Beertender: Great product, but which to buy?

[beerlover]

Hi there,

i am thinking about buying a Beertender. For the people who don't know, the Beertender is the first device where you can make a draught beer at home.
I have seen different types of the Beertender on this site (http://www.made-in-holland.net/home.php?cat=3) . They all have different features, but which would you advice to buy?

cheers

[wild]

Out of the five styles ranging from £129 to £169 I’m not sure I can see enough bells and whistles on the higher priced units to pay 25% more. Although it may be aesthetically pleasing to the eyes, it only will pour 4L. I guess a good question would be, how much are the 4L kegs? To me it is just a really fancy (and expensive) jockeybox.

Wild

[beerlover]

I think that it is totally worth the money, who doesn't want to have a draught beer at home? I got one by i friend of mine. He said he could drink one month from 1 and-a-half keg. He couldn't advice me on the device though, since he didn't know the other ones besides his own..

But if you click on the "click here to enlarge" on

http://www.made-in-holland.net/product.php?productid=9&cat=3&page=1

i mean, come on!

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by beerlover
I think that it is totally worth the money, who doesn't want to have a draught beer at home?

Lot's of us have draught beer at home. The problem is that there is not much selection in the 4 litre kegs. A 1/4 or even a 1/6 barrel keg will come filled with an endless choice of brews to drink and the beer will be much cheaper. Also, devices like these (and the kegs that fit in them) come and go.

[Randybo]

What worries me the most is "Special 4 L. Kegs" who knows how long these will last and if they "upgrade" thier system will they fit the old kegs.

[hooky]

I looks fairly proprietary to me, like Tassimo or Senseo coffee makers.

[beerlover]

Originally posted by Randybo
What worries me the most is "Special 4 L. Kegs" who knows how long these will last and if they "upgrade" thier system will they fit the old kegs.

I dont think they will change this because would piss off people who already bought this device. That would be very bad publicity for Heineken as well as Krups.

[hooky]

Wanna buy a used Betamax video recorder? I'll cut you a deal.

Where can you find the 4L kegs and what kind of choices do you have?

[BrewDog]

Ok, I'll bite-

Can you alter the serving pressure and temperature for the different varieties of beer?

Is there a stout faucet?

Is the faucet a forward-seal type that does not stick like most?

Most importantly, What varieties of beer can be bought in the 4L kegs?

[HogieWan]

beerlover - we have seen lots of people coming here to sell stuff, and (to me, at least) it looks like you'er just trying to sell some gadget. I doubt you'll get any return on your time here.

if you are not selling this, I apologize

[beerlover]

Originally posted by HogieWan
beerlover - we have seen lots of people coming here to sell stuff, and (to me, at least) it looks like you'er just trying to sell some gadget. I doubt you'll get any return on your time here.

if you are not selling this, I apologize

HogieWan, i am not selling this, just interested in getting some information. But it looks like i am fishing for information which i cannot get :)

maybe i am wrong...but so far no one has experience with it...

[HarkJohnny]

i immediately thought "spammer selling his wares" too

[bigben]

I am wondering then why is your homepage in your profile the same one that you posted?

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by bigben
I am wondering then why is your homepage in your profile the same one that you posted?

busted!

[bigben]

and he went quiet.

I have draft beer at home and it can hold a heck of a lot more then 4L.

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by bigben
and he went quiet.

I have draft beer at home and it can hold a heck of a lot more then 4L.

I have 25 gallons of 4 different brews right now :D

[dparsons]

Originally posted by beerlover
HogieWan, i am not selling this, just interested in getting some information. But it looks like i am fishing for information which i cannot get :)

maybe i am wrong...but so far no one has experience with it...

I don't think anyone here has this system. Those who do have at home draft beer systems are looking at the system you submitted for discussion and thinking that you can get more for your money. Their recommendation has been "none of the options presented are best." Nobody is trying to be antagonistic, just give you information on what they think best. I suggest you take a look at the things recommended and weigh them in your evaluation of what to purchase. There are better deals to be had.

From my perspective, the first step is to find a system that includes equipment of common market sizes. NOBODY sells beer in 4 liter kegs. That is a dead giveaway to a proprietary system that most likely has one of two problems (or both):
1. Its realy poor in quality to hit a low price point
2. Its sold cheap but then everything else you have to buy is sold over its value to make up for the initial low price.

Go track down a kegerator for a take on a competitive and real system.

[beerlover]

Originally posted by dparsons
I don't think anyone here has this system. Those who do have at home draft beer systems are looking at the system you submitted for discussion and thinking that you can get more for your money. Their recommendation has been "none of the options presented are best." Nobody is trying to be antagonistic, just give you information on what they think best. I suggest you take a look at the things recommended and weigh them in your evaluation of what to purchase. There are better deals to be had.

From my perspective, the first step is to find a system that includes equipment of common market sizes. NOBODY sells beer in 4 liter kegs. That is a dead giveaway to a proprietary system that most likely has one of two problems (or both):
1. Its realy poor in quality to hit a low price point
2. Its sold cheap but then everything else you have to buy is sold over its value to make up for the initial low price.

