Beer/Lager/Cider Keg machines
Discussion
Sounds like it's right for you and you'll enjoy it.
Can only speak for the little Krups Sub that isn't listed for sale any longer it appears. For me that's falling into the seldom used fad category these days.
Possibly because the little sub doesn't have the capacity for entertaining properly;
I'm happier just grabbing a chilled bottle from the fridge, much cheaper too;
Some products were terrible pouring, huge waste. I'd hope the larger machine is a great improvement;
The little model never quite nailed that pub draft thing, possibly the larger model is much better.
It did or does offer the opportunity to buy and try beers I normally wouldn't and sometimes I/we're in the mood to blast through a keg or 3 over the course of a day/weekend.
Can only speak for the little Krups Sub that isn't listed for sale any longer it appears. For me that's falling into the seldom used fad category these days.
Possibly because the little sub doesn't have the capacity for entertaining properly;
I'm happier just grabbing a chilled bottle from the fridge, much cheaper too;
Some products were terrible pouring, huge waste. I'd hope the larger machine is a great improvement;
The little model never quite nailed that pub draft thing, possibly the larger model is much better.
It did or does offer the opportunity to buy and try beers I normally wouldn't and sometimes I/we're in the mood to blast through a keg or 3 over the course of a day/weekend.
Don Veloci said:
Can only speak for the little Krups Sub that isn't listed for sale any longer it appears. For me that's falling into the seldom used fad category these days.
Possibly because the little sub doesn't have the capacity for entertaining properly;
That's always what put me off, the 2L kegs. That's only 4.5 regular cans. Cheaper just to buy a small beer fridge.Possibly because the little sub doesn't have the capacity for entertaining properly;
The bigger size might be better but I assume you would want to chill the 8L keg before you put it in and you would probably need the small fridge to do that. I know they can chill the keg in the machine but that take time. Imagine you have some friends over, the keg runs out, you pop a new one in and have to wait for it to chill before you have another pint.
Edited by Cotty on Thursday 5th September 08:44
Aye, you'd certainly want to be pre-chilling those 8L bottles. That even goes for the 2L subs.
Dangerous thread this now! I have the fridge capacity for the 8L bottles and following a kitchen refit I have the spare worktop space.
Will go looking for genuine reviews on how well the Blade products pour and tap the brother in law on how he's been getting on with the competition (perfect draft I think).
Dangerous thread this now! I have the fridge capacity for the 8L bottles and following a kitchen refit I have the spare worktop space.
Will go looking for genuine reviews on how well the Blade products pour and tap the brother in law on how he's been getting on with the competition (perfect draft I think).
Don Veloci said:
Aye, you'd certainly want to be pre-chilling those 8L bottles. That even goes for the 2L subs.
Dangerous thread this now! I have the fridge capacity for the 8L bottles and following a kitchen refit I have the spare worktop space.
Will go looking for genuine reviews on how well the Blade products pour and tap the brother in law on how he's been getting on with the competition (perfect draft I think).
Well I can now firmly contradict this ^^^ Yes their official line says the kegs should be pr-chilled and can take hours to be reach optimum temperature but many of the Youtube videos I watched say otherwise (be aware some review videos are obviously by first time users that have just blindly followed the instructions) and I can firm this. I set it up on arrival and put in a Heineken keg straight away (no chilling first and it was a warm day) and within 20 minutes or so the temperature dial went from off the scale to ready which is 3C. Poured my first pint and apart from having a massive head it was ice cold and lovely. Poured another and still too frothy! Wifey came home and tried it and bugger me a perfect pint - smartypants but She has had years of practice in the past. I bit my tongue and had a lesson and just now did this.....................Dangerous thread this now! I have the fridge capacity for the 8L bottles and following a kitchen refit I have the spare worktop space.
Will go looking for genuine reviews on how well the Blade products pour and tap the brother in law on how he's been getting on with the competition (perfect draft I think).
You'll notice a new keg will be needed sometime tonight
so it'll be Moretti next as It's our wedding anniversary tomorrow and friends coming down 
For it's size and smallish 'footprint' at a whopping 17.6 kg without a keg all i can say is there's some industrial grade cooling kit inside.
I’m a blade owner and a perfect draft machine before that!
I have for the last three years pre chilled my blade kegs in the fridge overnight! Your point of not needing to has surprised me so I’ll try next time.
As for the blade machine it works well for us as we are not huge lager drinkers but enjoy a chilled pint or two now and then. I prefer the blade over the perfect draft machine.
I have for the last three years pre chilled my blade kegs in the fridge overnight! Your point of not needing to has surprised me so I’ll try next time.
As for the blade machine it works well for us as we are not huge lager drinkers but enjoy a chilled pint or two now and then. I prefer the blade over the perfect draft machine.
Anastie said:
I’m a blade owner and a perfect draft machine before that!
I have for the last three years pre chilled my blade kegs in the fridge overnight! Your point of not needing to has surprised me so I’ll try next time.
As for the blade machine it works well for us as we are not huge lager drinkers but enjoy a chilled pint or two now and then. I prefer the blade over the perfect draft machine.
It was my first keg. I've got my IR thermometer and stopwatch on standby for a more accurate test on the next one I have for the last three years pre chilled my blade kegs in the fridge overnight! Your point of not needing to has surprised me so I’ll try next time.
