Product Description

Krups, the world wide leader of small appliances and Heineken, the leader in European Premium Imported Beer have partnered together to create the ultimate beer drinking experience at home. The BeerTender system is compatible with the Heineken DraughtKeg system which utilizes an internal carbonator pressure unit. The Heineken DraughtKeg unit releases Co2 every time the tap is opened, ensuring the beer remains fresh for up to 30 days and allows for a crisp quality beer with Heinekens' signature head of foam and trademark "bite". The BeerTender silent cooling system provides constant and consistent cooling of the 5L Heineken DraughtKeg and will keep it at the ideal temperature of 41 degrees F. Easy to operate, just run the keg's plastic tube to the BeerTender tap and you're done. It's that simple. Inserting a keg takes less than 15-seconds. The Krups BeerTender has an LCD display panel featuring a volume indicator and temperature indicator. It features a detachable pour handle, detachable draw spout, a removable tray. Beautifully designed, the BeerTender is compatible with the Heineken DraughtKeg and Heineken Premium Light DraughtKeg.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26148 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Brand: Krups
• Model: B95
• Dimensions: 18.00" h x 12.00" w x 19.50" l,

Features

• Home beer-tap system for use with a 5L Heineken DraughtKeg
• Silent cooling system allows for an adjustable temperature of 36,39 or 42 degrees F
• LCD display with volume and temperature indicators
• Maintains freshness for up to 30 days; easy-to-clean detachable parts
• Measures 18 by 12 by 19 1/2 inches

Amazon.com
Krups, the world-wide leader of small appliances, and Heineken, the leader in European premium imported beer, have partnered together to create the ultimate beer-drinking experience at home. Compatible with the Heineken DraughtKeg and the Heineken Premium Light DraughtKeg, this beautifully designed beer-tap system features a silent cooling system that delivers constant and consistent cooling, keeping the 5L keg at the ideal temperature of 41 degrees F. Simple to operate, just place a pre-cooled Heineken DraughtKeg into the machine, position the keg's plastic tube into the spout, close the lid, and it's ready to go. Inserting a keg takes less than 15 seconds. Even more, the unit automatically pressurizes the keg, releasing Co2 every time the tap opens, to ensure the beer remains fresh for up to 30 days--plus it allows for a crisp, quality beer with Heinekens' signature head of foam and trademark "bite". Other highlights include an LCD display with a volume indicator, freshness indicator, and temperature-control indicator; as well as a detachable pour handle, detachable draw spout, and a removable tray for easy cleanup. Ideal for football-viewing parties, game rooms, or poker night with friends, the compact beer-tap system measures 17-4/5 by 13-1/2 by 13-1/2 inches.

From the Manufacturer

The Ultimate at Home Draught Beer Experience

The B95 BeerTender is a stylish, high-tech countertop beer draughting system that uses the Heineken DraughtKeg patented carbonator pressure technology to ensure an authentic draught beer at home. An innovative ultra quiet chilling technology maintains the beer at the perfect serving temperature. The BeerTender and DraughtKeg connect through a patented interface. Simply snap on the disposable draught beer tube (included in box or sold separately) onto the DraughtKeg, insert into the BeerTender and serve.The BeerTender: Maintains beer at the ideal temperature for drinking Lets you draught beer at home like an expert Works exclusively with the Heineken or Heineken Premium Light DraughtKeg Has an ultra quiet electronic cooling system Keeps beer fresh for 30 days after tapping Illuminated LED Control Panel Features: Keg volume indicator shows how much beer is left Freshness indicator with 30 day countdown Temperature control: choose from 3 temperature settings--36, 39, and 42 degrees Temperature indicator and Ready to Drink icon show actual temperature of DraughtKeg The Perfect Pour Pouring the world’s preeminent premium lager requires a technique that enhances and preserves its superb flavors. That is why Heineken always has been and still is served in a very specific way. Known as "The Heineken Perfect Pour," the technique delivers a perfect glass of Heineken--one that has a soft, freshly skimmed white head of two fingers’ width, at a temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. A perfect Heineken should have a head that aligns perfectly with the horizontal line of the red star on the glass. Follow these steps: Select a clean Heineken glass and rinse in cold water. The glass should be rinsed until you feel the glass chilled in your hand (do not place in refrigerator or freezer). Tilt the glass at a 45 degree angle and open the tap all with one smooth motion. Make sure that the foam is generated within the base of the glass initially and then run the beer under the foam. Align the head with the star: straighten the glass at 3/4 full. Make sure the tap doesn’t touch the beer and that the bottom of the head should line up with the horizontal line in the Heineken red star on the glass. Skim it: sit the glass to the side of the tap on the drip tray. Wet your skimmer, hold it at a 45 degree angle and scrape the top of the glass in one single smooth movement. By shaving off the excess foam the head is sealed and carbonation is prevented from leaving the beer. This makes the beer last longer and also seals in the flavor.

