Pinter 3 Review
If you are looking for fresh beer at home without excessive hassle, this review covers whether the new iteration improves on what came before. We share our thoughts after testing the device with its active pour tap and comparing it directly to previous models from the brand. The verdict is positive overall, though we will discuss specific design improvements, user experience changes during brewing, how pricing compares for homebrewers versus pubs or supermarkets, as well as Pinter’s excellent customer service history that influences our final score.
The Elephant in the Room: Context with the Pinter 2
Before writing about the brand new Pinter 3 device, we need to talk about its predecessor. We have owned a model previously and after initially providing a good review, the company discovered that product vulnerability existed which caused units to explode. This led them to recall every single Pinter 2 unit on the market and replace them for safety reasons.
This action then lowered pressure levels in older devices causing some specific tap issues during use over time while we were still enjoying beer from it. Our experience resulted in frustrating taps but a few replacement parts were required whenever brews failed using that device at home. At the start of this review cycle, mentioning past failures is important because this unit represents their last chance to create something decent for consumers.
(More positively), our experience showed customer service remains excellent if/when things go wrong with any equipment. They have happily replaced fresh press packs when brews went wrong previously and helped diagnose the issue quickly so customers don’t lose faith in home brewing technology. So now that all background issues are out of the way, we can move on to Pinter 3!
Pinter 3 Review: The Design
A choice is available for color options such as red, blue and grey with this new model looking very similar visually at first glance but really that similarity ends there. With the device you get a polymer body instead of previous metal construction found on older units which means it sits lighter.
This makes the unit 45% lighter in total weight compared to predecessors and this is noticeable during operation. It helps particularly during phase where brewing process happens when shake requires effort from user to make sure fresh press, water and yeast all mixed together properly for fermentation later on. In addition that hopper cap pressure valve tap connect now have textured finishes which means grip adjust remove them even hands wet without slipping.
Finally new active pour tap also sold separately allows use with existing units if needed is a redesigned unit entirely. It has nice easy to remove handle and spring loaded mechanism giving greater control of your pour feels much more like working behind bar professionally. That internal straw found in older versions is gone thank goodness making this much easier clean every single time after washing.
We should also mention the dock which has had slight redesign including embossed logo on base plate as well being a lot lighter too so it does not look top heavy during transport around kitchen or fridge.
Brewing Beer with the Pinter 3
The brewing process hasn’t changed largely apart from ability to grip pressure dial while wet now which is safer feature upgrade since previously users kept monkey wrench in kitchen just to hold down valve properly when mixing ingredients.
To brew beer you can follow along improved instructions in app which walks through steps starting with sterilizing your Pinter unit itself. It talks about mixing fresh press water yeast syrup within reservoir before attaching brewing dock setup on countertop (which is easier to attach than previous model). You leave this for suggested time periods depending on recipe then add hopper if you have one installed, remove it from dock reattaching tap handle and putting entire unit into fridge.
Pinter 3 Review: Drinking Experience
Next is our favourite part which involves actually drinking beer after conditioning process finishes up correctly. The great thing about product line is once conditioned in your home refrigerator you can pour straight into glass immediately keeping ten pints of fresh beverage stored inside device safe for thirty days total.
New active pour tap seeks to make pouring significantly smoother than old Pinter 2 units which quite often gave pint foam rather than beer initially upon opening and that was much needed improvement for consistency. Initially we were disappointed when Stonebridge model version came out giving full cup of foam however on investigating found this probably due fridge not being cold enough during startup phase.
We turned down temperature setting allowed it to sit overnight left alone for twenty four hours before serving again. Now beer pours perfectly and the tap gives much more control over your pour rate so really does make entire home brewing experience great without spills or waste of liquid carbonation escaping through foam overflow.
Choice and Price of Beer
As with second generation model you have choice between hopper based and non-hopper Pinter packs available for purchase online. The hopper packs cost 19.99 pounds currency units per ten pint pack whereas the non-hopper based ones are priced at sixteen pounds seventy-nine pennies.
There is also selection of colab packs with professional breweries which price twenty-two point ninety nine pounds when available from retailer site or direct orders depending current campaign availability. There great selection range extends light style to hoppy pale ales dark stouts as well even cider varieties included in lineup options offered currently.
The only beer we have not enjoyed over last year was Stars and Stripes brand but this reflects personal preference rather than flaw with product itself per pint cost falls between 1.80 and two point twenty pounds price range might be cheaper your local pub drinks however it is still higher prices found supermarkets standard cans usually.
The fresh aspect and fun home brewing experience makes premium feel worth it in our opinion despite slightly higher unit costs overall compared cheap store brands on shelf currently next to each other aisle. You can also save money by joining Fresh Beer Club subscription which allows regular deliveries with option pause or cancel anytime easily through Pinter website main portal directly.
If you join some of Facebook groups dedicated to home brewing enthusiasts you will see others split Wilko Mangrove Woodforde forty pint packs and used their device at home giving four pence per pint on average when splitting large volume purchases with friends for social gatherings without spending retail price full amount immediately upon opening pack contents.
Pinter 3 Review: Verdict
In brewing and drinking first beer using this new unit we are pleased to see brand listened feedback from last version kept what worked well improved everything else regarding mechanics reliability design. The grips on tap handle hopper cap pressure valve construction feel great solid build quality materials used throughout device body itself feels well made underpinned confidence that manufacturer stands behind product promises.
The new active pour tap is excellent and works consistently without leaks or sticking issues which plagued older versions in some user hands previously. The only thing we are slightly concerned about regarding the cap itself specifically looks largely same design on newer model so will be interesting see if rubber washer can come loose over time cause similar leak issues occurred with previous generation device.
However when that issue happened for us previously Pinter quickly replaced entire unit part including fresh press pack wasted during failure resolution process so it good to know their customer service ready step in and help customers resolve problems without long delays or frustration waiting list support ticket queues typically seen elsewhere online today.
