Draught Beer/Lager at home?

Iamzod · 18 Dec 2017 at 20:11

I've had a search of the forums & can find no mention of any of these machines at home, there are a few out there at varying prices starting at just over £100.

The wife has bought me a "Sub" from Heineken for Christmas which she got on a black Friday deal for a paltry £69 with 4 litres of Heineken included (Normally £169 with no drink!).

I haven't tried it yet as I'm not allowed it until the big day but a work colleague assures me it is brilliant, he has two of them. Not the cheapest way to have a beer at home I guess but has anyone else got the same machine or similar?

I have a small collection of mini kegs to try when i get my hands on the machine -

Cheers!

bsoltan · 18 Dec 2017 at 20:40

I've never heard of this. How does the cost of a pint work out vs cans/bottles/pub?
Interestingly it is developed between Heineken and KRUPS (who make the coffee machines).

For anyone curious this is the contraption:

THE SUB is 45.5cm (excluding drip tray) x 23.5cm x 33.5cm.

dholdi · 18 Dec 2017 at 20:49

I spotted this at Black Friday.
What does it offer that 8 cans in the fridge doesn't ?

morkfromork · 18 Dec 2017 at 21:22

I got one on the Black Friday deal that my wife has bought me for Xmas. It is a great little machine. I’ve so far used three torps.

Looks like you did the same as me and bought two of most of the beer they sell.

Make sure you have a toro in the fridge while you have one in the machine. It takes no time for the new one to be ready then.

Iamzod · 18 Dec 2017 at 21:26

dholdi said:
I spotted this at Black Friday.
What does it offer that 8 cans in the fridge doesn't ?

Beer never tastes great from a can in my opinion, plus it maintains it at a nice 2 degrees.

morkfromork · 18 Dec 2017 at 21:32

Beer tastes good. Nice and cooled. The machine is near silent most of the time. Does buzz when you first put the torp in and as you pour but this is for no longer than 30 seconds.

Rotty · 18 Dec 2017 at 23:02

I have a Cornelius maxi 310 4 line chiller and just slap 50 litre barrels on it

ignore the crap beer that was on it on this occasion, was just beer for the masses for a BBQ

robfosters · 18 Dec 2017 at 23:14

Rotty said:
I have a Cornelius maxi 310 4 line chiller and just slap 50 litre barrels on it

ignore the crap beer that was on it on this occasion, was just beer for the masses for a BBQ

Fosters is exactly what I’d have on mine. Just an easy to drink refreshing lager, especially from a pump. Can’t be any warmer than 2 degrees though or it’s just sickly.

Can you pull a decent pint?

Rotty · 18 Dec 2017 at 23:30

only used it a couple of times, first time no issues, last time lines were full of bubbles, set it up on weds/thurs and it was ok but bubbles by weekend on both barrels, put a fresh barrel on and it was ok

dholdi · 18 Dec 2017 at 23:33

Haha, that's ace. Needs a nice looking case to fit it all in tho

Rotty · 18 Dec 2017 at 23:35

gonna have a proper outdoor bar / man cave one day so it will all become a proper installation then

robfosters · 19 Dec 2017 at 00:56

Rotty said:
only used it a couple of times, first time no issues, last time lines were full of bubbles, set it up on weds/thurs and it was ok but bubbles by weekend on both barrels, put a fresh barrel on and it was ok

Bubbles is normally a sign of too low pressure from your CO2.

Rotty · 19 Dec 2017 at 01:09

thanks

Tuppy_Glossop · 19 Dec 2017 at 08:03

robfosters said:
Bubbles is normally a sign of too low pressure from your CO2.

Or temperature is too high.

Rotty · 19 Dec 2017 at 10:58

temp? as in the chiller? don't think there is any adjustment

One thing I did differently this time that I didn't first time was when it was all sat for 2-3 days I left the gas on (not intentional) and turned chiller off, first time I turned both off

wonder if somehow that affected pressure in the barrels as when I put a fresh barrel on it was ok

robfosters · 19 Dec 2017 at 11:05

Fosters on CO2 should be dispensed at 20psi.

Rotty · 19 Dec 2017 at 11:07

wouldn't have a clue how to set that

I have been told I had wrong gas on but it is same cylinder as used on first occasion

Martynt74 · 19 Dec 2017 at 16:55

The other argument is that Fosters should just be poured out onto the ground

dholdi · 19 Dec 2017 at 19:10

Marvt74 said:
The other argument is that Fosters should just be poured out onto the ground

Haha, I'm with you on that one.
Sorry Rob

#Chri5# · 20 Dec 2017 at 08:23

Marvt74 said:
The other argument is that Fosters should just be poured out onto the ground

It's good for putting in slug traps around the vegetable patch but certainly not human consumption.

On a more serious note, the 8 pint mini casks provide a better head than a bottle or can IMO.