction, ordering a beer becomes much simpler. Whether you're exploring craft beer for the first time or deciding between a bottled beer and one on tap, here's what sets the two apart.
What Is Craft Beer?
Craft beer is defined by the brewery's approach to brewing rather than the way the beer is served.
It's typically produced by independent breweries that focus on quality, flavour, and creativity instead of large-scale production. Because they're brewing in smaller batches, craft brewers have the freedom to experiment with ingredients and techniques that give each beer its own personality.
Alongside the traditional brewing ingredients of water, malt, hops, and yeast, many craft breweries work with specialty malts, distinctive hop varieties, fruits, spices, herbs, and locally sourced ingredients to create beers that stand out.
That's one of the reasons craft beer offers such a wide range of flavours. Depending on the style, it can be light and crisp, rich and malty, fruity and aromatic, or bold and hop-forward. The variety is part of what makes craft beer so enjoyable to explore.
In short, craft beer is defined by how it's brewed, not how it's packaged or served.
What Is Draught Beer?
Draught beer is beer that's served directly from a keg through a tap rather than from a bottle or can.
The beer is stored in sealed kegs, kept at carefully controlled temperatures, and pushed through tap lines using gas before being poured into a glass. Because it stays inside the keg until the moment it's served, many people associate draught beer with freshness and a smoother drinking experience.
A well-poured draught beer is known for its balanced carbonation, creamy head, and clean finish, making it a popular choice at pubs, breweries, and restaurants.
Unlike craft beer, however, draught beer isn't a style or category of beer. It's simply a method of serving it.
Craft Beer vs Draught Beer
The biggest difference between craft beer and draught beer is that they're describing two completely different things.
Craft beer is about the brewing philosophy. It reflects the brewery's focus on quality ingredients, small-batch production, and creative recipes.
Draught beer is about the serving method. It simply means the beer is poured fresh from a keg through a tap.
That means a large commercial lager can be served on draught, and a craft beer can just as easily be sold in bottles or cans. One term doesn't replace the other because they're answering different questions.
Can Craft Beer Be Served on Draught?
Absolutely.
One of the most common misconceptions is that all draught beer is craft beer. That's not the case.
Many craft breweries serve their beers on draught in taprooms, bars, and restaurants because it's one of the best ways to enjoy a freshly poured pint. At the same time, plenty of large commercial breweries also sell their beers on draught.
So, is draught beer craft beer? It can be, but only if the beer itself has been brewed by a craft brewery. The word "draught" tells you how the beer is served, not who brewed it.
The opposite is true as well. Craft beer doesn't have to come from a tap. It can be packaged in bottles, cans, growlers, or crowlers while still remaining every bit as much a craft beer.
Craft Beer Taste vs Draught Beer Taste
When people compare craft beer with draught beer, they're often comparing flavour with freshness.
The taste of a craft beer depends on the recipe, ingredients, brewing process, and style. A craft beer might be citrusy, floral, spicy, malty, chocolatey, or clean and crisp, depending on what the brewer set out to create.
The experience of drinking draught beer, on the other hand, is influenced by how it's stored and served. Beer poured fresh from a well-maintained tap system often has a smoother mouthfeel, balanced carbonation, and a creamy head that enhances the overall experience.
When you order a craft beer on draught, you get the best of both worlds: the distinctive flavours that come from thoughtful brewing and the freshness of a perfectly poured pint.
Kati Patang's Take on Craft Beer
At Kati Patang, every beer starts with a classic brewing style and then takes on an unmistakably Indian identity through carefully chosen ingredients.
The Saffron Lager combines a clean, crisp lager profile with premium saffron sourced from Pampore in Kashmir, adding delicate floral notes that make it instantly recognisable.
Snappy Wheat builds on the smooth character of a traditional wheat beer with turmeric, peppercorn, coriander seeds, and bright citrus notes for a refreshing, layered finish.
Zesty Amber, India's only bottled amber ale, uses roasted malts to develop flavours of caramel and dark chocolate while maintaining a balanced, easy-drinking character.
For those who enjoy richer beers, Bareilly Extra Bold delivers a fuller-bodied experience with a deeper malt profile and bold flavour.
Whether enjoyed from a bottle or poured fresh on draught, every Kati Patang beer reflects the same philosophy: respect the craft, embrace local flavours, and create beers that are distinctive, approachable, and proudly Indian.
Saffron Lager, Snappy Wheat, Zesty Amber and Bareilly Extra Bold.
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