The Right Glass: The Heineken Glass Story

In Amsterdam, draught beer is served in smaller 8-ounce galaxy glasses by the round, so friends can enjoy Heineken together. Smaller glasses ensure fresher, colder beer and sharing with friends creates a warm social vibe that the Dutch call "Gezellig." Glassware needs to be "beer clean," meaning that it is only washed with non-petroleum-based cleaners and washed separately from food dishes that would expose it to any oils or grease. Oil and grease are natural enemies of beer, and will quickly disintegrate the foam head that contributes to the flavor, not to mention the beauty of a perfectly poured draught beer. To prevent beer from being contaminated, stick to the golden rule--use beer glasses for beer only.

Customer Reviews

Works great , easy to use fun to pour
If you love draft beer but don't drink enough to need a full keg this is for you!

I like my beer ice cold poured in a SMALL frozen glass .... I dont drink enough to warrant a full size type draft keg machine with all the hassles that come with it (like Co2) this unit is simple: just drop the draughtkeg in and your done. This unit has a thermostat setting that lets you set it to 36 degrees , the other unit will not allow you to lower the setting so this alone makes it worth the extra $20.

With the draughtkeg and beertender you get a nice little fridge who's sole job is to keep that keg ice cold and easy to pour... since it has a bottom drip tray you can pour your draught " english " style by letting the first half second just pour out to clear the foam then quickly put your glass in to get a nice pour with little foam - you cant do that when pulling from the big fridge....

What makes it nice is you can pour as much or more importantly as little as you want... like I said I like a small beer glass that gives me nice cold gulps of beer then just pour more - no wasted warm beer just nice and cold PLUS its fun to pour ! Lets face it this is a luxury item because you could just keep it in the big fridge and pour from there but thats no fun! Plus the big fridge is not going to maintain that keg at a constant 36 degrees!

The unit itself is pretty small and very light - it uses some induction type cooling so there is no typical fridge motor its a small fan - now this fan will work hard at first to get that keg down to temp but once its done it gets quieter - its loud enough that you should not put it in an area that is normally quiet .. also since it does not use a fridge type motor it will not work outdoors! It uses the ambient air to help cool the unit - anything over 85 degrees and it will not be able to maintain the temp - so indoor use only.

So to sum up - if you like the Heineken draghtkegs you will enjoy this item - is it necessary ? No , but you will get a much more enjoyable feeling when pouring that perfectly chilled draught. I hope Heineken adds more to the draughtkeg line up like they have in Europe... remember it only works with Heineken so if you dont like Heineken then this item will not work for you...

B95 or B90 ? Spend a little more and get the fancy lcd screen and temp control - especially if you like the cold beer because the other unit is preprogrammed at 39 or 40 deg ... but some people like a warmer draught but the price difference is so little you might as well ' go all the way ' ....

Cheers!

A Nice Beer Toy!!
Okay....I've read a lot of reviews (both negative and positive) on the BeerTender and now that I have gone through six DraughtKegs. I thought it's time to provide my own feedback.

First off...this is simply an expensive toy for beer drinkers. Anyone can open a bottle and pour it in a glass. Using the BeerTender takes some skill and a bit of patience. With that said, I would not recommend the BeerTender to people who drink a lot of beer. It will only frustrate them.

Yes...the BeerTender is expensive (I paid $299) and the Heineken DraughtKegs are also expensive ($19.99) considering they contain the equivalent of 14 twelve ounce bottles. And yes, you could chill a DraughtKeg in the refrigerator just as easily...BUT HEY....This is a fun appliance and that's what it's all about. I have always wanted a keg system for my bar but I don't have the space for one so this is the next best thing.