Go track down a kegerator for a take on a competitive and real system.

thanks dparson, they sell 4 lt kegs for this system. what other home draft beer systems do you have then? I am only familiar with this one.

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by beerlover
thanks dparson, they sell 4 lt kegs for this system. what other home draft beer systems do you have then? I am only familiar with this one.

my "home draft" system is very similar to a bar draft system

[beerlover]

Originally posted by HogieWan
my "home draft" system is very similar to a bar draft system
Is that comparable with a system like the Beertender, or more with one in a pub?
What is the content of the Kegs?

[bigben]

most people build there own what we call kegerators out of a fridge or a freezer. mine I can fit a 1/4 keg in and two 5 gal kegs in. that is 17+gallons. some here can fit upwards of 30 gallons. mine I bought from a buddy for 150dollars and it is universal amongst many different kegs. pretty much any that are made except the small 4L kegs I can use. sounds like you are pretty ignorant about a draft system for beer personally. I still think that you are only looking for monotary gain out of this. JMHO.

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by beerlover
Is that comparable with a system like the Beertender, or more with one in a pub?
What is the content of the Kegs?

It's almost like you'd find in a pub, but mine is setup for the 5 gallon soda kegs, but I could easily fit and pour from a Sanke keg. The content of my kegs is homemade beer. I have a blonde ale, two different milds (one in 2 kegs) and a bitter.

[beerlover]

Originally posted by HogieWan
It's almost like you'd find in a pub, but mine is setup for the 5 gallon soda kegs, but I could easily fit and pour from a Sanke keg. The content of my kegs is homemade beer. I have a blonde ale, two different milds (one in 2 kegs) and a bitter.
but besides making yourself one, is there also a way of buying one for home use?

[BrewDog]

Originally posted by beerlover
but besides making yourself one, is there also a way of buying one for home use? Google the word Kegerator (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=kegerator) and you will find LOTS of links.

[dparsons]

Originally posted by beerlover
but besides making yourself one, is there also a way of buying one for home use?

It seems (at least at this stage in the market) that you do better to be somewhat educated on what goes into a keg system. The common ingredients are:

* Something like a refrigerator to make things cold.
* Kegs - 5 gallon soda kegs are popluar here at least in part because the size matches the common brewing batch size.
* A CO2 pressure canister
* A pressure regulator
* Lines and connections for your beer and CO2 to run through
* Some type of faucet so you can dispense your beer.

Like BrewDog said, google the word "kegerator" and start reading. There are commercially available beer fridges and "how to make your own" links that will show up. If you are into brewing I'd suggest going with a multiple 5 gallon keg/multiple tap option. If not make sure your system will be compatible with wat is available in your faorite brews. I also suggest reading some of the "how to" links even if you are planning to go commercial because it will help you understand what you're getting.

[BeerTenderUSA]

While BeerTenders are only sold in Europe, a few of us have them in the states. Of course the "real" BeerTender kegs are only available in Europe as well (we bring them back in luggage), the Heineken DraughtKeg works fine...IF you get the special hose needed.

For more info, see http://www.BeerTenderUSA.com

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by BeerTenderUSA
While BeerTenders are only sold in Europe, a few of us have them in the states. Of course the "real" BeerTender kegs are only available in Europe as well (we bring them back in luggage), the Heineken DraughtKeg works fine...IF you get the special hose needed.

For more info, see http://www.BeerTenderUSA.com

thanks for the ad - I won't click your link

[danno]

well, I clicked on the link, and it appears he's not selling anything. so, spam crisis averted. I have a brother in law that buys those 1 gal (or so) kegs, I'd bet he'd be interested in one...

[Stonch]

Originally posted by BrewDog
Is there a stout faucet?

What is a stout faucet?

Please don't tell me it's something that "creamflows" a stout so it comes out like Guinness?

If so - people who think that's the way to drink stout need to stop the madness.

[Payson]

What is a stout faucet?
Isn't it a faucet designed to work with a nitrogen dispensing mix? Longer nozzle, etc...?

[Stonch]

That's what I feared.

Because Irish macrobrewers moved over to nitrokeg, it does not mean that's the "orthodox" way to serve stouts.

Stouts, like all ales of English origin, are best appreciated cask-conditioned - failing that, if it must come in a keg, it shouldn't be served too cold, and shouldn't be over carbonated.

Cold fizzy, dead stout is even worse than "creamy/smooth", dead stout, I'd admit, but this nitrokeg nonsense drives me up the wall.:mad:

[Payson]

That's what I feared.
I didn't mean to imply that this was the "standard" for serving stouts, just defining what I thought was being referred to. The mere fact that they're called "stout faucets" may confirm your fear though.... I would venture to say that not all nitrogen served stouts are bad however; likewise, cask conditioning certainly has its place. That being said, perhaps "stout faucet" would be more aptly named "nitrogen faucet".

[beerlover]

okay guys,

So i have bought the [b95 (http://www.made-in-holland.net/Krups-Beertender-B95-p-9.html) and have to say that i do not regret it at all :).


Thanks for al the advice!