Intertap beer faucets

[user 204491]

For those that have the Intertaps can you let me know how they perform as far as dripping after pours? I've got 6 Vent-Matics at home and love them, rarely a drip. At work I've got 4 Perlicks. They get quite a bit of use, and I'm starting to get really tired of all the messes I have to clean up from the dripping. I was going to swap them out with Vent-Matics; however, that doesn't really seem to be an option at this point, so I was interested in getting 4 of the Intertaps instead.

 

[HiImBrian]

Just picked up 3 Perlick 650SS w/ flow control for under $50 a pop

See ya later foamy pours!

 

[Ztup]

I had Perlicks before the intertaps, and can say that I get less drips after a pour with the intertaps.

 

[jmark]

I don't seem to have any issues with drops... maybe one from time to time... my drip tray looks fairly clean to me. I had one Perlick FC but wanted the Intertaps for two reasons - 1) the sulfur issue with low-pH beers and 2) I liked the interchangeable spouts (especially with a sparkler spout supposedly in the works).

Comparing the Perlick and the Intertap, I haven't seen much difference... the poster who mentioned that the FC is finnicky wasn't wrong about the two position minimum flow, but that's not really an issue once you realize it and just start making adjustments around the central point of it's axis. You're not supposed to use the FC to turn the faucet off anyway, so I don't really find that a problem. At the end of the day, I don't think you can go wrong with either tap... they both work well IMO and it really depends on what you want from the tap to determine which one to go with - I liked the flexibility, so I converted to Intertaps.

 

[eulipion2]

Thanks for the info! Can you take a pic or video of a beer poured with the Intertap vs a beer poured with the Perlick? Also can you just take a pic of one poured with the stout spout?



My faucets are coming tomorrow but I still need to buy shanks, a chest freezer, and build a collar.

Sorry, I'm out of town for a few days, so it'll have to wait until after the weekend. On the bright side SWMBO approved a nitro tank purchase, so hopefully I'll be able to do a nitro tap side-by-side soon.

For those that have the Intertaps can you let me know how they perform as far as dripping after pours? I've got 6 Vent-Matics at home and love them, rarely a drip. At work I've got 4 Perlicks. They get quite a bit of use, and I'm starting to get really tired of all the messes I have to clean up from the dripping. I was going to swap them out with Vent-Matics; however, that doesn't really seem to be an option at this point, so I was interested in getting 4 of the Intertaps instead.

My Perlicks drip maybe two or three times after each pour, and the Intertaps seem to perform about the same. If your Perlicks drip a lot, maybe you need to change the gaskets/o-rings/seals.

I don't seem to have any issues with drops... maybe one from time to time... my drip tray looks fairly clean to me. I had one Perlick FC but wanted the Intertaps for two reasons - 1) the sulfur issue with low-pH beers and 2) I liked the interchangeable spouts (especially with a sparkler spout supposedly in the works).

Comparing the Perlick and the Intertap, I haven't seen much difference... the poster who mentioned that the FC is finnicky wasn't wrong about the two position minimum flow, but that's not really an issue once you realize it and just start making adjustments around the central point of it's axis. You're not supposed to use the FC to turn the faucet off anyway, so I don't really find that a problem. At the end of the day, I don't think you can go wrong with either tap... they both work well IMO and it really depends on what you want from the tap to determine which one to go with - I liked the flexibility, so I converted to Intertaps.

I never noticed a sulfury flavor or aroma with the Perlicks, but I know some have. For some reason I feel like someone had attributed the cause to incorrectly closing the faucets via the FC lever, but I don't know if the link was ever definitively proven.

 

[day_trippr]

[...]For some reason I feel like someone had attributed the cause to incorrectly closing the faucets via the FC lever, but I don't know if the link was ever definitively proven.

That's been disproved by a few HBT members. There's a couple of threads extant...

Cheers!

 

[eulipion2]

That's been disproved by a few HBT members. There's a couple of threads extant...

Cheers!

Lol I figured as much, but since I'd never experienced it I stopped following the conversation. The "science" of the claim never made sense to me.

 

[user 204491]

I posted this over in the comments section on Brulosophy, but wanted to post it here as well, as I was just blown away by the amazing customer service of Ontario Beer Kegs/Brew Pump.

Have to say I was hesitant to order the Intertaps when I found out they might be patent infringing. I've heard lots of discussion on both sides of that argument, but nothing concrete. I ordered 6 Vent-Matics when they first came back on the market, and I've been nothing but pleased with them. There was a bit of a communication gap when I first ordered them, but that was right when the article came out, so understand the unplanned for publicity caused them some problems, but once they responded to my email the communication was regular, and I had my faucets about 3 weeks after I ordered them.

I've been wanting to replace 4 Perlicks on my kegs at work that I'm unhappy with, and I've been waiting for Vent-Matics to come back in stock to do so. Once the website went down and I saw Marshall's new post, I figured it was a lost cause, so I pulled the plug on 4 Intertaps using the brewpump website posted here. Not only did my order ship within an hour of placing it, but when I emailed as I accidentally forgot to add the auto-closure springs to my order, I got an email saying they couldn't charge me for them as they didn't have my card on file, so they just threw them in for free.

Talk about your customer service!

 

[Hellosluggo]

Received my order from Australia last night (ordered on 3/27, sent via Air Post even though I had chosen the cheapest "Sea Post" method). It'll be awhile before I can put this into service, but here're photos of the shiny new arrivals.

