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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!

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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…

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I love this product. Some reviews have said it is difficult to pour without too much beer foam, but if you learn how to do it properly it works great. I take a very cold glass, or fill a glass with ice and water swished around for a bit and pour out the water and ice. Then with a cold glass place the glass right on the pour spout, about an inch down from the glass rim. Hold the glass any way you want as long as the beer comes out and into the glass without splashing. Hold so that it touches the glass as it pours. Works every time. Make sure to follow directions on handling the keg, it has to sit 10 hours I think. But I buy 2 at a time, keeping one in the BeerTender and 1 in the fridge. Love it! Love it! Beer on tap at home. Great.

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I have always wanted a Keg machine for my house but I could justify neither the expense nor having that much beer on hand all the time. This is the perfect solution to both problems. I have the B95 model and I can tell you that this one does not have the problems that I have read about in other reviews. Particularly, the volume indicator, which several people have stated as not functioning, works perfectly on mine. Perhaps this was a problem with the B90 model, or maybe I’m just lucky. The pour is also trouble free. Even the instructions warn you that the first beer from the keg will be mostly foam, but that was not the case for me. From the first draw I’ve gotten perfect pours. I keep mine set at 36 degrees, and I’m careful not to shake the keg before inserting it into the BeerTender, so these could be the reasons I get such foam free pours. The unit is amazingly quiet and very smart looking on the kitchen counter. While I would prefer to have the freedom to choose the beer that I put into the BeerTender, I feel confident that Heineken will continue to add to the beers available in the DraughtKeg. Heineken USA owns or distributes, among others, Newcastle Brown Ale, Dos Equis, Amstel Light, and Carta Blanca. Bottom line, if you always wanted draft beer in your house but didn’t want the expense or logistical problems of a full size keg-o-rator, buy this product. You won’t be sorry.

Update 5/2/2009

I emailed Heineken USA in regard to adding more beers to the DraughtKeg profile and this was their response:

Dear Mr. Brannon:

Thank you for your recent email message. Currently, there are no plans to introduce any other brands in the DraughtKeg.

Thank you for your interest in Heineken USA.

Kind Regards,

Heineken USA Consumer Affairs

So there it is. If you decide to purchase a BeerTender be aware that you may be stuck with Heineken or Heineken Light as your only choices ever. I was disappointed to hear this, but I still like the BeerTender unit.

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Its hard to find Heineken on tap anywhere. When you do, its a 50/50 whether its skunked. Buying a full size keg is expensive and does not save you much money if any at all. When you buy the 5L’s you definately do not save any money, but for that extra few cents per serving you get Heineken draft the way its meant to be. The problem with the 5L is they take up lots of space in the fridge and the pour spout drip. Regardless of whether its bottles, cans, or 5L’s, its going to be fridge temp; which is too cold of a serving temp for Heineken. Most people don’t realize that it states right on the packing, server at 40-45 degrees.

The Krups BeerTender B95 solves all those problems!

-Heineken draft locally on tap

-Space conservation

-No messy drips

-Perfect temp (36, 39, or 42)

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After reading other pwoples reviews, I had to write. We have had our Beer Tender for about a year and a half. We use it a lot in the summer. We used to have trouble with a lot of foam but if you PULL THE TAP HANDLE ALL THE WAY OUT AND POUR AT AN ANGLE, YOU GET A FULL BEER WITHOUT EXCESS FOAM! It has taken a lot of research to get to this conclusion, but we were willing to do it! Good luck!

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Prior to this I did own a full-sized kegerator and while the selection of kegs is infinite, so are the problems inherent with maintaining it. I could never get the right mix of pressure, not to mention the maintenance of the beer lines. In frustration, I sold my unit and decided it was canned or bottled beer for me. Then came the Krugs/Heineken Beertender B95. I am truly enjoying this unit as it is maintenance free and yields superior-tasting beer. I must admit I am impatiently waiting for Newcastle to be available in mini-keg form in my area. It is my understanding that it will be very soon. I have no problem dispensing my beer, so long as I tilt my glass at the proper angle. I give it 5 stars.

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I bought this because I love draft beer. It has been great and has worked like a dream. The only problem I’ve had is keeping it full.

It tracks the days since opening the Keg, level and temperature. I keep it at 36 Deg’s.

I would recommend this any beer lovers. I’ve had people tell me that they had trouble finding the taps. Bed Bath and Beyond stocks the taps and if you have questions e-mail Heineken and they respond very fast.

Great little Machine!!

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I have now had my BeerTender for 4 months and I love it. I have had no foaming issues at all. It is a simple matter of touching the pour spout on the inside of the glass while it is at a 45 degree angle. The other fabulous thing is you can now get New Castle in a BeerTender friendly keg.

Cheers!

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I just finished my first little keg and this product works just as they have advertised. If the beer has been sitting for a few days the foam can be a little thick but nothing that stopped me from drinking it. If you follow the directions you have no problems. From box to set up took maybe five minutes and that was because I was being careful to make sure I set it up correctly. If there’s any draw back it’s that it’s too convenient. It’s amazing how much beer my friends and I will drink if we don’t have to open the fridge and remove the cap from a bottle