Author: Jake Huolihan
Some homebrewers take pride in the fact that their beer isn’t crystal clear, conjuring up feelings of an artisanal craft experience. I am not one of these people. I prefer my beer to be brilliant, read-a-book-through bright, and I want it that way stat! There are many options for achieving this goal including chemical fining and mechanical filtration, both of which have their pros and cons, though one unique product promises improved clarity and quality with essentially no downsides.
I discovered the Clear Beer Draught System (CBDS) nearly a year ago when searching for ways to improve clarity in less time and thought it was interesting enough to buy a few. As someone who kegs beer prior to cold crashing to avoid oxidation, finings such as gelatin weren’t cutting it for me, as it usually resulted in nearly a gallon of lost beer just to rid the keg of the trub that fell out of solution. Mechanical filters work great, but they’re not terribly convenient and also introduce a vector for oxidation. What I found so enticing about the CBDS is that it led to clearer beer in less time without the use of finings or filters, all while allowing me to engage in my preferred brewing and packaging process.
The product reviewed for this article was purchased by the author who will receive no compensation for sales resulting from this review, meaning it is much more honest than other reviews. The author does not actually believe this and understands at least enough about the nature of bias to get why some might see things differently, though still thinks it’s a cynical and and largely inaccurate argument.
How It Works
Kegs draw beer from the bottom of the vessel through a long dip tube, which allows for maximum serving volume with little wasted product. Thanks to gravity, the bottom of the keg is also where any particulate in suspension at packaging will congregate, resulting in increased time to clarity and typically a few pints of opaque beer. The CBDS cleverly and elegantly solves this by drawing from the clearest portion of the packaged beer– the top! By essentially relying on a stainless steel float to extend the end of the liquid-out dip tube such that it remains on top of the beer throughout the life of the keg.
Assembly
The CBDS does not come fully assembled, which isn’t an issue because it’s super easy to put together. First, the keg’s original liquid-out dip tube needs to be replaced with the short dip tube that comes with the unit, a task that requires removal of the liquid post.
Assembling the float took about a minute and required little more than positioning a stainless tube and securing it in place with some o-rings. Then, one end of the included silicone tubing gets connected to the float and the other end attaches to the shortened liquid-out dip tube. Ready to roll!
Sanitation
With the CBDS being in direct contact with the beer, it’s important to ensure it’s properly sanitized before each use. I rack my beer into CO2 purged kegs, so this is an easy task that requires no extra steps. With the CBDS in place, I fill the keg with sanitizer solution, hit it with gas until some comes out of the liquid post, then agitate the keg for a bit to ensure all surfaces are covered. I then push the remaining sanitizer out of the keg, through the CBDS, until it’s completely empty, at which point I proceed with packaging.
For those who don’t purge their kegs prior to packaging, the CBDS can be placed in a bucket of sanitizer solution for a period of time before being carefully placed in the keg. Since this requires some finger contact, it might be a good idea to spray down the portion of the silicone tubing that was touched… better safe than sorry.
Filling The Keg
My standard kegging process involves transferring beer from the fermentor to the keg through the liquid post, which is exactly what I do when using the CBDS, no difference whatsoever. From this point, the beer gets carbonated and served as usual.
A small but convenient feature of the CBDS for those of us that fill kegs with the lid on is that an audible clanging can be heard when the keg is full, as the stainless float touches the bottom of the lid– a good way to prevent overfills that lead to sticky messes. However, the CBDS does not limit fill level, one can transfer as much beer to the keg as will fit, which will cause the float to become submerged until a few pints have been served.
Cleaning
As I imagine is the case for many, my least favorite part about brewing is all the cleaning involved at every step. Indeed, the CBDS is yet another thing to be cleaned, but given it’s simple design, it’s quite easy and doesn’t require that much effort or time. Once a keg kicks, the float will be resting atop any trub that fell out of solution.
Removal of the CBDS involves simply detaching the silicone tubing from the liquid-out dip tube, at which point the unit is still all in one fairly messy piece.
For beers with less particulate in solution at kegging, I’ve found a good hot water rinse tends to adequately remove any residual debris. However, there are times the unit demands a deeper cleaning, which a soak in hot brewery wash solution will generally accomplish. Given the materials the unit is made of, it can actually be sterilized via a pressure cooker, something those who use it to serve funky/sour beers might consider.
How Does It Work?
Here are some examples of a few beers I’ve served using the CBDS at various times, all kegged warm and none fined or filtered.
I’d say it works pretty damn well!
| The Verdict |
I’ve been using these units for awhile now and, frankly, I am insanely happy with them! Just as advertised, my beers are brilliantly clear in no time flat, and in the time my kegs are on tap, the trub compacts enough to significantly reduce overall beer loss. In fact, I recently poured out the remnants of a freshly kicked keg just to see for myself what all was lost.
