A beer tap is a
valve, specifically a
tap, for controlling the release of
beer. While in other contexts, depending on location, a "tap" may be a "faucet", "valve" or "spigot", the use of "tap" for beer is almost universal. This may be because the word was originally coined for the wooden valve in traditional
barrels. Beer served from a tap is largely known as
draught beer, though beer served from a cask is more commonly called
cask ale, while beer from a keg may specifically be called
keg beer.
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