Ordering beer in bars and restaurants

In the on-trade, you don't always see the label. Here's how to get the information you need.

Your rights: Staff must be able to provide allergen information for any product on request. This is required by EU food law.

In bars and restaurants, you may not always see the full label, but you still have the right to information about what you're ordering.

Questions you can ask

Before ordering

"Can I see the bottle or can?" (for packaged beers)
"Where is this beer brewed?"
"Does this contain [specific allergen]?"
"Is this the same beer as [brand], or a different brewery?"
"How fresh is this?" (especially for hoppy beers)

For draught beer

"When was this keg tapped?"
"Is this cask or keg conditioned?"
"What gas is this served with?" (CO2, nitrogen, mixed, or natural)

Cask vs keg: what you're actually ordering

"Draught beer" covers very different products. Whether a beer is cask-conditioned or keg-conditioned significantly affects how it tastes, how it's served, and how it should be judged.

Cask (real ale)

Unfiltered and unpasteurised — live beer
Served by hand pump or gravity, no external gas
Naturally carbonated by residual yeast in the cask
Served at cellar temperature (11–13°C)
Softer, lower carbonation than keg
Best consumed within 3–5 days of tapping

Keg

Typically filtered and/or pasteurised
Served under CO₂ or nitrogen pressure
Consistent carbonation throughout the keg's life
Served cold (4–8°C for most styles)
Longer shelf life once tapped (1–2 weeks)
Includes most lagers and many craft beers

Signs of a well-kept cask

Lively but not fizzy — soft natural carbonation with a fine head
Clear or appropriately hazy (some styles are naturally cloudy)
Served at cellar temperature (11–13°C), not refrigerator-cold
Fresh, clean aroma — no vinegar, no flat or musty notes

Why it matters when ordering

Cask is a live product that changes from day to day. A well-kept cask at the right point in its life can be exceptional, but an old or poorly-managed cask will taste flat or oxidised. If you're ordering cask, it's perfectly reasonable to ask when the cask was tapped — good pubs will know and won't mind telling you.

What to look for

Good signs

Staff can answer questions about the beer
Allergen information is available
They can show you the packaging on request
Tap handles match what's being poured
Beer menu includes brewery/origin info

Worth questioning

Staff don't know where beer is brewed
Can't provide allergen information
Generic descriptions only ("it's a lager")
Unwilling to show packaging
Tap handle doesn't match the keg