🍺 The Underdog Story: Why Krowne Entered Draft Beer
In three short years, the Krowne MasterTap draft beer system is really disrupting the market – against all odds! In a world dominated by industry titans, why would anyone even bother stepping onto the playing field? That’s exactly the kind of challenge Krowne thrives on.
For over a century, Perlick has been a fixture in the draft beer space, while Micro Matic reigns globally with an iron grip on brand and distribution. The field wasn’t just crowded—it was impenetrable. That is, until Krowne decided it was time to change the rules.
In 2021, Kyle Forman and Paul Bastante, impassioned third-generation leaders of the family-run Krowne brand, made a bold pivot. With no legacy in draft systems, they charged straight into Goliath territory—undaunted and unapologetic. This wasn’t just business. They were on a mission of disruption.
The Harvard Business Review says only 10% of family businesses make it to the third generation. But Krowne isn’t here to survive—they’re here to redefine. Under Forman and Bastante’s leadership, “disruption” isn’t a buzzword. It’s a battle cry. They saw a stagnant space and a staid industry. So they did what the modern-day Krowne does best: innovated, engineered, and entered the arena with something completely new.
🛠️ What Makes Krowne MasterTap a Game-Changer?
The draft beer systems space has long been a playground for tradition. Legacy brands made incremental tweaks—but innovation? That flatlined decades ago. Krowne saw the void and filled it with something refreshingly bold: MasterTap.
The Krowne MasterTap isn’t just another draft beer system. It’s a total reimagining of how beer should be delivered—engineered from scratch with cutting-edge precision and built for the future.
What sets it apart? Three pillars:
- Technology: From Cold Plunge to mobile integration, every component pushes the limits of what a draft system can be.
- Efficiency: Less glycol. Faster cooling. Smarter monitoring. Every inch of the system is optimized for performance and cost-savings.
- Reliability: Tested, perfected, and produced in-house under Krowne’s watchful eye. There are no off-the-shelf shortcuts—just uncompromising quality.
MasterTap is Krowne’s response to an industry that stopped listening to its users. And now, the competition can’t ignore it.
🧠 Meet BeerFlex: The World’s First Draft System Design in 3D
Imagine designing a custom draft beer system—on your phone – and you get the price in seconds, without the need to talk to a salesman… AND in 3D… WITH augmented reality. That’s not a fantasy. That’s BeerFlex.
With BeerFlex, Krowne became the first in the industry to offer a full-scale, digital configurator for custom draft systems. Krowne’s BeerFlex provides full transparency. No more endless back-and-forth with sales reps. Just pure, frictionless design power at your fingertips.
Here’s what BeerFlex does:
- Design your Krowne MasterTap system in 3D with real-time visual feedback.
- Get an instant quote—yes, really—within seconds.
- Walk through your setup using augmented reality to see how it fits your actual space.
Desktop, tablet, smartphone—it doesn’t matter. BeerFlex brings the showroom to your screen, making the planning process faster, smarter, and more empowering than ever before.
❄️ Cold Plunge Technology Explained
There’s a critical problem in traditional draft beer systems: temperature change (warming). As beer travels from the walk-in cooler through the trunk line, it’s vulnerable to minor but costly increases in temperature—and that means wasted product, foam issues, and inconsistent pours.
Enter: Cold Plunge Technology (CPT)—Krowne’s secret weapon.
CPT is a precision-engineered aluminum heat exchanger that delivers a strategic burst of cold to stabilize beer temperatures just before they hit vulnerable points in the system. Installed either right before the trunkline (for smaller bars) or about six feet from the tower (for large-scale applications like stadiums), it’s a game-changer for quality control.
Why does it matter? Because every degree counts in draft beer. CPT ensures your product stays cold, your foam stays minimal, and your profits stay intact—from keg to glass.
💧 Why the MasterTap Power Pack Matters: Krowne’s Sealed Bath Advantage
Glycol is the lifeblood of any long-draw draft beer system—and Krowne’s MasterTap power packs treat it like gold.
Unlike traditional coil bath systems, MasterTap uses a sealed bath system with an integrated flat plate heat exchanger. The result? Greater efficiency through far less glycol. Where others need 12 gallons of glycol to get the job done, MasterTap does it with just 2.5 gallons.
Do the math: at $90 per gallon, that’s an $855 savings every time the glycol needs to be replaced.
But this isn’t just about cost. It’s about innovation. The sealed system reduces contamination risk, improves thermal efficiency, and simplifies long-term maintenance. With MasterTap, you’re upgrading your bottom line!
🔍 Krowne MasterTap: Smart, Durable, and Built In-House
Krowne doesn’t outsource excellence—they manufacture it.
Unlike competitors who cobble together components from third-party suppliers, MasterTap is American made – the same as Krowne’s industry-trusted refrigeration systems. This tight vertical integration gives them full control over every component—every weld, wire, and screw is subject to Krowne’s exacting standards.
Why does that matter?
