Cicerone Certified Beer Server Practice Exam

How often should you check draft systems to avoid issues?

1. Every week

2. Every month

3. Every two weeks

4. As needed

The correct answer is: Every two weeks

Checking draft systems every two weeks is recommended to prevent issues that can affect beer quality and system performance. This frequency allows for regular maintenance, which is crucial in spotting and addressing potential problems before they escalate. During these checks, you can ensure that the equipment is functioning properly, clean the lines, monitor for leaks, verify that the gas pressures are correct, and ensure the temperature is within the ideal range for serving beer. Maintaining this schedule helps in ensuring consistent beer quality and preventing issues like off-flavors, slow pours, or foaming problems, all of which can arise from neglecting the system. While checking draft systems weekly may seem beneficial, it might be excessive for most establishments unless they are experiencing specific issues. Monthly checks may allow problems to develop unnoticed, leading to more significant issues that could affect beer flavor and customer satisfaction. Checking "as needed" might risk delays in maintenance, allowing for potential systemic faults to go unaddressed. Regular, biweekly checks strike a balance that helps maintain a reliable and high-quality draft beer experience.