In May, I tested the Igulu F1 smart beer brewer. To rehash my thoughts from back then, I thought it was a fun device that was perfect for summer parties. Using Hello Fresh-like beer kits or your own recipe, you can make homemade beer, kombucha, or other alcoholic beverages. When you’re done, you can serve the drinks from the machine, which keeps them chilled at the perfect refreshing temperature.
Aside from it being a bit too big for the countertop of my small apartment (more my problem than the brewer’s), my only criticism was that it’s a bit pricey at $699/£555. It might be too expensive for casual beer fans who want to get a taste of brewing, and while the automation features – particularly the safety features – are appealing, I felt that people spending that much on a brewing kit would appreciate something a little more practical.
At least the earlier issue of it being too expensive could be remedied by the new Igulu S1. It’s set to cost $549 (around £432), but if you back it on Kickstarter you can snap it up for just $299 (around £236).
After testing the Igulu S1, I can confirm that it is identical to the F1 in many ways. It is still a cylindrical box into which you hang a beer keg filled with ingredients for brewing. The machine then modulates the pressure and temperature of the keg to match your specifications – or the specifications it reads from the brewing kit’s RFID chip. If there is a problem, it can automatically release the pressure to avoid accidents, and when the brewing is complete, you can pour a pint directly from the S1’s spout.
It can also tap third-party kegs. Just like the Igulu F1, the S1 can be fitted with 5L kegs of pre-brewed beers from your favourite brands and kept cool. The only slight downside is that this feature requires accessories that you have to buy separately, rather than being included as was the case with the F1. However, if you only plan on using the Igulu S1 to drink your own beer, you won’t miss this feature.
I also found that the Igulu S1 is a bit noisier than the F1, so you might want to consider putting it somewhere other than the kitchen or put up with some additional interference.
However, some sacrifices are to be expected when it’s cheaper than its predecessor. And as I mentioned above, if you want to save even more, you can get the Igulu S1 for just $299 (around £236) via the Kickstarter campaign (until August 25th) – the product is scheduled to ship in December.
