As soon as our garden bar/ pub shed was ordered I started looking into options for draft beer. In fact, I did have one already as during the spring of 2020 during the COVID lockdown I ordered a Krups Sub Classic purchased from Beerwulf.
Originally, I wanted proper beer pumps to make it look as pub-like as possible, but during my research, they simply sounded like too much hassle for me. I wanted something easy and low maintenance that didn’t take up much room, and most of the traditional pumps/ taps needed gas, lines etc they all sounded like they’d take up too much space, and I wasn’t sure about maintenance or how I could maintain temperature.
To keep things simple in addition to the Krups Sub Classic I decided to get a couple of additional beer dispenser machines. I decided my second machine would be the perfect draft as this had a completely different set of beers available and the kegs were much bigger 6 litres as opposed to 2 litres with the sub. I thought the range of beers on the perfect draft would be ideal as there was plenty of choice, particularly IPAs.
Finally, I ordered a Blade as I thought the litre kegs would be brilliant if I had a party and mainly because they did Moretti which was a well-recognisable pub lager for those that don’t drink IPAs.
These are the three machines I will be comparing in this post, I have outlined the pros and cons of each below and then concluded which is the best all-round and some FAQ’s.
Are Draught Beer Dispenser Machines Any Good?
The Krups Sub Classic
Pro’s
- It is the cheapest option to buy the machine
- It takes up very little space
- Good choice of beer
- Looks good on a bar or countertop
- It’s pretty quiet apart from a short time during a pour
- There is a good range of beers including IPA and wheat beer
- Take 2-litre “torps” and easily fit into a fridge
Con’s
- The beer will be more expensive per pint
- No gauge to tell you capacity (but to be fair it only holds 4 pints)
- The torps are only 2 litres so they run out quickly
- It has a green button when it reaches temperature and despite cooling the beer in the fridge overnight seems to take a while to reach the correct temperature or for the green light to come on.
- I found the first couple of pours very frothy and by the time you get a good pint the beer is almost gone.
- Only has one temperature
Conclusion on the Krups Sub Classic
It’s not the best on the market in my opinion as the pour is better on my other machines, but is ok for personal use due to the low capacity, and not a party machine. However, I still use it occasionally mainly for a different option sometimes stronger beers, or a cider. Mine normally has a good wheat beer in it
The Perfect Draft
Pro’s
- Fantastic choice of larger, ciders and IPA’s
- Kegs are 6 litres and can be taken or sent back for a £5 refund or credit.
- Has a clear temperature gauge
- Has a gauge to tell you the capacity of the kegs (take this as an estimate)
- Beer freshness and pour are excellent so a perfect home pint
Cons
- Unable to control the temperature
- The kegs need to be chilled overnight in a fridge and they will take up a lot of space in most fridges.
Conclusion on the perfect draft
This is a great all-round option as the keg sizes are fantastic, and you can recycle for £5 credit. By far the greatest selection of options in terms of beers and no one has complained about the quality of a pint as it pours brilliantly and delivers a perfect draft pint
The Blade
Pro’s
- The machine has a fantastic build quality
- Looks amazing particularly when the dome is lit.
- The beer pour is fantastic so delivers a brilliant fresh home-pulled pint
- The kegs are 8 litres so and last for 30 days once opened
- The 8-litre capacity is great for parties
Con’s
- The kegs are difficult to store and cool in a fridge as they are bigger
- Limited range of kegs only about 8 or 9
- No control over the temperature as with the others
- Can be a little trickier to replace kegs as the line has been trapped a couple of times for me.
Conclusion on The Blade
This is the best-looking machine in my opinion as it’s chrome and when the dome is lit at night it looks amazing. Another machine that delivers a perfect fresh draft pint, but the choice of beers is very limited.
Overall Best Draught Beer Dispenser Machine?
Now, this is difficult as they are all still getting plenty of use. However, If I had to choose only one, it has to be the Perfect Draft. I have dismissed the sub on the pour quality (particularly the first couple of pints) and capacity as it’s 2 litres, and the blade is purely on the choice of kegs. The perfect draft is my all-around favourite due to the range of beers and the quality of each perfectly poured pint.
Beer Machine FAQs
Why is the beer from my perfect draft too frothy?
It can be caused by pouring too soon after transit, and also the first pour shoots beer through the line from the pressured keg for the first time. This can be avoided by cooling the keg overnight in a fridge and then pouring a small amount into the glass first. Then pour the pint at 45 degrees.
How do you pour a perfect pint on a perfect draft beer machine?
If it’s a fresh keg always pour a small amount of beer into the glass first and then pour it into a wet glass at a 45-degree angle, and always pull the handle all the way down, Don’t pull it gradually or slowly all the way down in one movement.
How many pints are there in a perfect draft keg?
They are 6-litre kegs which is 10 pints in each keg.
Is the Perfect draft noisy?
No, it runs quietly although there it does produce quite a bit of noise when the motors kick in during a pour. It certainly could not be accused of being noisy.