- Home beer-tap system for use with a 5L Heineken DraughtKeg
- Silent cooling system keeps 5L keg at ideal serving temperature of 38 degrees F
- LED display with volume and temperature indicators
- Maintains freshness for up to 30 days; easy-to-clean detachable parts
- Measures 18 by 19-1/2 by 12 inches
I was very excited for this product and my girlfriend bought one for me for my birthday in APRIL 2008.
THe product is well designed and works well when it works.
Problem is...I only used it 2x...and the unit stopped cooling.
One thing customers of this item should know is that you really aren't supposed to store a Heineken Draught Keg in it for more than a day (they say this in the manual) and that you are supposed to remove the keg and put it in the fridge if you plan on storing it longer.
ISn't that kinda stupid and defeats the purpose of such an expensive unit?? Also...it only uses Mini-Kegs that have their own CO2 pressuration built in like the Heineken Mini-keg.....so expect your choice (if any) to be limited.
Anyhoo, I used 2 Draught Kegs in a 6 week period....and the unit stopped cooling. I contacted KRUPS and received an RMA and had the unit shipped in for repair on 6/23/08. After hearing nothing I followed up on 7/24/08 as to the status of my machine, they apologized and put in a rush order to have a replacement shipped after emailing them 2x and calling.
My latest phone conversation (8/19/08) I was told that they had been backordered on the machine until this past week and should receive my replacement machine in 2 weeks....we'll see.
While I like the machine......the rep said that this being a brand new product for Krups they were experiencing issues in servicing of the unit. I am thinking this machine was not ready to be released and that the cooling unit is very likely to fail in every unit.
I would have to say there might be a better options if you plan to use this type of dispenser regularly.
UPDATE (9/21/08):
Received my warranty replacement unit at the end of AUGUST. To my surprise.......KRUPS did not repair my machine...they sent a completely NEW Unit!! YAY!
So far the unit has worked perfectly and I have used it 1x since i received it. Hopefully they have resolved any issues they were experiencing in manufacturing so I or others won't experience the cooling failure that I did with my 1st unit. So Far So Good.....there are also rumors of more varieties of Draught Keg coming to the US like they have in Europe....that would definitely make the unit a more worthwhile purchase rather than a creature comfort.
Buy BeerTender from Heineken and Krups B90 Home Beer-Tap System Now
If you're thinking about getting it, do it.
Positives: 1. Heineken tastes so much better out of the keg (no skunky smell like you sometimes get out of the bottle). And, the beer stays carbonated for weeks. 2. Convenience couldn't be easier. Replacing the keg takes all of 90 seconds and having a great beer on tap all the time is brilliant.3. Entertaining great when friends come over to visit or when the guys come over to play cards.4. Appearance the stainless and black is hip enough that your wife will probably allow you to put it on the kitchen counter. If you have a game room or den, even better. Takes up same space as a toaster or coffee maker.5. Cost $20 for a replacement keg and $1 for the new tube each time adds up to a pretty good price per pint.
Negatives: 1. Currently only Heineken kegs fit the BeerTender.2. The 5L kegs are currently difficult to find in my market but, the distributors have told me that it should be resolved by Feb 09. 3. You should really keep a 2nd keg always on hand so that you don't run out. If you have a 2nd frig, then no problem. The thing is, if you have to run to the liquor store for a replacement, then it's a pain and often, the one you bring home from the liquor store needs a little time to cool down before serving. Having a spare, on-hand and pre-chilled, is beautiful.
Read Best Reviews of BeerTender from Heineken and Krups B90 Home Beer-Tap System Here
I was a little worried when I read other people's reviews online about how their BeerTender had performed. Then again I did come across some good experiences people were having with their BeerTender. The short story is that it seems a lot of people have purchased the DraughtKeg and brought it home expecting to throw it in the BeerTender and start pouring beer with minimal foam. I think this is the first misconception.
After reading about the mistakes of others, I carefully planned out my strategy. I purchased my DraughtKeg a day before I planned to unveil my BeerTender as a Christmas gift to myself. This way the keg would have time to chill in my fridge and the foam buildup from the drive home would have time to settle over night. Once I opened up the BeerTender box I took some time to read through the instructions and double check my steps. When placing the keg into the BeerTender I took care not to cause a buildup of foam by jerking the keg about. Smooth gentle movements with the keg to keep foam buildup to a minimal.
I then proceeded to grab my 16oz pilsner and rinse it (inside and out). Next I opened the spout (all the way down) while my glass had the 45* angle working for it and behold, beauty!
A lot of this is commonsense to the person who has poured beer from a keg or maybe been to a bar and seen how bartenders pour beer. Commonsense folks...
Enjoy and Merry Christmas!
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I have owned my Beertender since Nov '08.It has worked perfectly and I really enjoy pouring the perfect draft beers from it.My unit gives 3 temperature options (36,39,42) and only takes a couple hours to get to temperature from store chilled keg.The unit is quiet and easy to use.Of course you need to understand that it ONLY works with the Heineken and Heineken Light kegs.Also, it requires you to replace the tube each time you replace a keg.These cost about a dollar a piece.There are other units out there that allow using more varieties of beer, but all in all I love my Beertender and can live with Heineken Light on tap at all times!
1. Take care when handling the minikeg. Excessive movement must be avoided.
2. Make sure that the keg is thoroughly chilled before inserting into the BeerTender.
3. Wait until the temp indicator is green.
4. Pour following directions (quick pull, 45 degree angle, etc).
The only reason this gets 4 stars insead of 5 is I didn't know I could only use Heineken beer. This will be great for parties, but my day-to-day tastes vary too much for marriage to a single brand. I am also not thrilled with the lack of availabilitynot all stores have the minikegs in stock and I am concerned that if this product doesn't fly in the U.S. I will be SOL. The price of the minikegs varies widely tooWalMart was the most expensive at $20, while Farm Fresh (local grocery chain) sold me one for $15. More expensive than bottles/cans for sure, but not prohibitively so. I like the fact that you can remove the handle to keep kids from sampling, but a better solution would have been a keypad combo.
One minor complaintthe "beer remaining" indicator is notorously inaccurate. Just keep a spake keg in the fridgethey change out in seconds.
One last piece of advise... Don't overindulge on day one. Its hard to resist a magical faucet that dispenses beer in your very own kitchen!!
Cheers, and no foam worries!
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