help with faucets....

[Tryin2brew]

Hello all. Thanks in advance for any help.

I'm about to order supplies for my keezer build. I wanted to know the difference between the chrome and stainless faucets and Perlick vs the others? I'm trying to find out if it is worth the extra $$$

 

[Hammy71]

I prefer the stainless, but it's really a personal preference there. I would however not skimp on the brand. Go with the Perlicks if you can afford them. You won't be sorry. Besides, after you get tired of cleaning the cheap taps every other day....you'll end up buying the Perlicks anyway.

 

[mrkrausen]

I believe that the chrome vs. stainless is more about preference. Some people want nothing but stainless coming in contact with their beer. If you do a little looking on here you will find that most of the time when people ask whether they should go with faucet A vs. Perlicks, people will say Perlicks if you have the money to do so. One of the major reasons is that Perlicks are forward sealing you you don't have to worry about them sticking which can be a pain. When building my kegerator I was in a similar situation as yourself and I went with the 525 stainless Perlicks on the advice of many others. I have to say that I don't regret it one bit. I bought three of them and have had them installed for over six months without one issue. I will mention however, that I have read on here that some people have had an issue with them leaking periodically. I have not had that problem yet though. There is a thread on here about that specific model of Perlick if you search for it. All in all I personally think they are worth it.

 

[chocotaco]

Chrome means chrome-plated brass. Brass contains lead which is bad for you. Whether the lead will ever get into the beer is another matter, but personally I would feel more comfortable paying an extra 10 bucks a tap for solid stainless. As for Perlick vs others, it's as much brand loyalty and trust as it is the faucet design (which I understand is somewhat superior - whether it's worth the additional extra 10 bucks each I don't know).

Of course this is for someone who doesn't have any faucets and probably won't for a while. I'm sure others will have more detailed information and experiences.

 

[LoloMT7]

Cheapo ones get stuck and are terrible i learned the hard way.

Buy something like these for sure. I did and couldn't be happier with them.
http://www.williamsbrewing.com/PERLICK-FORWARD-SEAL-FAUCET-WITH-STAINLESS-SHANK-P2162C65.aspx

 

[beaksnbeer]

I would go with Vent-matics if I was getting new faucets there stainless (Chi company has them for $35) Chrome plated brass really only is a wine/mead/cider which is more acidic then beer and can leach lead out of the brass the Ph level of most beers will not leach lead from brass.

The Perlick 425's were based on the Vent-matic which they stopped making due to a lawsuit

 

[BigFloyd]

I spent a bit extra at the beginning to upgrade my system to three Perlick 525SS. Since I've not had a problem at all with them, I'm considering it money well spent.

 

[day_trippr]

[...]Chrome plated brass really only is a wine/mead/cider which is more acidic then beer and can leach lead out of the brass the Ph level of most beers will not leach lead from brass. [...]

There are plenty of reports in these forums from people who had chromed brass faucets who replaced same with stainless when they discovered plating was gone. Seems to me that's pretty significant in its own right...

Cheers!

 

[KeystoneHomebrew]

If you want to buy your faucets only once, get a Perlick. As with anything, you do get what you pay for.

 

[mikescooling]

Their is a bunch of threads about Perlicks leaking. My Perlick is not leaking. I also got a cheap one ($12.50)and that works fine too.

 

[CPT_Merica]

Bet value I could find. I've been very happy.

http://www.ritebrew.com/product-p/843162.htm

 

[CPT_Merica]

Best value I could find. I've been very happy with them.

http://www.ritebrew.com/product-p/843162.htm