If you’ve been reading our site for a few years now you have seen us share news on the Lukr faucets…or as they are more commonly referred to; the side pull tap. We first introduced them to our audience in a breakdown of what they are in this article here.
We followed this up by documenting the rise in popularity of the “Milk Pour” that was produced from these styles of taps. (Plenty of content on the pour can be found on our site).
To date, any brewery in Pennsylvania that has introduced the Lukr tap has done so by installing it on one or two draft lines. Between the cost of the equipment and the fact that they are typically used as a special offering on select beers, breweries have only offered them on a minimal basis.
However, that is about to change. The team at Stick City Brewing (Mars, PA) recently made the switch to offer their entire draft line up to be poured through side pull taps. A total of 16 Lukr taps have been installed in the Butler County brewery.
Again, if you have read our site long enough, this should not come as a surprise to you. Stick City is known for being one of the first breweries in Pennsylvania to offer a side pull draft line. This should also not come as a surprise to anyone who has enjoyed Stick City beer as they have built a reputation for offering well-made, crisp lagers, pilsners, and IPA’s (among many other styles) that harken back to days where classic beer production saturated the market. We encourage you to visit their Instagram page to see for yourself.
We spoke with head brewer and owner Nick Salkeld who had the following to say about the switch:
“Ever since we received and began working with a few side-pull faucets back in early 2019, we have loved the controllability of beer flow and foam. Our standard flow adjustable European-style faucets did a great job; however, we found ourselves enjoying the side-pull experience more, both as consumers of fresh brew and when pouring them for visitors. After we noticed that spare parts for our existing taps ended up being discontinued, the only natural option was to go side-pull. In addition to ordering the faucets direct from Lukr in the Czech, we also ordered a plethora of spare parts for them. So we will be set to go for a good while into the future. We always place about an inch or so of foam on all beers and the side-pulls make this process more consistent and it provides a better overall beer experience for the beer drinker. Its a win-win for both the tapsters and for those visiting the brewery.”
The brewery is now pouring their entire beer lineup on these side pull options. The only way to enjoy the lineup for yourself is to visit their brewery at 109 Irvine Street in Mars, PA.