Honest Comparison Guide

TapDrop vs Craft Beer Club: Bottles vs Draft — Which Beer Subscription Is Better?

Craft Beer Club has been sending 12 curated bottles since the early '90s. TapDrop sends 5L draft kegs with a home kegerator. They're both subscription services, but they serve completely different drinking occasions.

Home / Shop / TapDrop vs Craft Beer Club
The Bottom Line

Pick Craft Beer Club if you want a set-it-and-forget-it monthly bottle box, drink solo, or need a gift for someone who likes curated variety. Pick TapDrop if you want draft beer at home, host gatherings, or prefer the social ritual of pouring from a tap. The question isn't really "which is better?" — it's "which fits how you actually drink?"

Quick Comparison

TapDrop vs Craft Beer Club at a Glance

Feature TapDrop Craft Beer Club
Format Draft beer (5L mini kegs) 12 bottles (250ml each)
Equipment Kegerator rental included ($29–59/mo) None — just bottles
Pricing $29–59/mo equipment + $39–57/keg ~$42/mo all-inclusive (free shipping)
Shipping Area Nationwide, all 50 states Lower 48 states only
Customization Browse and choose any beer from catalog Pre-selected — no user control over monthly picks
Frequency Options Order anytime, no fixed schedule Monthly / every other month / quarterly
Best For Home bar, hosting, social gatherings Gifting, solo discovery, passive monthly curation
Cancel Anytime Yes — no commitment Yes — no commitment
Party/Social Use ★★★★★ Built for it ★★★☆☆ Bottles work, not ideal for groups

Find the beer subscription that fits your life

Not sure which model is right? Take the 60-second beer quiz for a personalized recommendation.

Take the Beer Quiz →
Deep Dive

How They Actually Stack Up

Craft Beer Club

Craft Beer Club: The Original Beer-of-the-Month Box

Craft Beer Club has been around since the early 1990s — one of the original subscription beer services. They send 4 varieties of beer (12 bottles total, 250ml each) from 2 breweries every month. The selection is curated by their experts, shipped free to the lower 48. Choose monthly, every other month, or quarterly. Simple, reliable, no decisions required.

  • ✓ Zero effort: Pre-selected, arrives automatically, no decisions
  • ✓ Great for gifting: Beautifully packaged, no customization needed
  • ✓ $42 all-in: Simple flat pricing, free shipping, no surprises
  • ✓ 30+ years operating: Proven, stable service with history
  • ✗ No customization: You get what they send — no say in the picks
  • ✗ Bottle only: 250ml is small format — not designed for sharing or parties
  • ✗ Lower 48 only: No Alaska, Hawaii, or international

Visit craftbeerclub.com ↗ — external site

TapDrop

TapDrop: Your Home Draft Bar

TapDrop delivers 5L mini kegs of craft beer with a home kegerator rental. You choose which beers to put on tap, pour a proper glass with head from the tap, and the equipment stays maintained. One mini keg = 15–17 pours. Designed for social drinking and home entertaining, not solo bottle consumption.

  • ✓ Real draft pour: Pull the tap, pour a proper pint with foam
  • ✓ Full customization: Browse the catalog and pick exactly what goes on tap
  • ✓ Social/party-ready: One keg serves 15+ pours, no bottle management needed
  • ✓ Nationwide delivery: All 50 states, no gaps in coverage
  • ✓ Equipment + support: Kegerator setup and maintenance handled for you
  • ✗ Higher price point: Rental + keg cost is more than a flat $42 box
  • ✗ Requires a kegerator: Not ideal for tiny apartments or single-drink occasions

Draft beer at home — first month $20 off

Use code WELCOME20 on your first order. Or browse the catalog to see what's on tap.

Browse Beers on Tap
Want a personalized pick first? Take the beer quiz →
The Decision

Which Beer Subscription Is Right For You?

Choose Craft Beer Club if:

  • You want zero-hassle monthly beer discovery
  • You're buying it as a gift for someone who drinks alone
  • You prefer small 250ml pours over full pints
  • You don't want to make any decisions about what to drink
  • You live in the lower 48 and want the simplest option

Choose TapDrop if:

  • You want the draft bar experience at home
  • You host gatherings, parties, or cookouts
  • You live with a partner or roommate who shares your beer
  • You want to pick exactly which beers go on your tap
  • You live in Alaska, Hawaii, or outside the lower 48
  • You prefer a proper pour with foam over a bottle cap
Go Deeper

Explore More on TapDrop

FOUNDER'S PICK
$79/mo Curated Craft Beer
Monthly story-driven selections hand-picked by Steve
PARTY PACKAGES
Host Anything From 12 to 50+ Guests
Pre-built bundles with everything included
GIFT CARDS
Give Draft Beer as a Gift
Digital gift cards at $25 / $50 / $100 / custom
Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Craft Beer Club sends 12 bottles (250ml each) per month — a 250ml bottle is about half a standard pint, which works for personal consumption or sharing a toast, but opening 12 individual bottles for a party is cumbersome and the small bottles don't provide the social "pull up a seat at the bar" experience. TapDrop's draft keg is purpose-built for gatherings: one tap, one keg, 15–17 pours, no bottle caps.
No — Craft Beer Club's model is "expert-curated, pre-selected box." You receive 4 varieties from 2 breweries, and you don't know in advance what those will be. This is ideal for people who want zero decision-making. TapDrop gives you full catalog access: browse, read descriptions, and choose exactly which beers go on your kegerator tap.
Craft Beer Club is a flat ~$42/month (all shipping included). TapDrop starts at $29/month for the kegerator rental plus $39–57 per 5L mini keg. If you're a solo drinker going through 12 small bottles a month, Craft Beer Club's all-in pricing is more economical. If you're a household of two or more, or you host regularly, TapDrop's per-pour economics improve significantly — one 5L keg yields 15–17 pours versus 12 × 250ml bottles.
Yes. Both Craft Beer Club and TapDrop have no minimum commitment. Craft Beer Club lets you skip a month, switch to every-other-month, or cancel entirely. TapDrop is month-to-month with no lock-in. Neither service locks you into a contract.
Craft Beer Club is the easier gift — it's been around 30+ years, arrives in attractive packaging, and the "expert picks, just shows up" model requires zero thought from the recipient. TapDrop makes an excellent gift for people who already know they want the draft-at-home experience. Visit /gift for TapDrop gift cards at $25, $50, $100, or a custom amount.

Make the call — bottles or draft?

If it's draft, your home bar is ready to set up. Browse current selections or take the quiz.

Shop Draft Beers
Or find your perfect beer match with the quiz →