ENTERTAINMENT

Beer Guy: Fizzics makes instant draft

Tony Kiss
tkiss@gannett.com

There are so many beer gadgets and toys out there, it's mind-boggling. From mini brewing systems to beer openers made from Major League Baseball bats, there are lots of ways to spend your brew money.

Then, there are some that actually work as promised. Among them is a machine called Fizzics, which takes your beer cans, bottles and smaller growlers, and turns the brew into a near draft experience using sonic waves. No gas is needed.

The first time I used Fizzics on a can of IPA, it created a draft-like pour that rivaled the taproom experience.

Fizzics is about the size of a counter-top coffee maker. It runs on batteries, so it's easy to move around and take on the patio or deck or wherever. Just open the lid, drop in the beer, slip a small tube into the can or bottle, shut and latch the unit and throw a small tap handle on the lid. Out comes the draft.

To clean it, run a glass of water through the system. You might wipe it down with a damp cloth. Fizzics will only work on beer - not cider or soft drinks or any other beverage.

The Fizzics machine was funded by an IndieGoGo crowd sourcing drive, which generated a quarter of a million dollars. Now, you can get one online from lots of places including Amazon. Tens of thousands have been sold, said Phillip Petracca, the company founder. They're being shipped around the world, he said.

"Everyone appreciates the draft beer taste, whether you are drinking Miller Lite or Bud Light or craft," he said. "It will take an OK beer and make it taste good and take a good beer and make it great."

He's planning to show the machine at the America on Tap Beer Festival in November at Asheville's U.S. Cellular Center, and Fizzics will be on the season premiere of ABC's "Shark Tank" at 9 p.m. Sept. 23.

While the technology was developed in the U.S., the machines themselves are produced in China. There's a one-year warranty on Fizzics. The only issue I had using it was keeping the small tap handle top firmly attached.

Now, the price: It's $164.99 on Amazon, which means it's not for everyone. Ordering on Amazon does provide some buyer protection. If you have that cash on hand, this could be your toy. And it would be a remarkable gift for birthday, holidays or whatever.

Follow Tony Kiss on Facebook at Carolina Beer Guy and on Twitter at BeerGuyTK.