I’ve been using the Pinter for a while now, and this page pulls together the questions I had before buying one, the things I’ve learned through brewing with it, and the small tips that have made the biggest difference.
This is not meant to be a perfect technical manual. It is based on my own use, my own results, and the little bits of trial and error that happen when you brew beer at home in a plastic pressure vessel that lives in your fridge.
Quick note: if you are looking for my real-world brewing and conditioning times, I have a separate guide here: Pinter Brewing Times by Beer: Real Batch Notes.
General Pinter questions
What is the Pinter?
At its simplest, you clean the system and sterilise it using the sterilising kit in the box, add water straight from the tap. Add the Fresh Press extract, add the yeast from the kit, give it a good shake, then leave it to brew.
What is the basic Pinter brewing process?
A Pinter is a relatively small 10 pint brewing system that minics commercial brewing by fermenting at pressure, this tends to mean that brewing is quicker and more relaiable that traditional home brewing.
Is it easy to learn to use a Pinter?
Yes, it is. There is also a free app that takes you through the brewing process step by step. The app is also used to manage your account and any subscriptions that you might have.
Is the Pinter worth it?
For me, yes. I like the Pinter and I’m pleased I got one. The idea of brewing around 10 pints of beer at home by just adding tap water to a Fresh Press is appealing, especially when the process itself is part of the fun.
Ten pints also feels like a sensible amount. It is enough to enjoy properly, but not so much that you are stuck drinking the same beer for weeks.
Is the Pinter any good?
I have had some very good results from the Pinter, especially when I follow the recommended brewing and conditioning times and brew at the right temperature.
Within a week or two, depending on the beer style, you can have a decent beer on tap in your fridge. Some beers need longer than the minimum time, but the best results I’ve had have been genuinely enjoyable.
Is Pinter beer any good?
Yes, the ones I've tried have been anyway, they do some very good (and popular) beer styles, they also work with well-known breweries and drinks brands, including BrewDog, Iron Maiden, Lagunitas, Adnams, Yeastie Boys, Signature Brew, Fourpure, and Brewgooder.
That does not mean every beer will be perfect, and personal taste still matters. But the range is far more interesting than a basic homebrew kit, and some of the beers are much better than I expected.
How many pints do you get from a Pinter?
A Pinter makes around 10 pints, which is roughly 5.7 litres.
Is the Pinter easy to use?
Yes, once you understand the process. The basic idea is simple: clean and sanitise the Pinter, add tap water, add the Fresh Press (what they call their concentrated beer), add yeast, shake well, brew, condition, and serve.
The main things that catch people out are temperature, mixing, carbonation, and patience. The Pinter is easy to use, but it still rewards doing the basics properly.
Is the Pinter proper homebrew?
It depends what you mean by proper homebrew. You are not mashing grains or boiling hops, but you are still fermenting beer at home using yeast.
I see it as a halfway point between traditional homebrew and buying beer from a shop. It gives you the fun of brewing, but without needing a garage full of equipment. I was a proper homebrewer, I did proper all grain brewing as well as extract brewing. It take times and it's easy to introduce off flavours, this is simpler and it just give me more time to do other stuff now.
Is the Pinter better than normal beer kits?
The Pinter is cleaner, tidier, and more convenient than most traditional beer kits. You do not need bottles, barrels, siphons, or a big fermenting bucket. Pinter is actually more like the pressure brewing of a proper brewery, so results tend to be better.
Traditional beer kits give you more flexibility, and they can be slightly cheaper per pint. The Pinter wins on convenience, neatness, and the fact you can serve straight from the unit.
Brewing times and conditioning
What is the quickest Pinter beer to brew?
Ciders are usually the quickest and can be ready in as little as 8 days. Some pale ales and IPAs, such as Space Hopper, can also have a minimum time of around 8 days.
That said, I usually recommend giving most beers a little longer if you can. The minimum time often gets you to drinkable. A few extra days can get you to much better.
How long does Pinter beer take to brew?
It depends on the beer. Some lighter styles can be ready in just over a week, while stronger beers, darker beers, and lagers usually benefit from longer brewing and conditioning.
As a rough rule, I would rather give a beer too much time than rush it. Most of my better Pinter results have come from patience (which can be difficult when your keep to try a Pint)
Should I follow the official Pinter brewing times?
Yes and no, they are a good starting point. I would not go shorter than the official times, especially when you are new to the Pinter.
From my experience, the official times are often the minimum rather than the perfect point. Some beers improve noticeably with extra conditioning.
Can you leave Pinter beer conditioning for longer?
Yes, within reason. Longer conditioning often helps the beer settle, smooth out, and taste cleaner.
I would not ignore the beer for months, but adding a few extra days or even an extra week can help, especially with lagers, stouts, and stronger beers.