 

[Hellosluggo]

I ended up finding a great guy, Roy Ladhams at a brew shop in Australia (https://homebru.com.au/)

Here's a nice writeup on Roy, by the way. https://whatsmashingwa.com/2014/03/21/five-decades-of-brewing-with-roy-ladhams/

 

[mintyice]

Just got my faucets in the mail yesterday. Pretty quick shipping from Canada! They look great though. I probably won't get them installed for another week or so though.

 

[HiImBrian]

Out with the old and in with the new Perlick 650SS FC!

 

[imasickboy]

Out with the old and in with the new Perlick 650SS FC!

What does that have to do with the Intertap faucets? Looks nice, though.

 

[HiImBrian]

What does that have to do with the Intertap faucets? Looks nice, though.

The whole flow of the thread has been about Intertap faucets and how they compare to Perlicks and other brands. I'm here representing the standard and FC Perlicks

 

[day_trippr]

Hardly seems necessary...

Cheers!

 

[HiImBrian]

Hardly seems necessary...

Cheers!

Just as necessary as that post

Back on topic: So has Intertap been sued yet?

 

[imasickboy]

Back on topic: So has Intertap been sued yet?

Not that I've seen. I do recall reading something in this thread within the past week or two where someone said a licensing agreement was reached for US sales. They are free to sell them anywhere else, because the patent that the faucets allegedly infringe upon is filed only in the US, as far as I'm aware.

Personally, I have nothing nice to say about Ventmatic as a company. They seem like patent trolls, to me. They own the rights to a patent, but can't seem to be bothered to manufacture the product that the patent covers. But they are quick to threaten lawsuits against anyone who might actually be willing to fill the demand for a similar product. Manufacturing and selling a product takes effort, and requires real work. Threatening lawsuits is effortless, and a perfect job for the lazy.

 

[JoshuaW]

Not that I've seen. I do recall reading something in this thread within the past week or two where someone said a licensing agreement was reached for US sales. They are free to sell them anywhere else, because the patent that the faucets allegedly infringe upon is filed only in the US, as far as I'm aware.

Personally, I have nothing nice to say about Ventmatic as a company. They seem like patent trolls, to me. They own the rights to a patent, but can't seem to be bothered to manufacture the product that the patent covers. But they are quick to threaten lawsuits against anyone who might actually be willing to fill the demand for a similar product. Manufacturing and selling a product takes effort, and requires real work. Threatening lawsuits is effortless, and a perfect job for the lazy.

To top it off, their patent is shaky at best. It is old, and it isnt a "novel" idea, as it was done in older faucets prior to their existence. We covered all of this 15 pages back or so

Im all for protecting intellectual property, but you have to play by the rules. If you arent going to actually consistently manufacture a product, or if you dont have a valid claim, you dont have any right to protection.

 

[PeteNMA]

They have an issued patent so are free to enforce it. They are playing by the rules. It is the rules which are broken

 

[okiedog]

As I've probably said before, all these patent issues and such make wish I could design and make my own faucet. Also, competition is good for the consumer. The more (good) choices, the better.

 

[Hellosluggo]

They are playing by the rules. It is the rules which are broken

Kind of like the presidential delegate system.

 

[okiedog]

Kind of like the presidential delegate system.

Good point!

 

[UndeadFred]

By the way, the 630 and 525 Perlicks can be somewhat improved with the drip situation by switching the forward seal to a #204 silicone ring.. it doesn't eliminate it but it seems to help. It works in both my used 525SS's and my new 630PC's.. it's worth a try for the $3-6 a bag of them cost off of Amazon or e-bay...

Having said that, the Intertaps were high on my list initially but I was also concerned if I ever needed parts or anything for them. Rumor was that KegKing was considering a challenge to the patent, so maybe the licensing was the compromise. One can hope. IMHO there was a ALOT of prior art when I looked...

 

[mintyice]

My keezer is still a WIP but these taps sure look nice

 

[user 204491]

Received my 4 Intertap faucets for my kegerators at work today. I've not installed them, but I have to say I was more impressed than I expected in the craftsmanship. They're not quite as nice as the 6 Vent-Matics that I've got at home, but as these are actually available for purchase, they are a darn fine second choice.

 

[Beersnob16]

I purchased and installed mine in January and they have sat untouched until this past Saturday as I was away for work. I was extremely happy to find that these didn't leak or stick in any way shape or form. Very impressed with these faucets.

 

[mintyice]

Is anyone going to post pics of stout spout vs regular spout?

I should hopefully have my keezer done by this weekend so I can compare an english bitter with and without the spout.

 

[okiedog]

Is anyone going to post pics of stout spout vs regular spout?

I should hopefully have my keezer done by this weekend so I can compare an english bitter with and without the spout.

I believe that's already been done. Look at post #18.

 

[PeteNMA]

Anyone interested in splitting an order from AliExpress? With shipping they come out at about $30 each

 

[Indian_villager]

Just got my 4 taps from AliExpress. The shipping took a bit of time but well worth it for $30/tap.
The build quality is solid and these taps do have a good weight to them.
The action of closing and opening them feels a bit more deliberate than my outgoing perlicks. The closing action for sure feels better.
I have no foaming issues and I get a single drip after the faucet is shut.

My only gripes are the barb diameter of he grower filler (too big), and the gasket between the faucet and the nozzle can fall out a bit easy (not a big problem just something to pay attention to).