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View Full Version : Looking for input on Tap-A-Draft


b3s
04-08-2003, 07:37 PM
i've been looking at the tap-a-draft system for a while (read: 1 week) and while i think it is the answer to my desire for kegged/cask conditioned ale in my home and my lack of space in a 1-BR apartment, i was hoping that others out there might give me feedback on what they think about the system.

for those not familiar with tap-a-draft, it uses 6L PET plastic bottles (3 of which will handle between 4.5 and 4.75 gallons of beer), 2 8 gr disposable CO2 canisters, and a custom tapping mechanism. the CO2 is not for carbonation, it is for pressure maintenance, because you are supposed to condition the beer just like bottles. furthermore, you can substitue one NO canister for one of the CO2 canisters.

my thought is that for a small outlay (around $50 USD) i can start serving cask conditioned tap beer out of my fridge.

but my question is...is this a good system? will it hold up over time? i would prefer corny's or real kegs, but i just flat out do not have the room for all that (hell, finding an adequate place to ferment and bottle condition was a chore!).

thanks for any input.

b3s
04-08-2003, 09:14 PM
i suppose a url would be handy: http://www.sturmanbg.com/products/beverage_dispenser.asp

b3s
05-15-2003, 09:34 PM
well, thought an update would be in order. i have had my tap-a-draft for a while...works great! compared the taste in the tap-a-draft vs. bottle-conditioned...same taste. the only downside is that my first one or two pours are very foamy.

and man...does this thing cut down on bottling time :D

paul84043
05-17-2003, 04:13 PM
How long do the CO2 cartridges last?
I am going to start kegging soon and am looking for viable alternatives...

What is the real total cost as well?

b3s
05-17-2003, 05:35 PM
Originally posted by paul84043
How long do the CO2 cartridges last?
I am going to start kegging soon and am looking for viable alternatives...

What is the real total cost as well?

2 CO2 cartridges last for at least one 6L PET bottle. i didn't bother trying to use them for longer...just discarded and put two more in.

i bought a kit (two 6L bottles + draft + 10 CO2 cartridges) plus an additional two 6L bottles for about $60. fits in a standard fridge and, imo, works great. now, if you want the fancy NO drafts, well, you're gonna want to get and get the special tap and everything...but for an inexpensive draft it works out quite well...especially if you space issues (ala an apartment).

paul84043
05-19-2003, 11:49 AM
It sounds cheaper than even the Party Pig setup....pretty cool..