The DrinkTanks 128 oz Juggernaut features a new, patent-pending Kegulator cap.
DrinkTanks
DrinkTanks calls its new one-gallon pressurized receptacle a growler. And while the Juggernaut is technically just that—you can fill it with beer and stash it in the fridge, or carry it on the go—it’s more useful to think of the 128-ounce behemoth as your own personal, portable keg.
While most growlers feature a standard screw-on cap, the Juggernaut employs a “Kegulator” topper, comprising a regulator, integrated CO2, a tap system, a purge valve, and a pressure gauge. In other words, it’s got all the makings of a proper keg in miniature form, so you can keep your beer fresh until you’re ready to pour.
The Kegulator cap makes life easier for growler guzzlers, but it’s an even handier tool for homebrewers who prefer to work with small, one-gallon batches.
Most traditional kegging systems are designed for batches that are 5 gallons and up, and while you can find alternatives on the smaller side (typically 2.5-3 gallons), they’re expensive, take up valuable fridge space, and present headspace problems for your brew if you neglect to properly purge the excess oxygen in the keg.
The Juggernaut, however, is a bit better fit for one-gallon wonders. It’s self-contained, much more fridge-friendly, and it makes force carbonation a snap: just turn the valve to achieve the desired psi (0-40) and leave the Juggernaut to it. Crucially, this also saves you the fuss of having to wash, sanitize, prime, pour, and cap 8-12 bottles just to carbonate and preserve your brew. It all happens inside the Juggernaut.
The entire system—growler, Kegulator, and all—costs $119. That’s not a bad price for a self-contained small batch kegging system, and its parts are easily swapped or replaced, so if something breaks you likely won’t be out the expense of a whole new Juggernaut unless you’re looking to double your fun.
Because no one likes a warm beer, the Juggernaut is also double-wall vacuum insulated. That means cold beverages will remain cold in—sans refrigeration—for up to 24 hours, and hot beverages stay hot up to 12 hours, making it a useful camping buddy. It’s also dishwasher safe, so when you get back, toss it in with the flatware and take a nap.
DrinkTanks first cropped up in 2013, when it brought us a 64 oz “classic” growler—a smaller version of the Juggernaut, sporting a less sophisticated Keg Cap—with the help of a crowdfunding campaign. It’s using Kickstarter again to launch Juggernaut.
A company called GrowlerWerks wrapped a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign in December for its uKeg—a similar 128 oz growler with a regulator, pressure gauge, and tap—but Juggernaut offers a few additional features at a slightly lower price.
The uKeg is $10 more and unlike its DrinkTanks counterpart, its external regulator and tap components can’t be removed for cleaning, sanitizing, or hauling. The Juggernaut also has a standard cap that can be swapped with the Kegulator cap for rough-and-tumble transport.
Standalone topper options like GrowlTap are also on the market if you like the idea of having beer on tap from your growler, but prefer using your own growlers or think that an entire kegging system is overkill.
If nothing else, innovations like the Juggernaut are a welcome reminder that there’s just no excuse anymore for drinking flat beer. And cheers to that.
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