Futuristic Delivery
Heineken leads the fight for better keglets
By Steve Croyle |
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Mini kegs are nothing new. Warsteiner has been offered in five liter steel cans for more than a decade in the U.S., and Bell's Brewery out of Michigan kicks the same gravity-dependent beer containment systems our way every year with the seasonal favorite, Oberon. In both instances these devices require rapid consumption, as the keglets have to be aerated. Moreover, there always seems to be an issue with a few sips of beer getting stuck in the can. Because regular old air is introduced into the beer's home, it's not uncommon for the last glass or two to go flat, even if you down the beer in record time. Considering all of these issues, it's hard to justify throwing down $20 when you're only getting 24 more ounces of beer than the standard 12 pack provides.
Heineken's much-ballyhooed Draughtkeg cleverly resolves those problems by putting the beer in a five-liter vessel that features an internal CO2 canister. Unlike so many previous party parcels, this is a real keg. At $20, you're still going to pay an extra six bucks for two more beers when compared to the typical cost of a 12 pack, but you can chalk that up to an investment in environmentalism, since the draft keg transports more beer with less packaging.
Most regular Heineken drinkers will probably think that the beer tastes fresher from the Draghtkeg because, in case you skipped science class, light doesn't penetrate steel all that well. Since the unit is a self-contained keg, the contents will remain fresh for up to 30 days, about 29.75 days longer than those other 5-liter cans.
If you purchase this device, be sure to follow the instructions. People who fail to chill the keg for 10 hours often complain that the beer is too foamy. Anybody who has seen a keg changed out at the bar knows that it takes a while for that newly tapped keg to settle down, and the Draughtkeg is no exception. It needs to be treated gently. Do not take this thing to a tailgate party and expect beer you can enjoy, but, pound for pound, this might be the only way to enjoy Heineken if you can't find it on draft.
Originally Published: February 1, 2010
