Now that summer has arrived, more and more of us are getting our hosting hats on. From the best barbecues to the best pizzas ovens, there are lots of appliances out there that help us do this, especially if you like a bit of al fresco dining. However, what happens when it comes to the beverages?
The Philips PerfectDraft Beer Keg Machine is designed to pour a beautifully cold draught beer from tap. It chills to 3°C and keeps the beer fresh and carbonated for 30 days, making it the perfect hosting gadget when family and friends are over. For this reason, we knew we had to try it out.
Keep reading to find out our thoughts, and whether the machine deserves the hype.
Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine review: price and availability
The Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine has an RRP of £299.99 and is available at PerfectDraft, Philips and other selected retailers, such as Amazon. There's also a PerfectDraft Pro machine that boasts a number of smart features, including app connectivity and variable temperature control.
The PerfectDraft kegs cost anywhere between £20 and £50, depending on the brand and type of beer you purchase. I've personally been reviewing the PerfectDraft Stella Artois starter bundle which is currently on offer. Take a look:
Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine review: unboxing and set up
Setting up the Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine took a little bit of thought, but was overall a simple process. The machine's body came assembled which was a relief, and there were only a few parts needed to finish it off.
Before inserting the keg, I had to install the tap handle, attach the medallion and slot in the drip tray. Luckily, the instructions are printed into the inside of the machine, making them easy to follow.
Your choice of keg comes with a connector tube which needs to be inserted into the tap unit. It's advised to clean the tap unit before you do this, which should only take a few seconds. Before inserting the tube, I connected the tap unit to the top of the keg by pushing it down firmly – you hear a firm 'click' as soon as this is complete. I then took the connector tube and inserted it into the tap unit, followed by pushing it down to hear another firm 'click'.
After this, I lifted the two blue locking levers and placed the keg inside, followed by pushing them down again. If the keg is in the wrong position, the levers won't go down, so it's a good indicator if whether the assembly is correct.
Once finished, I just closed the doors, plugged in the machine, and voilà!
Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine review: design and features
There isn't much the Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine does apart from chilling beer, but it's a pretty impressive machine all the same. Once the keg is inserted, it gets to work at taking the beer down to the ideal drinking temperature of 3°C.
Now, I won't lie, this is a lengthy process. It takes about 12-15 hours and there's no exaggeration on that. This means the machine isn't designed for parties, unless you have the space to cool multiple kegs beforehand. The kegs also aren't big enough for more than 10-12 pints, so it would run out pretty quickly if you have a substantial amount of guests. PerfectDraft do say that users can pre-chill the keg in the fridge if they want to speed up the process, but this would only take a few hours off it.
The LCD screen displays the temperature of the beer, the beer level inside the keg and the freshness of the beer. This is all you need to know really, so it's handy that everything is in the same place. It also shows a red light if the beer temperature is not yet ideal for consumption, or a green light if it's ready to pour.
The yellow-orange level indication on the display shows the amount of beer left in the keg in eight steps, which is useful to keep a track of. When 30 days have passed, the display also shows that the keg needs to be replaced with a dash and exclamation mark.
One factor I really liked was PerfectDraft's free empty keg return scheme. This allows buyers s to get £5 of credit for each empty keg returned, something that could add up after a few purchases. I've been through about three so far, so I'll certainly be redeeming that credit sooner rather than later.
Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine review: performance
I enjoyed using the Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine, especially when it came to hosting. It's a reliable machine that delivered exactly what it promised, and the beers it produced were exactly the same as you'd have at the pub. I guess that's the whole idea, isn't it?
I first used the machine with about four guests, but wouldn't have got it out for any more. We only had around two pints each, but everyone loved pouring their own and it was a fun addition to my repertoire of hosting activities (if I don't say so myself). Yes, I'm including the giant Jenga in that.
Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine review: verdict
If you're looking for a fun appliance to whack out during a barbecue or dinner party, the Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine is the perfect one. It delivers exactly what it promises, and the useful LCD screen makes it easy to keep track of the keg's temperature, freshness level and how much is left. That being said, its features are on the simpler side, and it would've been nice to see a little more in accordance with the machine's higher price tag. The kegs also take a significant amount of time to cool, so it's not suitable for parties unless you have room to chill them before.
Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine review: alternatives to consider
One alternative to consider has to be the iGuli F1, a fully automated countertop home brewer. It obviously brings a lot more to the table than just a beer keg machine, so if you like the idea of making your own beverages, it's an ideal choice. The iGulu can produce beer, cider, kombucha and even wine, and keeps your newly brewed beverages fresh for up to 30 days.
Another alternative would be the Beerwulf BLADE machine. It works in a pretty similar way to the PerfectDraft, but it's a little pricier and has a more edgy look. Check out our Beerwulf discount codes to get yourself a bargain.
