Beer brands including Tooheys, XXXX and Hahn will be deleted from Tap King as the format becomes a purely craft affair.
Owner Lion has previously acknowledged that Tap King’s overall sales fell short of expectations.
The brewer this week confirmed James Squire will be the only brand to survive in the format as it moves to its next phase.
“Since launching Tap King, the craft beer varieties in our range have been a clear favourite of our fans around Australia,” a Lion spokesperson told Australian Brews News.
“We recently surveyed a number of our fans and the overwhelming majority requested we expand the craft beers we currently offer in the range.
“We’ve listened to this feedback and as a result, Tooheys New, Tooheys Extra Dry, XXXX Gold, Hahn SuperDry and James Boag’s Premium Lager will no longer be available in the Tap King format, as we make way for more craft beers to be added to the range in the coming months.
“While we know this will disappoint some of our loyal fans, we know that they can still continue to enjoy their favourite beers at home in a stubby or can,” the brewer said.
Limited options to play with
In deciding which craft beers to add to the range, Lion will likely be limited to those that are brewed at Lidcombe where the dedicated Tap King production line is located.
Either that or it would have to tanker in the beers from the Malt Shovel Brewery in Sydney or Little Creatures Geelong, just as James Boag’s was tankered in from Tasmania in the past.
Tap King fans can find out when new beers have been added to the range by becoming part of the Tap Kingdom at www.tapking.com.
Great news as I love the tap king idea but would only ever drink the james squire beer. Bring on the nine tales!
If they had hop thief, or any of the offerings from little creatures available, that would definitely be a reason to dust off the old tap king. A tap king of bright ale? Or little creatures IPA? Awesome.
And this move makes a lot of sense, as the type of beer drinker willing to pay a little more for what they want is not the tooheys or xxxx drinker.
What are the odds this will eventually be phased out totally?
rubbish invention anyway.
I didn’t buy a tap king because i didn’t like the beer available for it, if they had some decent crafties i might reconsider. Knowing lion it will be the most generic faux craft they can find though. (little creatures would be welcome however)
Quite a number of people in this village bought the tap king because
xxxx was available how ever we are all have the dispensers but no xxxx
is available we are very dissapointed.
Alex
Quite a number of people in this village bought the tap king because
xxxx was available how ever we are all have the dispensers but no xxxx
is available we are very dissapointed.
Alex
Sorry to hear you have removed xxxx from your range.
I have been a user since it came on the market.
Will be compensating me for the 2dispensers I purchased?
Regards
Alan
Have tried the xxxx and hahn on the tap king but really only enjoyed the james squire. Would love a stout or dark beer so I could offer more variety to guests though. Craft beers a great idea.
So dissapointed that we can no longer get xxxx gold tap king. We have 2 dispensers now with no beer that we like in the range to use anymore. Shattered.
I purchased the Tap King for my Dad to enjoy a cold glass of XXXX Beer, especially after working on the Ambulance all day. I am very disappointed that the XXXX Gold has been discontinued and if the only brand in the Tap King is James Squire Beer, then we will be getting rid of the Tap King all together.
bit pissed off…. no draught for xmas can I send it back for a full refund …. only got tapking because of the draught now that’s gone WILL NOT USE IT AGAIN
It is annoying and I think they are pretending it was about “feedback” but more likely the kegs are not profitable with the cheaper beers.
its only profitable if I buy the other beers but I will not buy any more as well as others so after all it will not be profitable as I was buying a twin pack twice a week and now I will not buy ANY…. you have lost me
Tap King wish a massive failure as you try to move the goal post. Total lack of respect to your end users. Hope the minority boutique beer drinkers enjoy their one bottle over ? number of days. Cater for the two pot screamers.
Tap King limited lifespan from what I can tell. Obviously low sales have prompted the change. I have enjoyed the few tap king varieties I have tried…but I have never been able to justify paying a carton price for equivalent of 18 beers. If sales were bad why not lower the price. Surely its cheaper to make and ship the 3.2L flagons than 24 Bottles? They will add a few premium brands and sales will still be bad and then they will stop manufacture totally. What will we all do with the chunks of plastic that we all paid around $30 for.
You can read more here: http://www.brewsnews.com.au/2016/01/lion-dethrones-tap-king-dispenser/ People asking for a refund on the Facebook page are are being directed to email them on [email protected] or call on 1800 308 388. The company is reportedly offering a $30 Visa Gift Card to aggrieved consumers who do get in touch and return their dispenser by way of a satchel supplied to them by Lion.
You can buy Heiniken in a disposable keg … doesn’t that make more sense? Just another marketing gimick that’ll die out