Levy Restaurants is the brain power behind Draftserv, an up-and-coming self-service beer technology to be installed in Chicago’s United Center for the upcoming Bulls and Blackhawks playoff debuts.
The Chicago-based company has installed beer robots that allow fans the novelty of pouring their own beer during sporting events. Two Draftserv machines will be installed in the arena, each with four taps.
Heres how it works.
Fans buy a prepaid card from a cashier next to the machines, which are used to tap a sensor on the unit. The users then pour the desired amount of beer (maximum 20 oz.) and the price is deducted from their cards. Beer options include Bud products valued at 42.5 cents per ounce and Stella Artois and Goose Island at 47.5 cents per ounce. Essentially, its a gas pump for beer.
These beer robots were tested last summer in Minnesota for the MLB All-Star game to rave reviews.
Sean Parisi, Director of Beverage (awesome title) at Levy said,
“I am a big believer in the potential of it. I could see the future of self-service beer in club environments where you walk in and have a preloaded card, or have areas for season-ticket holders. I could see the future of self-service beer in club environments where you walk in and have a preloaded card, or have areas for season-ticket holders.”
I will no longer be drinking stadium beers unless its from R2D2. Just kidding, I’ll still take it any way I can get it. Even if it means finishing the wounded soldiers left on top of the urinals. Because self-respect is overrated.
[H/T Uproxx]