As for the blade machine it works well for us as we are not huge lager drinkers but enjoy a chilled pint or two now and then. I prefer the blade over the perfect draft machine.
A friend has a Panasonic Perfect Draught machine for when the lads are round / BBQ's / Footy etc. It's always pulling foamy pints because it can't get the kegs to the optimum temperature, even with pre-chilling sometimes.
They are fun but I can't see the advantage over having cold bottles to be honest. Pubs only use draught systems cause of the volume they sell. Look at bars that don't focus on beer, all in cans / bottles.
They are fun but I can't see the advantage over having cold bottles to be honest. Pubs only use draught systems cause of the volume they sell. Look at bars that don't focus on beer, all in cans / bottles.
I have a Perfect Draft machine.
Brilliant piece of kit, never have problems with temperature or foaming.
Sometimes pop a keg in the fridge so it`s ready straight away but mainly just bung it in at room temp and leave it overnight to cool down.
I only buy discounted kegs or when there`s an offer on and once I`ve got the credits from the empties.
It`s not particularly cheap, probably around half the price of a pint in the pub, but it`s a great thing to have in the kitchen.
Brilliant piece of kit, never have problems with temperature or foaming.
Sometimes pop a keg in the fridge so it`s ready straight away but mainly just bung it in at room temp and leave it overnight to cool down.
I only buy discounted kegs or when there`s an offer on and once I`ve got the credits from the empties.
It`s not particularly cheap, probably around half the price of a pint in the pub, but it`s a great thing to have in the kitchen.
So put a new keg on that has been kept outside and the temp gauge showed ...............
Took 16.5 minutes to show this..................
And poured and tasted spot on half an hour later...............
Bearing in mind that's surface temperature - trust me you wouldn't send that back in a pub
Took 16.5 minutes to show this..................
And poured and tasted spot on half an hour later...............
Bearing in mind that's surface temperature - trust me you wouldn't send that back in a pub
Good after sales service then 
Three weeks in so thought I'd update.....
I'm on my 9th keg have tried Heineken, Tiger Beer, Villacher Märzen and Birra Moretti all of which have been excellent.
It did take a 'training course' from Wifey to learn how to pour a perfect pint and not to have half a pint of froth!!
My main concern before buying the machine was possibly too much waste however as long as the first pull is kept to half a pint in a one pint glass all the others are fine. I was also surprised that every single drop comes out of the keg and doesn't end with splurge of wasted froth at the end.
Really happy with this system apart from being more expensive than buying cans - but the quality is and taste is far superior and in some cases better than my local pubs.
Money well spent and a cool looking thing. Downside is my mate that pops in about twice a week doesn't bring as many cans with him that he used to
I'm on my 9th keg
have tried Heineken, Tiger Beer, Villacher Märzen and Birra Moretti all of which have been excellent.It did take a 'training course' from Wifey to learn how to pour a perfect pint and not to have half a pint of froth!!
My main concern before buying the machine was possibly too much waste however as long as the first pull is kept to half a pint in a one pint glass all the others are fine. I was also surprised that every single drop comes out of the keg and doesn't end with splurge of wasted froth at the end.
Really happy with this system apart from being more expensive than buying cans - but the quality is and taste is far superior and in some cases better than my local pubs.
Money well spent and a cool looking thing. Downside is my mate that pops in about twice a week doesn't bring as many cans with him that he used to
I've got a Perfect Draft.
If you know you want a keg cold, pop it in the fridge.
Otherwise let it cool overnight.
Never had a problem with over frothy-ness as long as it's poured well and the glass is clean.
I only tend to offer the continental lagers that are trickier to get in the UK bottled or canned.
They used to sell proper Stella that was brewed in Belgium - they've now changed to stuff done down in Wales. Not as good.
Same for the Mahou, Peroni & the Singha they've just started selling - all UK brewed stuff from either Burton Upon Trent or Wales.
The Spaten, Lowenbrau, and Kellerbiers however are super. Especially the Oktoberfest special releases they do.
Pricey-ish - compared to cans of carling but if you're buying decent lagers it's not too dissimilar.
My last none PD purchase was a case of Paulaner Oktoberfest bottles at £42 for 20 600ml bottles. I tend to pick kegs up when they cost me about £30 for the 6 litres.
If you know you want a keg cold, pop it in the fridge.
Otherwise let it cool overnight.
Never had a problem with over frothy-ness as long as it's poured well and the glass is clean.
I only tend to offer the continental lagers that are trickier to get in the UK bottled or canned.
They used to sell proper Stella that was brewed in Belgium - they've now changed to stuff done down in Wales. Not as good.
Same for the Mahou, Peroni & the Singha they've just started selling - all UK brewed stuff from either Burton Upon Trent or Wales.
The Spaten, Lowenbrau, and Kellerbiers however are super. Especially the Oktoberfest special releases they do.
Pricey-ish - compared to cans of carling but if you're buying decent lagers it's not too dissimilar.
My last none PD purchase was a case of Paulaner Oktoberfest bottles at £42 for 20 600ml bottles. I tend to pick kegs up when they cost me about £30 for the 6 litres.
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