Do lagers need longer in the Pinter?
In my experience, yes they do. Lagers usually benefit from longer cold conditioning because they taste better when they have had time to clean up and settle.
You can drink some lagers quite quickly, but the difference between a rushed lager and a properly conditioned one can be quite noticeable.
Do darker beers need longer in the Pinter?
They often do. Darker beers and stronger beers usually benefit from a bit more time, especially during conditioning.
They can taste a little rough or unfinished early on. Give them longer and they often become smoother, rounder, and more enjoyable.
Fridge, storage, and serving
Do I need a fridge for a Pinter?
Ideally, yes (or at least fridge space). The Pinter is about 35cm deep, 23cm wide, and 21cm high, so it takes up a fair bit of fridge space.
You usually need the fridge for cold crashing, conditioning, and serving. Depending on the beer, it may only need to be in the fridge for 3 to 7 days before drinking, but it still needs enough space to sit properly.
How long can beer stay in the Pinter?
Once your beer has finished conditioning, it can stay fresh inside the Pinter for up to 28 days, provided you keep it refrigerated.
The tap mechanism and sealed environment help keep oxygen out, which helps stop the beer going stale. Once you pour the first pint, I would aim to drink the rest within about 7 days to enjoy it at its best and freshest.
Does the Pinter need to stay in the fridge after conditioning?
Yes, once the beer is ready to drink, keep it refrigerated. Cold storage helps the beer stay fresh and keeps the carbonation under control. In winter months a cold kitchen, utility room or bar areas hould be fine most of the time.
Warm beer will foam more, pour worse, and taste less clean.
Can I serve Pinter beer straight away after conditioning?
Yes, but I usually find the first pint can be a little lively or cloudy, depending on the beer.
After the first pour, things often settle down. If the beer is still too foamy or tastes yeasty, it probably needs more time cold. Alwasy pour very slowly at first,
Carbonation and pouring
Does the Pinter carbonate beer properly?
Yes, it can carbonate beer very well. In fact, some beers can be very lively if the carbonation dial is set too high or the beer has not had enough time to settle.
Carbonation depends on the beer style, the dial setting, the brewing temperature, and how long the beer has conditioned. My recmmendation if to follow Pinters recommended settings that coe with the brew, is that carbonate as you would like, amend it for your next one. I keep a check on all my Pinter brewing times here.
Why is my Pinter beer too foamy?
Foam usually comes from too much pressure, warm beer, not enough conditioning time, or pouring too quickly.
Make sure the beer is properly chilled and let it condition for long enough. Pour at first gently and keep the glass angled. If it is still too lively, give it more time in the fridge.
Why is my Pinter beer flat?
Flat beer can happen if the carbonation setting was too low (1 or 2), the beer was not sealed properly, or fermentation did not complete as expected.
Temperature matters too. If the beer was too cold during fermentation, the yeast may not have done enough work. If it was too warm, the beer can ferment too quickly and still not condition well.
What carbonation dial setting should I use?
I usually treat the carbonation dial as a style guide rather than an exact science. Lagers, pale ales, and ciders often suit a little more carbonatio n(4-5). Stouts, porters, and darker beers usually suit a little less (3-4).
When you start out, just follow the recommendation in the Pinter app.
Fresh Press and hop oil
What is a Pinter Fresh Press?
The Fresh Press is the concentrated beer mixture you use to brew with the Pinter. You add it to the Pinter with water and yeast, then the beer ferments inside the unit.
Some Fresh Presses also come with hop oil, but not all beers need it.
Why has my Fresh Press not come with hop oil?
Not every Pinter beer needs extra hop oil. Some recipes are designed without it, so it is not automatically a problem if there is no hop oil vial in the pack.
What is the Pinter hop hack?
The Pinter hop hack comes from users worrying about two possible issues with hop oil.
The first is that the thick hop oil may not move properly from the vial into the Pinter. I have personally never had this problem, but in theory, pressure inside the brewing unit could slow it down. If that happens, gently rock the Pinter and the oil should move from the vial.
The second worry is that the hop oil drops straight through the beer and ends up in the brewing base, making it less effective. In my own testing, this has not been an issue. The beer has still taken on the aroma and flavour from the oil.
You can disengage the brewing dock before adding the oil if you want to be extra cautious, but I personally do not think you need to.
Do I need to shake the Pinter hard when mixing?
Yes. Shake well for at least two minutes. Then a few seconds longer just to make sure. The Fresh Press can be thick, so it needs proper mixing. A gentle swirl is not enough.
I have found it best to shake hard and make sure the Fresh Press, water, and yeast are properly combined. Poor mixing can lead to weaker flavour, uneven fermentation, and disappointing beer.
