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Do you want to buy a draft beer dispenser, but don’t know which one to choose? It’s true that, like all household appliances, there are many different models to choose from. That’s why you need to proceed methodically, listing your priorities and consumption patterns.
A beer cooler is not a complicated appliance, but each one is designed for a specific use. In the meantime, here are 5 tips to help you make the right choice.
DraftPour Beer Dispenser Philips
1. The beer makes the fountain
Before falling for the first draft beer dispenser you come across, you need to ask yourself what type of beer or brand is available for the tapping machine you want to buy. As each machine belongs to a particular brewery, this question is anything but trivial. In fact, it’s the first question you should ask before making your purchase.
For example, the Philipps Perfectdraft beer filler is compatible with Leffe, Kwak and Triple Karmeliet brands, but these are not the only ones. For Seb or Krups, you’ll need Heineken or Fischer. So it’s a good idea to know the full list of kegs available for each filler. Even more so if the draft beer dispenser is a gift.
In this case, it’s essential to know the person’s tastes in beer, whether they prefer the best-known traditional beers or, on the contrary, craft beers whose character is proportional to that of the brewer.
A beer is judged like a fine wine. To do so, you need to analyze its roundness, aromas, sparkle and bitterness. The color palette, from light yellow to dark brown, is also important, as it tells you what type of beer you’re tasting: amber, brown, blonde, white or red. For example, did you know that a lager is a beer whose barley grains have not been roasted?
2. Choose the right keg size
Depending on your use, the size of the compatible keg can quickly become a decisive criterion. You need to bear in mind that once the keg has been pierced, the beer can only be stored for a week. The size of the keg therefore depends on how much you consume or how you use it, for example at parties.
Manufacturers have designed 3 different sizes, depending on the brand of filler. The first keg has a capacity of 2 liters, which is ideal for personal consumption within the family. Next on the market are 5-liter kegs, the standard size, and 6-liter kegs. Determining the use is therefore the second important criterion when choosing a beer cooler model.
3. Focus on beer quality
It’s no secret that warm beer is not pleasant to drink. For a beer to be thirst-quenching, it must be served cold. With certain models of beer cooler, you can keep a tasty beer that has retained all its aromas for up to 30 days, despite the punctured keg. These models keep the beer at a temperature of 3 or 4 degrees, thanks to the built-in refrigerator.
Typical tapping models include a carbon dioxide bottle, CO regulator, tap and fridge. By applying carbon dioxide pressure to the keg, the filler expels the precious beverage. The keg is usually kept inside the refrigerator to maintain the ideal temperature.
Unlike other soft drinks, beer contains proteins. It is these proteins that form the foam, acting as clusters and remaining on the surface. The other important element in the formation of foam is the hop. The bitter resins contained in this plant react in contact with certain proteins.
Soft on the palate and rich in aroma, foam acts as a protective barrier to prevent air from entering the glass. Beer keeps its taste longer than other soft drinks because the foam protects it from oxidation by forming a film, preventing the gas from escaping.
4. Opt for an easy-to-use, durable model
For everyday or occasional use, opt for an easy-to-use model. It would be a shame to spoil the party because you can’t get the beer out! An ergonomic handle is easier to operate. What’s more, this type of handle allows the glass to be tilted at 45 degrees.
Filling them in this way prevents too much foam from accumulating when filling half the glass. To remedy this problem, always rinse the glass with fresh water before tapping the beer.
Some machines are equipped with an LED display. This display, like a dashboard, allows you to monitor the information you need, such as keg temperature, beer freshness and the volume remaining in your keg. This way, you’ll never run out of beer. Finally, the quality of the filler itself is important, as not all machines offer the same resistance and longevity.
5. Select the best value for money
Budget is an important factor when it comes to making a choice, especially as the range can be as much as double. Entry-level models cost $120, while the most sophisticated models can cost upwards of $500 for those with 25-liter drums. Basic machines are easy to use and of good quality.
Top-range beer taps are considered excellent, durable and economical machines. With a budget of around $300, you buy a high-performance machine. You can precisely adjust the temperature of the beverage from 0 to 12°. Once the temperature has been reached, the filler remains stable, even in hot environments. Finally, you can control your machine remotely via an app you can download to your smartphone.
Bottom line
Whether you’re buying for yourself or as a gift, you can see that a draft beer dispenser can’t be bought on a whim. It’s essential to check these parameters in order to choose the right draft beer dispenser.
