Beer Taps/Faucets: Perlick/Intertap/CMB

[Cornel]

Hi All,

I'm currently getting the last bits together for my kegerator build that's been on hold since November (Winter+Party tap+Fridge = Got Lazy :) ). I had my sights on the Perlick 650SS back then but see faucets from Intertap and CM Becker recently became available in the UK at my two favorite online suppliers.

Does anyone have experience with the Intertap or CMB faucets? I found a few good reviews on Intertap but can't find much on CMB.

Cheers

 

[dan125]

I've got the intertaps from MM and I like them (but don't have any of the others to compare with). I liked the look of the forward sealing gizmo when I watched the youtube vid, and being stainless I'm hoping they won't need replacing for a long, long time. I bought cheaper shanks from elsewhere though.
But in a nutshell they do the job well - I pull the handle and beer comes out :thumb:

 

[F00b4r]

I've got the intertaps from MM and I like them (but don't have any of the others to compare with). I liked the look of the forward sealing gizmo when I watched the youtube vid, and being stainless I'm hoping they won't need replacing for a long, long time. I bought cheaper shanks from elsewhere though.
But in a nutshell they do the job well - I pull the handle and beer comes out :thumb:

Where did you get the shanks from and were they stainless if you don't mind me asking?

 

[dan125]

Where did you get the shanks from and were they stainless if you don't mind me asking?

I bought these:-

http://www.kegkingdom.co.uk/collections/faucets/products/4-5-chrome-plated-shank

Not stainless, but I bought these along with a drip tray a few other bits and bobs needed for my kegerator build and saved a considerable amount compared to buying the stainless shanks, drip tray, etc from MM when I bought the taps.

Didn't want to scrimp on the taps though.

 

[Cornel]

Thanks Dan, I've looked into the Intertap taps over the weekend and everything about it seems pretty good. Seeing that there's a few other bits i need to order from MM I'll group it all together and save on the shipping.

The search now continues to get a ss beer tower and then finally complete my build next week.

 

[F00b4r]

Thanks Dan, I've looked into the Intertap taps over the weekend and everything about it seems pretty good. Seeing that there's a few other bits i need to order from MM I'll group it all together and save on the shipping.

The search now continues to get a ss beer tower and then finally complete my build next week.

It looks like Rob is getting the rest of the range in the next couple of weeks from what he said on Twitter, might be worth waiting as the flow control faucets and the new spouts they are doing look very cool: growler filler, sparkler, stout and ball lock (guessing it will be great combined with a carbonation cap).

 

[Cornel]

Thanks Foob4r, will definitely rather wait for Rob to get the flow control faucets in stock then [emoji1]. Really interested in the exchangeable spouts you can get with them.

 

[F00b4r]

Thanks Foob4r, will definitely rather wait for Rob to get the flow control faucets in stock then [emoji1]. Really interested in the exchangeable spouts you can get with them.

No worries. I have my cash stuck aside ready to pull the trigger as soon as they appear, it wouldn't surprise me if they seek out fairly quickly.

 

[F00b4r]

They still are not in unfortunately but Demig bought one from AliExpress and it looks genuine and works really nicely.
I am going to give Rob another week to get them in, if they are not available by then will just order direct from China or Oz.

 

[Cornel]

I couldn't wait any longer and bought one CMB V2 faucet to give it a test before i buy 2 more. Real great piece of kit and can't find fault with it. I got a price on the CMB flow control facuets as well but a �£83 a faucet not the type of money i want to spend. Having struggled to get the 3/16 OD line over the tail piece, I quickly started regretting this but once I had everything connected I'm fairly satisfied with it. I'm still indecisive whether i want to wait for the Intertap faucets or just go on and stick with the CMB faucets... The beer line in my kegerator is annoying me a bit but guess if i take some time to arrange it better it should be fine.

Do let me know if you get the Intertap flow control faucets and how they work out for you.

 

[F00b4r]

Will do, they are very nice faucets and the flow control is awesome.