Not even a full pint, and it was nearly all sludgy trub! Perhaps even more surprising was the appearance of the final beer from that batch, which was being poured when the keg blew.
The CBDS works remarkably well, whether I cold crash prior to kegging or not, producing a level of clarity in just a few days that typically requires 10 or more days. I absolutely plan to continue using it in every batch I keg from here on out and truly believe it’s a fantastic value for anyone who loves clear beer as much as me!
Fellow Brülosophy contributor, Malcolm Frazer, is also a CBDS user and had this to say about it:
“I was lucky enough to win a Clear Beer Draught System at a homebrew competition several years ago, and at the time, it was probably something I wouldn’t have bought. Truthfully, I didn’t even use it until, while brewing for a Real Ale festival, I came across something called a cask widget. Then it clicked. I tried the CBDS on a batch of beer and loved it so much I immediately bought three more.”
Before finishing up, I wanted to address some questions some might have about the Clear Beer Draught System.
Can you fine with gelatin when using the CBDS?
Absolutely! It’s like they were made for each other. Gelatin rapidly assists in the removal of particulate from beer, dropping it to the bottom of the keg while leaving clear beer behind. I’ve used the CBDS with gelatin fining numerous times and have achieved nearly brilliant clarity after just 24 hours. In my experience, gelatin will produce a very clear beer on its own in as little as 3 days, though it can take nearly 2 weeks to achieve the level of clarity I see after just a day when used in combination with the CBDS.
Can hops be added directly to the keg when using the CBDS?
As with most things, hops will eventually fall out of solution, and given their propensity to clog dip tubes, it’s generally recommended to make keg hop additions using some sort of filtration device. Seeing as the CBDS draws beer from the top of the keg, it’s possible that keg hop additions can be made directly without issue. But to ensure smooth pouring, the manufacturer recently released a nifty stainless screen filter that reduces the risk of clogging even more. I’ve used this filter a few times, but not on a beer that was keg hopped, so I’m not certain how effective it is for that. My guess is it works well.
Why do the pictures of your CBDS look different than what’s on their website?
I’ve been using the CBDS for awhile now and was prepared to pen this article months ago. However, after getting in touch with the owner, William Broderick, we postponed the review upon his request. William explained he was reworking the float on the CBDS and would be placing a large order once things were set, which they are now. While the units I’m using have the old float, William assured me the new units are functionally identical and, if anything, offer enhanced features.
The Clear Beer Draught System is available now at ClearBeerDraughtSystem.com!
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36 thoughts on “Product Review | Clear Beer Draught System”
I have the CBDS with the stainless steel screen and have keg hopped with it (4 oz in 5 gal corny). No issues and clear beer!
The price of the screen seems very high ($14) relative to the actual CBDS ($41), that would be my only criticism. Just checked, they actually have raised their prices ($5 for a screen and unit) since I purchased in June, that’s disappointing.
Ahh the power of supply and demand. I was going to purchase a screen for mine but can’t justify killing a $20 for it.
To me the screen is essential. Otherwise you’re just buying quicker aesthetics. With the screen, I can keg hop, which imo provides something I wouldn’t have without this type of device.
I regret only buying one in June, but will likely wait for a second now (which is silly as it’s only $5 more, but the mind is a fickle beast).
The price of stainless has gone up recently. Think tariffs
Stainless steel tariffs man, they’re no joke
I bought my first CBDS a few years back. After that I have purchased a few ever now and then and now I have on in every keg. I also ferment in kegs and they work quite well when transfer to serving keg.
Seems like a cool gadget. I’ve seen them before but not paid much attention. Well written and in-depth review!
That looks like a great quality product, but a bit pricey at around $70 with international postage. In the UK I’ve had great success with these, which cost around $16. No issues with picking up hops, either: http://www.caskwidge.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=89&zenid=VanD5PhlK8nXzLIlYjCwY0
This looks great for the price, thanks for the find!
For us Americans; go to UKBrewing.com to avoid international shipping.
I just dummies in $51 all in on two heads (I have two kegs). Just need a bit of tubing to finish the job.
Hi Jake,
A couple questions…
1) I try to brew max size brew volumes so that I don’t have to brew so often, then fill extra into cleaned and sanitized HDPE plastic milk jugs. When keg starts to get low I turn off gas and add beer! This would still work with doing that, right?
2) Do you have a link that explains in more detail how you rack your beer into keg and not introduce oxygen? Sounds like a very good idea and I want to see which elements I could incorporate into my process.
Thanks,
Scott
1.) I don’t see why it wouldn’t.
2.) marshall posted an article a few months back summarizing our practices called reducing cold side oxidation or something similar
cool idea. Thanks for the review. I’m guessing this would also reduce clearing time for kegs that are transported to festivals/parties/etc?
Also, is the ID of the silicone tubing the same as the dip tube (ie no change in restriction)?
