Whether you’re a home bar enthusiast, small venue owner, or simply someone who loves a perfectly chilled pint and has a bit of counter top space. The Heineken Blade is the game-changer you’ve been looking for. Compact, easy to use, and delivering pub-quality draught beer at the pull of a tap, Heineken’s blade machine Might just be the system for you!
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about the Heineken Blade, from setup and maintenance to choosing the right 8L Blade kegs and getting the most from your draught experience.
The Heineken Blade is a small volume draught beer machine that’s ideally suited to home bars, or small venues. Pour a pint with the quality of a pub without any of the hassle that goes with it. Unlike the traditional metal large volume kegs and gas canisters you need in a pub. The blade uses specially designed 8-litre kegs that are lightweight, easy to store and are specially designed for the blade. Each Keg is pressurised and if pre-chilled meaning you can pour a perfect pint every time.
The whole system is compact and easy to use. Simply insert the keg, lock it in place and place the signature dome over the top. Simply pull the tap for consistent high, quality pouring every time. As each blade keg comes with a replacement attachment, there’s no lines to clean, no gas to change and no need to nip down to the cellar. The blade gives you a fuss free pint in just a fraction of the time.
The simple but genius is 8 Litre Blade Keg is the heart of the Heineken Blade system. Compact and lightweight, the 14 pints contained inside offer the ideal amount for small gatherings or trailing new beer flavours.
Key Features:
💡 Tip: For the best experience, keep your kegs chilled in the fridge before inserting them. The blade machine, while equipped to chill a keg to the correct temperature will take hours & hours chill a room temperature keg to 3 Degrees. Kegs poured at the correct temperature, stay fizzy longer, taste better and have a better, longer lasting head.
Only 8L Blade kegs are compatible with the Heineken Blade machine. Each keg pours roughly 14 pints and is pressurised and pre-chilled for optimal draught quality. We strongly recommend against trying to jury rig alternative kegs/arrangements as these can damage your machine.
No. The system is designed specifically for Heineken Blade kegs. There is a substantial blade keg offering of Heineken Brand Favourites from across the globe. Other kegs won’t fit correctly or dispense properly.
Once tapped, an 8-litre Blade keg should ideally be consumed within 3–4 weeks for the best taste and freshness. Unopened kegs can be stored in the fridge for several months, depending on the beer variety and expiry date. Always check the expiry dates on the neck of the Keg and Box.
It is strongly recommended that you keep 8L Blade kegs chilled in the fridge before inserting them into the machine. Avoid freezing, which can damage the keg and affect carbonation. Serving from pre-chilled kegs is the best way to keep the beer flowing.
Yes! The Blade machine only holds one keg at a time, but you can swap kegs easily between pours. Many users rotate between an a Lager on the weekend and Heineken 0.0 in the week for example. Swapping Kegs is easy enough, but there are things to remember. When swapping a keg out, return it to the fridge and try to avoid bringing to room temperature. Remember to note down when the keg was originally tapped as you still only have those 3-4 weeks for optimum drinking experience.
An 8L Blade keg serves approximately 14 pints. 14.085 pints if we’re being precise.
Yes! Blade kegs are recyclable. Their reducing packaging means they have significantly lower environmental impact than bottles. They’re also more compact and lightweight, which lowers transport emissions per litre of beer.
The Blade system is designed for low maintenance
We don’t recommend using the Heineken Blade Machine Outside unless you can seriously shelter it. Avoid using it in direct sunlight or extreme temperatures, as this can affect pouring performance and beer quality, and in the worst cases mess up the keg or the dome.
The unit’s compact size, quiet running and easy to change kegs mean the Blade is perfect for this sort of situation. Remember to pre-chill as many kegs as are appropriate, lest you leave people wanting!
Yes, There are numerous customisation options available. It’s worth searching sites like ebay, etsy and others to see the variety of custom tap handles and skin wraps available. There are some really creative options on the market.
No, the machine is capable of cooling a keg to drinking temperature, but the process is not quick. Pre-chilling is by far the best method to continue enjoying fresh, pub-quality beer faster in a more constant manner. If circumstances allow, you can easily install the keg before you go to bed, to be ready for the following day.
At Hops and Barley we offer 8L Blade Keg bundles with free shipping for the best value beer you can find. Not only that, but if you buy any 2 single blade kegs or more, we’ll do free shipping on those too!
Our bundles are great for…
Buying bundles also ensures you get the right quantity at the best price, with the convenience of delivery straight to your door.
Shipping is provided by Royal Mail, meaning our kegs reach you quickly and reliably.
You can shop our blade kegs and bundles here.
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