Faucets/Shanks - Stainless or Chrome? Does it REALLY matter?

SinisterHOPminister · Dec 18, 2012

I'm in process of my first Keezer build!
And wondering if it REALLY matters whether the faucets and shanks are stainless steel or chrome...
Anybody got any advice/experience???
Impact taste/quality or cleaning?
Or is it just looks/preferences?

raouliii · Dec 19, 2012

MHO, the primary issue for me was:

Stainless you will only purchase once since you should not experience degradation under even the heaviest usage.

Chrome plated, under heavy use or age, can lose its plating and expose the beer to the brass underneath.

BeardedIdiot · Dec 19, 2012

Chrome or stainless, whichever way you go, you should plan on buying Perlicks. Everything I've read says that they are worth the extra cost versus other brands. They are the only forward-sealing taps currently manufactured, which makes a big difference for cleanliness and ease of use.

CGVT · Dec 19, 2012

I bought chrome Perlicks because they were quite a bit cheaper and I figure under normal houshold use they will never wear out.

There was a poster that ordered the SS Perls as part of a kegging kit and backed everything out other than the faucets. He got the faucets for a few bucks more than I paid for the chrome.

Ethical? You make the call, but he got a hell of a deal.

beaksnbeer · Dec 19, 2012

The main difference is that chrome plate cannot hold up to acids so as long as your only running beer, not mead/wine/cider chrome/brass will be fine. Perlick 525,575, 425's are the forward sealing the 408-410 are standard models.