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Why do people prefer draught beer?
There are a number of reasons but the main contributor to draught's supremacy is texture. The foam bubbles on top of a draft beer are a uniform 0.8 to 0.9 millimeters in diameter owing to the carbon dioxide pressure used to push the liquid through the keg system. Bottled beer has to be dumped quickly to create a head and produces bubbles that are a good deal bigger, 2 or 3 millimeters across. Bigger bubbles dissipate more quickly, while the small bubbles persist and produce creamy mouthfeel. Some keg systems use nitrogen or a blend of nitrogen and carbon dioxide in their beer gas which may further promote a rich texture. Kegged beer is also protected from light, which can cause some flavoring molecules to break down, and bars typically turn over their taps fairly regularly, resulting in the beer likely being a good deal fresher than that of slow moving package store inventory. Oxidation degrades the flavor of volatile IPAs and other hop forward brews, and keg systems prevent much of the exposure to air that bottles or cans may get during the packaging process. Lastly, kegs are more likely to be kept at a constant temperate which may prolong the timeframe for peak flavor.
The Keg at Home
The solution to having draught beer at home has long been the kegerator, a self-contained refrigerated beverage dispenser equipped with beer and air lines, an air tank, regulator, draft beer tower and faucet. These systems attempt to conveniently fit a home equivalent of a commercial tap setup into a single unit. Many a man cave has a kegerator as the statement piece.
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| Kegerator Diagram - www.kegworks.com |
So why don't more people have a kegerator? The major factors limiting kegerator adoption are space, price, and volume. Quality kegerator systems will set you back a few hundred dollars plus deposits for unowned kegs. They are the size of a small refrigerator which may put them out of reach of those in small format apartments or condos. Lastly, they require you to drink a goodly amount of beer within a few months timespan, which may be a stretch for some.
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| Kegerators Hold a Lot: A Corny Keg is 5 Gallons or almost 19 Liters |
Given these drawbacks it makes sense that Heineken would try and create a small, affordable product that replicates the experience of drinking draft beer in the comfort of your own home.
The Heineken Draught Keg Explored
Not the first foray into pressured production beer, the Draught Keg followed in the footsteps of a rather underwhelming Amstel mini-keg (more of a big can with a pour spout) and the more successful nitrogen release balls that Guinness introduced in the 1980s. The design premise is simple, include a small carbon dioxide canister in a keg shaped container filled with beer. Getting the various pressure and liquid ratios correct took most of the design period, with substantial iteration being required to get the materials correct. In the end, the years of labor produced the slick and elegant package that we still see today. 
Draught Keg vs Bottles and Cans - Price
For ease, I have based this price analysis on TotalWine, though in my experience these ratios largely hold true for other retailers. The Heineken Draught Keg holds 5 liters which is 169 ounces or a smidge more than fourteen 12oz servings.
- Draught Keg 5L Cost - $17.99, 10.64cents per ounce which is $1.28 for a 12oz serving
- 12Pack 12oz Bottles - $17.99, $1.50 per12oz bottle
- 12Pack 12oz Cans - $15.99, $1.33 for a 12oz can
There you have it! The Draughtkeg is actually 5 cents cheaper than cans and 22 cents cheaper than bottles for a 12 ounce equivalent. Not as many retailers have them in stock and they don't seem to go on sale as much as their smaller unit brethren, but it may actually be more economical to get the party keg.
Heineken also has a robust beer rebate program and most of the promotions that will give you cash back on 12 packs will also work with the 5L Draught Keg.
Using the Draught Keg
Do you have PTSD from trying to get a keg started at a fraternity party? No worries here. Tapping the Draught Keg was even easier than I expected. You simply remove the tap attachment and punch it onto the top. That's it!
Note that just like with regular kegs, you should allow 8-10 hours in the fridge before tapping it. This ensures that your beer is cooled to the right temperature to dispense correctly. Temperature and pressure are related, so not having your beer cool enough will result in lots and lots of foam. A minimum of 5°C is the recommended minimum temperature (41°F in eagle units). Thankfully, many retailers sell these already refrigerated.
Heineken says that the beer will stay fresh for up to 90 days once opened, similar to other kegerator systems. I was impressed to learn that the whole thing is recyclable.
Review: My Draught Keg Experience
We purchased the Draught Keg at a Publix near me for a party, it ran about two dollars more than the regular 12-pack which was on sale. Taking it home, I cleared out some space in the main fridge and stowed it to cool. You will need about 15 inches of vertical spaces to comfortably fit it with an inch of space above. The body of the keg is about 11 in tall with the handle reaching up another 3inches. Tapping the keg was truly easy as described. Just stick the tap into the top and its ready to go. We must have been around the perfect temperature as I hardly poured any foam, maybe a quarter cup, before lovely clean beer started flowing. Mouthfeel is spot-on. I was honestly mind blown by how close this tastes to draft. My wife and I went to Amsterdam on our honeymoon and poured pints right out of factory fresh kegs at the Heineken Experience; this tastes pretty much just like it did then. Freshness-wise, I crushed this bad boy over three days and didn't notice any degradation of the flavor. There was a tendency to get a little bit of extra drippage after pouring a pint, but you can leave your cup there for a second or put down a paper towel under the spout. When the beer finally ran out, there was just enough gas to push the last bit of suds though with a minimal amount of foam. They absolutely nailed the pressure and gas supply.
✅Pro:
- Cost parity with bottles/cans
- Pouring from a tap is fun
- Draught mouthfeel and flavor are definitely an upgrade
⛔Con:
- Takes up a lot of space in the fridge
- Leaks a little bit after you stop pouring
What started as a silly gag for a party may be a recurring guest in my house or by the pool. I love that you could stand this thing up in a cooler while nested in ice and still pour out of it easily. It definitely is fun to get the keg feel without having to mess with separate gas, cumbersome manual pumps, or a jockey box.
🛒Would I buy again? YES
Other versions
Heineken also produces and distributes Dos Equis in a similar 5L keg and I'm interested to try that iteration as well. There are a growing number of beers in the 5L format, though most of the German iterations I'm seeing don't have a beer gas system, relying on a plain stopper to dispense. I am doubtful after doing this research and experiencing the difference that those will have anywhere near the same texture benefits.