When the pubs closed for many people in the UK under Tier 2 and 3 lockdown people turned to other ways to get a perfectly poured pint.
For a while the only way to get a pump-poured beer in your own home was to get a draught beer dispenser. These are sold by a number of companies including one of the biggest players on the market, the Beerhawk PerfectDraft machine from £270.
When it came to testing one myself I went for another option. The idea of a pub-quality beer at home was enticing. I decided on the smallest and most affordable option on the market - the Sub by Beerwulf.
You get two litres per keg which works out at a little under four pints. Other machines on the market offer larger kegs but if you are not planning on drinking it all before the recommended time period - around two days - you may find flat beer. That's not a problem with the smaller kegs available in the Beerwulf Sub. There is a larger machine, the BLADE, if that is a concern for you.
There is always a concern when you buy something like the Sub that you are at the mercy of the company's pricing since no other keg fits into the system. Prices range from around £6.99 for standard lager and around £8.99 for mainstream brands such as Heineken and Moretti.
There are other options such as ciders, pale ales and more premium lagers for a little more, with the most expensive in the range topping out at just under £20. If you are seriously into your craft beer or cider then this may not be the option for you but for casual drinkers there is more than enough of a selection.
Delivery is quick so it is easy to make your order early in the week and have drinks ready for the weekend.
Use of the Sub itself is very easy. You unscrew the top of the keg and insert the wire in the top, breaking the seal. You then place it in the Sub and connect the wire to the tap. Once the Sub is closed you are ready to go.
It is simple to use and aside from a lively first pour it is easy to be pouring pub-quality beer instantly. This is where the Sub really comes into its own. The cooling system keeps the beer at the optimal temperature and the beer tastes exactly as it should do in a bar.
You may not have been able to recreate the atmosphere of a bar or restaurant in higher lockdown tiers but the Sub Compact was an affordable way to at least recreate your favourite tipple - and now I use it even with the pubs back open