Can I reuse a Pinter Fresh Press?
No. A Fresh Press is designed for one brew only.
Once it has been used, you need a new Fresh Press for the next batch.
Subscriptions, Co-Pinters, and buying
Is Pinter a subscription?
Pinter offers both subscription and non-subscription options.
I personally went for the subscription because it provided two free Pinters at the time. That means I do not have to wait for one beer to finish before starting another. The trade-off is that you commit to placing a set number of beer orders per Pinter (typically between 4-6), but then the Pinter(s) is(are) yours.
Is the Pinter really free?
If you take up one of the subscription offers, you can pick up a Pinter for free.
It is worth reading the terms properly, though. Free usually means you are committing to future Fresh Press orders rather than buying the unit outright.
What is a Co-Pinter?
A Co-Pinter is an additional standalone Pinter body. It lets you brew one beer while drinking from another Pinter.
This is useful because brewing, conditioning, and drinking all take time. Having more than one Pinter makes the whole system feel much smoother.
Can you brew two Pinter beers at once?
Yes, I have two full Pinters, its means that I can have two brewing at the same time. If you get a Co-Pinter, that usually comes without a brewing dock, so you can only start your next bew once your first is conditioning.
This is one of the best reasons to have more than one. You can have one beer conditioning while another is being served.
Is Pinter cheaper than buying beer?
It depends what you compare it with. It is usually cheaper than buying 10 pints in a pub, but not always cheaper than supermarket beer.
For me, the value is not only about price per pint. It is also about the fun of brewing, the choice of beers, and having fresh beer on tap at home.
Troubleshooting
Why does my Pinter beer taste yeasty?
A yeasty taste usually means the beer needs more time to settle, especially cold conditioning time in the fridge.
It can also happen if the Pinter has been moved around too much before serving, or the brewing temperature was too high. Try to keep it still once it is conditioning and serving, and stick to the brewing temperatures recommended in the Pinter App.
Why is my Pinter beer cloudy?
Some beers are meant to be cloudy, especially hazy pale ales and IPAs. But if a beer tastes yeasty or unfinished as well as looking cloudy, it probably needs more time.
Cold conditioning helps the beer clear and settle. A few extra days in the fridge can make a big difference.
Why does my Pinter beer taste weak?
Weak flavour can come from poor mixing, incorrect water levels, brewing too cold, or drinking the beer too early.
Make sure the Fresh Press is fully mixed at the start. Also make sure you fill to the correct level and give the beer enough time to brew and condition.
Why has my Pinter beer not fermented properly?
The most common reason is temperature. Yeast needs the right temperature range to work properly.
If the room is too cold, fermentation can be slow or incomplete. If it is too warm, the beer can ferment too quickly and produce off flavours.
Can I bottle Pinter beer?
You can transfer Pinter beer into bottles, but the system is not really designed for it.
The Pinter works best as a sealed brewing and serving system. Bottling adds extra risk from oxygen, contamination, and carbonation problems.
Can I use normal beer kits in a Pinter?
I would not recommend it. The Pinter is designed around its own Fresh Press system, volumes, pressure, and brewing process.
Other beer kits may not behave properly in the Pinter and could create pressure, flavour, cleaning problems, or break your Pinter!
My personal Pinter tips
What is the best Pinter beer for beginners?
I would start with something forgiving, such as a pale ale, IPA, or cider. These styles tend to be quicker and more reliable than lagers or darker beers.
Once you understand the process, then try lagers, stouts, and stronger beers.
What is the biggest mistake new Pinter users make?
Rushing it. The beer may technically be ready after the minimum time, but that does not always mean it is at its best.
The second biggest mistake is not mixing hard enough at the start. Fresh Press is thick and needs proper shaking. The Pinter App used to say mix for a minute, I think that advice has een updated now, it needs at least two minutes of a good mix.
What temperature should I brew Pinter beer at?
Follow the temperature guidance for the beer you are brewing in the Pinter App. Temperature makes a huge difference to fermentation.
If the room is too cold, the yeast can struggle. If it is too warm, the beer can taste rough. A steady room temperature is usually better than one that swings up and down through the day.
Should I always give Pinter beer longer than the minimum time?
In most cases, yes. I see the minimum time as the earliest point you can drink it, not always the best point.
A few extra days can help the beer taste cleaner, pour better, and feel more finished.
Would I recommend the Pinter?
Yes, but with realistic expectations. It is not magic, and it will not turn you into a master brewer overnight.
But if, like me, you like beer, enjoy a bit of experimenting, and fancy having 10 pints on tap in your fridge, it is a fun bit of kit.
Final note: I’ll keep adding to this FAQ as I brew more beers and learn more from real batches. The Pinter is simple on the surface, but the small details make a big difference.
