PerfectDraft Pro Review: Smart Beer Dispense Machine

Price When Reviewed

Unavailable in the USA

For years, the PerfectDraft has been the most efficient beer dispense system for the house. Now there’s a brand new fashion within the type of the PerfectDraft Pro. 

The new Pro fashion comes with more than a few upgrades, together with adjustable temperature, quicker cooling, quieter operation and it even has integrated Wi-Fi and an accompanying app so you’ll be able to regulate it out of your phone. 

If you’re now not acquainted with the unique PerfectDraft, you purchase 6L kegs from Beer Hawk, put them within the system and easily pour beer as and whilst you like over the process 30 days or till the beer is long gone. 

Design & Build 

• Similar having a look however larger
• New door and keg insertion means
• Built-in drip tray

Overall, the PerfectDraft Pro is similar to its predecessor, even if it’s a larger system. At 29.4 x 40.1 x 44.5cm, it has a bigger quantity via round 55%, so be sure to have house for it before you purchase (together with 10cm of air house on the again and aspects for optimum operation).

It’s as soon as once more black and silver with the faucet machine on the most sensible and an LCD display screen decrease down on the entrance. Tweaks to its design come with a unmarried door, fairly than two, and a integrated drip tray you’ll be able to slide out and in. 

The faucet is extra tough than prior to and has a chunkier care for with a brand new tightening nut. You nonetheless put a magnetic medallion at the most sensible (4 colors are integrated within the field with customisable ones coming quickly, in line with the web page) and now you’ll be able to put one at the entrance of the spherical faucet, too. 

These aren’t specifically well-made as I discovered the only at the entrance had fallen off after lower than two weeks, leaving the magnet at the back of. 

The door now best opens the left, revealing a brand new machine inside of for putting the keg. The faucet connects to the highest of the keg as prior to however now it slides in, leaving the keg type of suspended within the air fairly than sitting on a chilling plate. 

It’s a bit of more uncomplicated to insert the keg now however the truth that there aren’t any locking hands approach it’s more difficult to understand whether or not it’s absolutely in. However, if you’ll be able to shut the door and will’t see any purple at the latch, you then’re looked after. 

Oddly, there’s not anything at the system or the field calling the software Pro. In reality, the instruction handbook calls it the PerfectDraft 1.1 in a single segment. Also, now not that it truly issues, nevertheless it’s now not manufactured via Philips like the unique. 

I haven’t had the PerfectDraft Pro lengthy sufficient for one thing to move improper however the display screen may also show error codes which you’ll be able to then glance up within the handbook to determine what’s improper and easy methods to repair it. 

The App 

• Available on iOS and Android
• Simple and simple to make use of
• Includes store for getting kegs

Confusingly, the display screen mentioned ‘do’ (door open) despite the fact that it used to be closed, so at this level, I attached the PerfectDraft Pro to my phone. The app is to be had on iOS or Android. 

Connecting is a rather easy procedure, the use of the Wi-Fi button beneath the show after which following the directions at the app to get the system for your community. 

Once attached, you’ll be able to see more than a few bits of details about the beer (with prompt meals pairings and glass taste) and system. Namely the present temperature and – if you’ve poured the primary beer – the rest quantity and days left (beginning at 30). 

Previously, the selection of days left used to be displayed at the system however now you simply get the temperature and a hallmark of the way a lot beer is left. There are 4 yellow bars within the form of a keg, fairly than the 9 bars of the unique PerfectDraft. 

Still, the app will provide you with a miles clearer thought and in case you don’t need the quantity indicator in litres, then you’ll be able to additionally make a selection UK pints, 33cl glasses or fl ounces. 

Once your keg is in and chilling in your desired temperature, the app can notify you when it’s in a position (or the display screen at the system will flip the quantity blue when it’s inside of two levels of the required temperature). It too can provide you with notifications for such things as the keg being just about empty and upkeep. The store tab supplies a very easy approach so that you can purchase new kegs from Beer Hawk, too. 

Features & Performance 

• Faster cooling
• Adjustable temperature
• Quieter lovers

As discussed, the variable temperature is among the main new options of the PerfectDraft Pro and it’s one thing I wanted the unique may do. It’s much more suitable now as the variability of beers to be had has higher and contains extra beers that may be loved at temperatures rather then the in the past locked 3 levels. 

By default, you’ll be able to regulate the temperature between 3-7 levels, both with the buttons all sides of the display screen or at the app. If the use of the latter, you’ll want to liberate the prolonged vary which lets you move as much as 12 levels or as little as 0 levels. 

Let the app know what keg is inside of, and also you’ll even get a prompt optimum temperature. I selected Magic Rock Dark Arts, a 6% stout as the easiest instance of a lager many customers will wish to drink at a relatively hotter temperature. 

You can be warned {that a} upper temperature may end up in pours with a larger head, however I didn’t in finding it an excessive amount of of a subject. This could be all the way down to the ‘Smart Pour generation’ however there’s no rationalization of what that is or the way it works. 

The system can cool kegs extra briefly than the unique at a quoted 10 hours from room temperature fairly than 12 hours. When I put a keg in, after a protracted length when an orange line danced round, the show confirmed 12 levels. Impressively, it cooled the keg down to 3 levels in round 5 hours. If you may have a large sufficient refrigerator to retailer a keg in, it’ll take no time in any respect. 

Another improve is the facility to stay strong in temperatures of as much as 38 levels, with the common PerfectDraft best 31 levels. I couldn’t check this, however the freshest day of the 12 months happened throughout checking out, hitting 30 levels, and the system didn’t seem to want to paintings too arduous. 

In normal, the Pro system is quieter in operation than the unique – that is principally the lovers, but in addition the air pump a bit of, too.  

Dark Arts stays the one stout on be offering however there are different beers that it’s possible you’ll wish to pour at upper temperatures, particularly the Belgian beers from the likes of Leffe and Kwak; those are historically poured with voluminous foamy heads anyway. 

The selection is much better than after I reviewed the unique PerfectDraft. There at the moment are over 65 other kegs to be had (even if it’s not likely they’ll all be to be had on the identical time) together with trendy IPAs like Vocation’s Life and Death or even Orchard Pig Reveller cider. 

I’m now not certain which beers I’d run at beneath 3 levels however in case you just like the ‘further chilly’ draught possibility whilst you’re within the pub, possibly for a beer, then that is to be had to you. 

Prices vary from £25.52 to £42.90 according to keg on the time of writing and, as in the past, you’ll get £5 credit score for every empty keg you go back. The procedure is unfastened and simple since a courier can acquire from your house. 

Price & Availability 

The PerfectDraft Pro prices £385, making it a pricey system, nevertheless it’s now not the costliest beer dispense software in the market, with the Heineken Blade at £445. 

The drawback at this time is that you’ll be able to’t simply purchase the PerfectDraft Pro if you wish to. You have to enroll in a waitlist as PerfectDraft works thru preliminary orders with a much wider normal unlock deliberate for August.

If it’s too dear for you, the unique PerfectDraft stays on sale for £249.99. There are even less expensive choices in the market, similar to The Sub at £119. You may additionally make your personal self-pour beer with the Pinter 2, which is £149. 

Verdict 

The PerfectDraft Pro is a superb beer dispense system for those who need draught pours at house with minimum bother and superb effects. 

However, it’s dear and bulkier, so you must ask your self whether or not the extra options are value the additional cash. 

The technique to regulate the temperature is the principle improve, so that you must believe whether or not you’ll be ingesting beers that profit from this. Still, total efficiency is best, too, and the app is a pleasant addition, so there are different causes to splash out at the Pro fashion.