And yes...you can only use the BeerTender in Heineken DraughtKegs, so you better like Heineken if you buy a BeerTender. I hope Heineken starts producing Amstel Light in DraughtKeg. Or better yet, I hope Krups gets smart that starts partnering with Sam Adams and other domestic brewers.

Here are some of my random observations.

I found the BeerTender (model B95) to be a well built appliance. It looks nice and takes up about the same amount of space has a large coffee machine or KitchenAid mixer. It has become the centerpiece on my bar.

Setup is very simple. Follow all the instructions. The art is in pouring the "perfect" draught.

The LCD display is bright and on all the time. Now my bar has a pale blue nightlight.

There is a low fan sound when the BeerTender is cooling down a keg to the specified temperature. After that, it is very quiet. I recommend you purchase your DraughtKeg's cold if possible. It takes several hours for the BeerTender to chill down a room temperature keg to 36 degrees. And that's no fun because the first thing you'll want to do after hooking up a new keg is...start pouring. As with any keg system, the first couple pours will be mostly foam. Set them aside, they will settle.

I keep mine set to 36 degrees. For me, anything higher is too warm. I haven't measured to see if it is actually pouring 36 degrees, but it is cold enough even on a warm day.

If you are turned off by skunky Heineken in bottles...FEAR NOT. There is absolutely no skunky taste (or smell) with the DraughtKeg. However I have found the head has what I consider a slight metallic taste. I have found it to be present in both Heineken regular and Ultimate Light. This taste disappears as the head goes down. I suspect this taste comes from the built-in CO2 in the DraughtKeg. I prefer regular Heineken over the Ultimate Light. With the DraughtKeg system, it tastes like a full flavored domestic lager.

I can consistently pour 18 8-ounce pilsner glasses from a 5L DraughtKeg with little waste.

Yes it does pour a lot of foam if you are not careful when pouring. Follow the instructions carefully. Frosty glasses aid in minimizing foam.

I have read many complaints about the keg gauge on the B95 being inaccurate. I did not find this to be true except for one time when I installed a new keg and came back a while later to find the gauge reading half full. I followed the instructions for resetting the gauge and haven't had any further problems. The gauge measures the weight of the keg so it's only going to be so accurate. When the gauge is on the last of four bars and flashing, you better have another DraughtKeg chilled and standing by because it will run out after only a couple more pints. There are 168 ounces in a 5L keg. That equates to roughly 42 ounces per bar on the gauge. I always wipe down the inside to mop up the condensation when changing kegs.

If you have been patient enough to read all my ramblings, you will now be rewarded with a little trick I discovered to reduce excessive foaming. REMOVE THE POUR SPOUT!! The inside diameter of the pour spout is much smaller. Forcing beer through the pour spout agitates it causing unnecessary foaming. This must be by design, but I find it much easier to pour a pint without the pour spout. I poured my last two kegs without the pour spout and I was amazed at how much easier it was to pour the perfect glass (with two fingers of head). I tilt the glass at the recommended 45 degrees and slowly straighten it as I pour. I can pour a perfect pint almost every time without the pour spout and since the pour spout is the only thing that comes in contact with the beer, there is no longer a need to clean it. Voila problem solved!

All this typing has made me thirsty. I think I'll play with my beer toy now. Enjoy!

Beer Tender from Krupps
I bought one of these and am impressed. The B 95 model shows you all the levels of beer, tempeture, and date of installment. The beer is coldest when set on the lowest level. No complaints about shipping or the price.Amazon had the best price and free shipping.

Some downsides, Don't jiggle the kegs or you are gonna get alot of foam. When you install the keg, wait 24 hours before use.Keep this in mind for that bar-b-que next Friday.You also have to get the kegs cold and I mean cold, put them in that other fridge or in a ice chest with ice, because they will foam as well.

Most supermakets here in Vermont, don't have the keg so, you have to go to a beer warehouse. Prices I have been finding are $15.99 to $17.99 per keg.

The Heneken light is very good!!. I like better than the regular.

I guess to sum it up is read the booklet that comes with the Beer Tender...