 

[Cornel]

Not sure if you saw but Keg Kingdom have the flow control Intertap faucets in stock now at a reasonable price.

 

[F00b4r]

Not sure if you saw but Keg Kingdom have the flow control Intertap faucets in stock now at a reasonable price.

Interesting but they have quite a hefty premium on them.

 

[Cornel]

Foob4r have you bought some of the Intertap faucets yet and if so any views on them yet?

 

[Demig]

Foob4r have you bought some of the Intertap faucets yet and if so any views on them yet?

He hasn't yet but I have a couple now. Very impressed with them. Very well made and a good positive action. Only seem to have one drip after they are closed. Have tried the normal and the Stout spout so far and both good. The flow control is very smooth and works very well, bit odd in that forward is fully open and then you can go up or down to reduce. The only issue is the nut on the top, this needs to be tightened down hard to seal, perfectly fine when it does but due to the design it can look sealed before it is. Once I realised it took half a turn to sort out.

They look lovely and the finish is excellent.

Sent from my E2303 using Tapatalk

 

[F00b4r]

Demig bought his from aliexpress and they are about 25% cheaper than the malt miller (who just got them in stock yesterday) and keg kingdom. There is a thread on an American forum including details of contact with the makers, they say the aliexpress ones are not authorised but don't call them fakes, it may be the factory making them added some extra on the production run to sell themselves in/from China but then does it mean the QA isn't there on all of them and what happens in the case of problems? I'm going to order a couple from the Malt Miller with my next order and one from aliexpress out of curiosity (for me I am happy to pay a bit extra for piece of mind on after sales service and the Malt Miller is amazing in that regard). That said the first tap I saw of Demig's looks spot on to me and includes a handle, although the full stainless shanks are not really cheaper than from the MM.

 

[Demig]

Demig bought his from aliexpress and they are about 25% cheaper than the malt miller (who just got them in stock yesterday) and keg kingdom. There is a thread on an American forum including details of contact with the makers, they say the aliexpress ones are not authorised but don't call them fakes, it may be the factory making them added some extra on the production run to sell themselves in/from China but then does it mean the QA isn't there on all of them and what happens in the case of problems? I'm going to order a couple from the Malt Miller with my next order and one from aliexpress out of curiosity (for me I am happy to pay a bit extra for piece of mind on after sales service and the Malt Miller is amazing in that regard). That said the first tap I saw of Demig's looks spot on to me and includes a handle, although the full stainless shanks are not really cheaper than from the MM.

F00b4r makes a lot of sense, I got these as too impatient to wait :-) I am very impressed with the quality as they are excellent. Who knows the origin of them, they are From China after all. That said it's the most genuine looking product I've ever got from China, even the packaging is spot on and they work well. It will be interesting to see the comparison in the flesh but one thing is for certain the design is good.

One thing is worth saying though and that is that Malt Miller is excellent and a great asset to the UK homebrew community so on balance it's probably better ordering through him, the price difference is not great.

Sent from my E2303 using Tapatalk

 

[Cornel]

Thanks Foob4r and Demig. I'm leaning towards the Intertap faucets myself even though i already have one CMB faucet but just saw once again how effortless a flow control faucet is compared to having beer line rolled up in the fridge. Seeing that the price is almost similar to that of the Perlick 650ss is there anything in specific that put you guys off of the Perlick flow control faucets or is it more just the design and the interchangeable spouts on the Intertap?

Demig, they do look lovely :)

 

[F00b4r]

The spouts, no issues with low ph drinks and no leaking issues due to o rings getting knackered.

 

[Cornel]

Not leaking is probably one of the most important aspect for me at the moment. My CMB faucet is pretty awesome and hardly ever get a drop after closing the faucet. Had a bit of an incident a while back when the mrs poured me a beer and she didn't know about the creamer function and anxiously started opening and closing the tap.. Lets just say beer everywhere except for my glass haha. I'll place an order for one with Rob and I'll let you know how i get on.