Because with every system crafted in-house, Krowne guarantees superior quality control, inventory reliability, and aftermarket serviceability. Replacement parts? Already stocked. Engineering tweaks? No problem. Technical support? A single, responsive team that knows every inch of your setup.
With Krowne, you’re not just buying a draft system—you’re investing in craftsmanship backed by decades of engineering precision.
🔄 Trunkline Tech: A Cleaner Pour, Every Time
Let’s talk about trunk lines—the often-overlooked arteries of draft beer systems. Most brands settle for copper or PVC tubing, which can get the job done… until they don’t.
Krowne’s MasterTap goes all in with Accuflex Bev-Seal lines, featuring a high-performance glass liner that eliminates flavor carryover. Pour a seasonal IPA in April, a cold-brew espresso cocktail in May, and a hazy sour in June—no lingering aftertastes, no cross-contamination.
But that’s just the start.
Every MasterTap trunk line is fully insulated and designed with flexibility in mind. That means fewer kinks during installation, more stable pressure across every pour, and less risk of mechanical issues down the line. Whether your system’s running through a tight bar or a sprawling stadium, MasterTap’s trunkline tech delivers the cleanest, crispest product possible.
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📱 Coming Soon: The Mobile-Connected Draft System
We are about to enter the smart bar era!
Krowne’s MasterTap isn’t just a mechanical marvel—it will soon be a connected system designed for modern operations. Through integrated sensors placed in the walk-in cooler, users can remotely monitor their draft beer environment via smartphone or POS system.
Here’s what it will be able to track:
-
Cooler temperature
-
Product temperature
-
System health alerts
If something spikes or drops outside the optimal range, MasterTap will soon be able to send a notification straight to your screen—so you can fix the problem before it becomes a service disaster.
Leave it to Krowne – operational intelligence, soon to be baked right into your bar’s ecosystem!
🍻 Final Pour: Is Krowne’s MasterTap the Future?
MasterTap didn’t come to play. It came to shift the landscape.
In just a few years, Krowne went from zero presence in draft systems to creating one of the most forward-thinking platforms in the industry. Every feature—BeerFlex, Cold Plunge, smart sensors, glycol efficiency—isn’t just a nod to innovation. It’s a challenge to the status quo.
While legacy players rest on tradition, Krowne is building for what’s next. Their focus isn’t on beating the competition. It’s on redefining what’s possible—and letting the market follow. After all, competition makes everyone better – it’s the American Way!
So, is MasterTap the future? If you ask the bars who’ve cut waste, streamlined service, and leveled-up presentation—the future is already pouring.
🚀 More Exciting Ideas from Krowne
Krowne isn’t slowing down—they’re just getting started. Staying true to their ethos of constant innovation, the company is unveiling a new wave of technology that pushes the boundaries of what draft systems can do.
IOT-Driven Performance: Their upcoming suite of IOT features will introduce real-time monitoring and preventative maintenance alerts, designed to help operators track performance metrics, reduce downtime, and fine-tune efficiency—all from the palm of their hand. This connected ecosystem isn’t just about control—it’s about giving owners a smarter, leaner way to run their beverage programs.
Power to Go the Distance: Coming in Summer 2025, Krowne will launch a 1.5HP power pack, built specifically to handle long-distance draft beer delivery for massive venues.
Meet OTTO: And in true sci-fi fashion, Krowne now offers “OTTO,” a robotic bartending solution that blends automation with hospitality—a bold step into the future of service. I covered this in a recent post, which you can read below:
❓ FAQ: Krowne MasterTap
1. What is Krowne MasterTap, and how is it different from traditional draft beer systems?
Krowne MasterTap is a cutting-edge draft beer system designed to bring innovation, efficiency, and smart technology to bars, restaurants, and stadiums. Unlike traditional systems, MasterTap features Cold Plunge Technology, a sealed glycol bath, mobile connectivity, and advanced components like glass-lined trunk lines to deliver cleaner pours and reduce waste.
2. How does the BeerFlex configurator work?
BeerFlex is Krowne’s industry-first 3D and augmented reality draft system configurator. It allows users to fully customize their MasterTap setup online, receive instant quotes, and virtually walk through the system in their space—all without needing to speak to a sales rep.
3. How much can I save using Krowne’s sealed glycol bath system?
The MasterTap sealed bath system uses just 2.5 gallons of glycol compared to the 12 gallons required by traditional coil bath systems. With USP-grade propylene glycol priced at around $90 per gallon, that’s a savings of approximately $855 every time you change it.
4. Is Krowne MasterTap compatible with cocktails and non-beer beverages?
Absolutely. Thanks to Accuflex Bev-Seal glass liner technology, there’s no flavor carryover—so seasonal beers, cocktails, and other draft beverages can be rotated cleanly without lingering aftertastes.
5. Can I monitor my Krowne MasterTap system remotely?
Yes! With mobile-connected monitoring features, MasterTap lets you track your draft system via smartphone or POS in real time. You’ll get instant alerts about temperature spikes or system issues, which helps you minimize waste and downtime.
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