PERFECT DRAFT PRO
The premium choice for fastidious beer drinkers who want their pints chilled
Beer can hit the ideal temperature in as little as 10 hours, or less
The top-of-the-range PerfectDraft Pro is by far the most advanced beer dispenser on the market. While the cheaper model could only chill to 3ºC, the Pro offers you total control over the temperature between 0°C to 12°C. is might not sound like much of a big deal, but beer connoisseurs will choke on their pork scratchings if you serve their beer too warm, or too cold. To bring out the hoppy flavour some IPAs need marginally warmer (5ºC for instance) pouring conditions. If this sounds like a chat you love to have in the pub, then only the Pro machine will do.
e PerfectDraft Pro machine is considerably larger and heavier than both the Pinter and Philips model, and will command the entire depth of a standard worktop, especially as it needs a bit of space for air flow. Sat side-by-side in our test kitchen, the Pro looks cumbersome in comparison. e extra dimensions do mean it has a simpler loading mechanism, however - you simply slide the keg and tapping unit into position and close the door - and a more powerful cooler. As a result, beer can hit the ideal temperature in as little as 10 hours (less if you pre-chill). It’s only a small detail, but the drip tray can also be retracted too, which keeps things tidy.
e other standout difference here is the Wi-Fi connectivity and complete app control. Once you register your machine and get it online (it’s mercifully obvious) you can then track and adjust the temperature of the keg remotely, check on levels and order more booze if you’re running low. It’s clever, works well and gives the fastidious beer lover just that bit more control. If however all you crave after a long week (okay, day) at work is a cold lager (ideal temperature 3ºC) the extra smart features will be fairly redundant. Yes, it also cools a bit quicker, but it takes up considerably more space in the kitchen.
As for pouring, it uses the same design as the Philips model we discuss on page 57, and as such, pours brilliantly when you get the hang of it. Our first few attempts were a little froth-heavy, but not for long.
When you consider the combination of the beer quality, cooling consistency and pouring brilliance, there’s no denying that the PerfectDraft Pro is the best beer dispenser on the market. But it is also £100 more than the Philips model, which is the equivalent of buying an extra three kegs (that’s over 30 pints!) of delicious Camden Hells lager. e choice is all yours.
It’s an investment in time and effort, but the beer was a genuine surprise
Now on its third generation unit - the second of which was recalled due to a few units exploding - this East London based brand has learned from their mistakes and created a brilliantly simple home brewing system that produces beer we’re more than happy to drink. ere’s a deep satisfaction in brewing your own lager, stout, session ale or even super strong 7% craft style DIPA.
e Pinter kit consists of everything you need to brew, store and pour 10 pints of your chosen beer. ere’s 22 options available, with prices from £14.99 for house brews to £22 for collaborations with breweries including Yeastie Boys and Signature Brew. Each Pinter Pack contains a purifier sachet, beer syrup, yeast and in some cases hop oil. at’s as little as £1.50 a pint, although you’re obviously absorbing labour, water and refrigeration costs.
e unit is made of robust plastic, and looks the business. anks to a comprehensive companion app, there’s no need for you to understand the complexities of the brewing process in order to get the best results. As a step-by-step guide it’s one of the best we’ve used, with clear instructions, videos and plenty of hand-holding.
We decided to give the Yeastie Boys Bigmouth Remixed Session IPA (4.5% abv) a try and, aside from having to shake the whole unit to mix the syrup and cold water, it was a genuinely painless process. e painful bit, however, was waiting for the beer to brew. is is a two-stage process which, in this instance, requires a minimum of six days brewing and three days conditioning in the fridge. ere’s a diary setting in the app which counts down the various stages of the process, and once brewed it stays fresh for up to 30 days, although it will start to lose any carbonation after a week.
It’s an investment in time and effort for 10 pints, but the beer was a genuine surprise. As well as the fruity and refreshing Bigmouth IPA, we visited Pinter and sampled a few other brews including a delicious En Casa Mexican lager and a couple of soon-to-be launched ales. While you don’t get mainstream larger levels of fizz, the beer is deliciously fresh, with fizz and flavour.
It does take up a huge amount of space in the average fridge, though, and will stay there for weeks on end as it ferments, conditions and gets ultimately consumed. If you’ve already got a drinks fridge, or regularly keep ten cans of beer in the fridge anyway, this is perfect, but for those people short on chiller space it might be awkward, especially when the supermarket delivery arrives.