BeerTender VB2158001 T-fal Home Beer-Tap System

• Ready indicator light ensure ideal drinking temperature.
• Removable stainless steel drip tray.
• Detachable pouring spout for easy cleaning.
• Detachable tap handle.
• Lighted On/Off button

I typically am not even a big Heineken fan, but my wife got this for me, and I figured what the heck. The 5L mini-kegs sell for seventeen bucks at my local grocery store, and you throw one in, let it cool overnight and you are good to go! It's not cheaper than buying 'regular' beer cans/bottles but the novelty, convenience, COLDNESS and a great draft pour are why I usually keep a second (or third) mini-keg in a small refrigerator just in case a party breaks out. The only reason this is not a 5-star review is because you can only get Heineken & Heineken Light currently...I hear Newcastle Brown is in some test markets though, so hopefully that will change soon.

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First off I will say that I have always wanted one of these but have always cringed at the price tag, now that the price tags have dropped on virtually all the Beertender models I feel this machine is a worthwhile investment. Besides the price drop another noteworthy update to this device is the fact that now other, non Heineken beers are available to be used with these machines, A VERY BIG PLUS. Go to any good beer store and you'll see differing kegs around, they just need to be 5L or lower & pressurized. I've heard here in MI there's even a couple smaller breweries with mini kegs becoming available (BELLS OBERON!). My next point is this, even with the price drop, stick with this unit. It does the same job as the more expensive Krupps models at a quarter the cost. Hey I admit the digital readout, clock and symbols on the Krupps models make the whole unit look more techy and futuristic but in the end they all cool to the same proper level and all dispense brew at its best. I'm not even a big Heineken fan, I always found it to be sort of skunky, but my bud had one of these and when I tried it I was hooked. There's just no substitute for that true Draught taste. Also if you store your keg in the fridge before you drop it in your Beertender it'll be at optimum temp in a couple hours, not overnight. It's one of the greatest new at home bar devices. Many will swear allegiance to the "kegerator" with its added CO2, gauges and tubes but they're just too big and bulky for me & my bar. This thing is perfect for me, drop in keg, attach tube and drink, SWEET! Don't get lazy and not look for deals on these too, I found one locally new, at a chain store for $55, yeah that's right, for that price you can't go wrong.

Amendment 2/10/10: The Bells style kegs, and other kegs that use the "gravity" style spout (stand keg up and open spout at bottom) do not work with these units, MAJOR BUMMER. As previously stated the kegs have to be 5 Liters or less and be pressurized. Although that brands kegs are not compatible, now there are more choices to choose from than just Heinie, although I've found not everywhere sells them.

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The novelty of having "draft beer" on my counter has been a nice edition. As some of the other reviewers have said, I am not a Heineken fan (though I am aiming to try Newcastle next) but this system made the experience much more enjoyable. My theory, and I am not alone on this, is that the bottled version is way over carbonated and this system seems to have the right balance.

My biggest complaint is the lack of availability of accessories and beers. In order to extend beyond 6 rounds (which is typically less than a 12 pack of bottles each) I have to order tubes in packs of 6 at $9.45 per pack plus shipping. When you tack that cost on to the mini-keg cost (around $18-$20) your per beer cost has gone up to almost a bar price (ok, maybe at happy hour).

Will I continue to use it? Probably, the "fresh" beer is too enticing.

At the least Heineken should create a larger pack of these things so I don't have to keep adding up my shipping charges.

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I got this unit for father's day and really loved it. You can put a warm kegg and it will cool overnight or just set an already cold kegg and be ready to go.

Mine lasted about 14 months and broke, same problem as all other users, it just quit working. I received an extended one time warranty from T-Fal, which was fine, but the company repairing the unit took 3 1/2 months to fix it, absolutely terrible!

After the unit came back it worked for another 12 months and broke again.

Honestly it would be a best seller and a must have if it wasn't for the reliability issues. From what I read it doesn't matter if you have a T-Fal, like in my case, or Krups, both have the same issue and many unsatisfied customers, and the product isn't cheap.

Heineken as such a famous and powerful company should step up to the plate and take the necessary actions to push those manufacturers to make a better product that continuously works, like any refrigerator. Am I asking too much?

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While I would never advocate disobeying the manufacturers recommendations, I bridled at the cost of replacing the tube with each keg. If you look closely at the attachment to the keg itself, the tube is held in place by three locking portions of the rim. Directly above each, is an open slot. If you put a small screwdriver into the slot and gently pry outward, the lock is released and the tube can easily be removed. There is no way to rinse out the tube, but this has not proven necessary. I have reused the tubes many times.