Probably would yes.
I believe it’s the same ID, haven’t had foaming issues
I got a few of these for use in corny fermenting and spunding setups. I found that if I dry hopped with at least 1 oz/gal or more it can clog when trying to rack to a second keg. My current solution to this problem is to ferment in the keg and spund and then just serve beers straight off of the keg without transferring. It seems to work pretty well that way and doesn’t really clog unless you run off a bunch of beer, like trying to transfer the entire batch. It is also possible to come back a day later and it will not be clogged for some reason. Finally, you can blast some CO2 into the beer out post to clear off any hops on the filter and then let it rest a bit. It’s not perfect, but it works pretty well. It works perfectly for beers that have no hops in the keg.
Very cool gadget which I found online when I had a blocked dip tibea couple of weeks ago (accidentally transferred some hops from the fermenter). The dry hopping aspect would interest me nowm then clear beer though… Maybe try a keg-hopped beer and add to the review? Cheers
If it leaves a pint or so of trub in the keg doesn’t it leave a pint of sanitizer in as well when you purge the keg?
cut off your gas-in tube so that it is flush or under the level of the keg top. Invert the keg and push in the gas-in poppet and almost every drop of sanitizer will come out.
It would, however I move the keg around to suck up everything.
Not if you do this – trim the gas tube to be flush with the inside of keg. After expelling all of the sanitizer out of the liquid out post via CBDS, invert the keg leaning it toward gas in. Attach a gas quick connect and the pressure will blow out all of the remaining sanitizer.
I have four CBDS w/o filter and six Fermentasaurus floating diptube (similar concept). I regularly ferment in kegs with these. Highest has been NEIPA w/ ten ounces of dryhop in the keg – no clogs. BUT I have had clogs when fermenting separatately and the adding hops to finished beer keg w/ CBDS. As stated above, Pressurizing the liquid out line took care of it.
This looks pretty damn cool and I will buy three of them but that website gave me eye cancer.
I have a couple of these and the stainless screen. I always seem to get a short burst of foam/bubbles right at the start of my pours. This is even worse with the screen in place. Could be doing something wrong but thought I’d mention it.
i noticed that too
This is talked about over at HBT (along with how the price of these things is tough to get over) but you kind of missed the most effective use for this add-on, in using it in keg fermentation with loose dry hopping, and with loose dry hopping directly in the serving keg. That seems to be where the interest is in this item over on those boards. Reading other comments here kind of directs to that as well. Hopefully you’ll follow up with another review addressing those items, especially since it seems to fit into the LoDO fermenting you all do.
I have been using these for several years and it’s up there with best things I have done in brewing (along with all grain and kegging). While many people cite the aesthetics as being the motivator, I noticed a definite improvement in head retention and taste when the beer goes clear. highest recommendations from me!
I love the CBDS and have two of them in kegerator kegs and another for transferring beer from a fermenter to a serving keg. It’s saved a beer more than once. The latest was when I tried to use a hop rocket with rice hulls to serve as a trub filter between the kettle and fermenter. Unfortunately I didn’t think to bag them and the wort ended up with a ton of hulls in it. When fermentation was done I opened it up, replaced the dip tube with a CBDS (with screen) and did the transfer without a hitch and no lost beer. It went to well I wrote the owner to tell him about it. Love these things!
I love these! I actually ferment 4-gallon batches in kegs with these in place. After dry hopping, I’ll remove blow off tubes, cold crash, hook up to gas, and then straight to my kegerator. No transferring from fermentor to serving kegs! I’ve got a Pilsner on tap that’s nearing 3 months in age and there are no signs of autolysis. I’ve fermented about 20 beers this way without ill effects. I actually think they turn out better because, aside from dry-hopping, they are essentially oxygen-free.
That’s really interesting… That plus previous comments make me interested to give them a try.
Wow, now THAT is interesting. Talk about simplifying things.
I think this is a tipical “AliExpress coming soon item for 10 bucks”
I’ve got 4 of the CBDS installed, 2 with the hop screen filters. My favorite part about these is being able to dry hop loose directly in the keg. I was contemplating cutting my dip tube due to clogs when dry hopping before. This works much better. My helles was also pretty darn clear with just a week of lagering time.
Sweetness
Excellent review as usual. FYI, for some reason it’s not showing up under product reviews from the main nav bar.
This looks awesome, but how exactly does it work with fermenting in a keg? While fermentation is taking place, this little thing just floats on top with all the Krausen? And the you cold crash, stuff falls out to the bottom and this device just picks up the clear beer on top? Is it kosher for the the beer to sit on all the trub til it’s gone or is it advisable to transfer to yet another keg?
Does anyone know the ID of the silicone tubing and a good source for replacement?
Is there any reason why you couldn’t attach the silicone tubing to the bottom of a long liquid post? Why does it have to be shortened?
super good question