Went down to the taproom last night, and four out of my my five taps were stuck as if cemented in place. Tired from a week of work, I didn’t feel like removing them and soaking them, so I forced them open only to be challenged with closing them before a corny keg’s worth of beer ended up on the floor.
Long story short: I decided that my next major capital expenditure (I know I’m a homebrewer when I make capital expenditures for my basement bar) would be some nice, forward sealing Perlick faucets.
So my question is: Has anyone used these faucets? Are they as good as the reviews suggest? Flow control or no flow control? Worth the money?
Yes, they are as good as advertised. Completely. I had the same problem with cheap chrome faucets, got fed up and switched to all Perlick. I have the 630SS faucets, without flow control, and wouldn’t trade them for anything. Granted it doesn’t happen often, but I can go a week without pouring a beer and they pour perfectly - zero sticking.
Yep, good luck. They have an nice pour and feel, but that first time you go to pour a few days later expecting a sticky faucet and get a smooth silky pour, you’ll get all warm and fuzzy inside.
As a short term fix for your problem. I’ve found a little keg lube around the cylindrical part at the front of the tap valve helps a lot. It keeps the beer from working into that area and just makes the tap work a little smoother.
I have 5 of the 650SS faucets. I got them from Adventures in Homebrewing, which is the best price online.
I love them. Just get 'em. You’ll love them as well. My only problem with them is that guests will turn the flow control knob while we have a party going. When you set up the controls for each beer and people mess with them, it’s very annoying. I had to put up a sign. “No touchy the shiny knobs!” Seemed to work.
Yes, I pulled the trigger this morning and ordered them from AiH. After Steve in TX mentioned them, I looked there, and, sure enough, they are the cheapest. I’m hoping they’ll get here by next week. I can’t wait!