Short answer: the Perlick 650SS and the Intertap faucet are both forward-sealing, 304 stainless steel faucets, so either one stops the sticky handles and stale first pours you get from an old rear-sealing tap. Pick the Perlick 650SS if you want flow control built in and commercial-grade parts you can rebuild for a few dollars. Pick an Intertap if you are outfitting a home kegerator on a tight budget and want to swap spouts. If you like Perlick but don't need flow control, the Perlick 630SS at $59.95 is the closest match on price.
In this article
- What does forward sealing mean?
- How do the Perlick 650SS and Intertap compare?
- Do you need flow control?
- Which faucet is better for growlers and stout?
- Is the Perlick worth the extra money?
- Which forward-sealing faucet should you buy?
- FAQ
What does forward sealing mean, and why does it matter?
A standard rear-sealing faucet closes at the back of the body. Every pour leaves beer sitting in the faucet, exposed to air. Overnight it dries into a sticky film, so the lever fights you the next morning and the first pour picks up stale flavor. That residue is also where bacteria and mold start.
A forward-sealing faucet closes at the front, right behind the spout. The beer left inside stays sealed from the air, so nothing dries out and the lever moves freely the next day. The Perlick 650SS and the Intertap are both forward-sealing, so either one fixes the sticky tap problem. The differences are in flow control, spouts, price, and parts.
All 304 stainless, forward sealing, with a built-in flow compensator to slow the pour right at the tap.
How do the Perlick 650SS and Intertap compare side by side?
| Perlick 650SS | Intertap (stainless) | |
|---|---|---|
| Sealing | Forward sealing | Forward sealing |
| Body material | 304 stainless steel | 304 stainless steel |
| Seal design | Ball with a floating front seal | Sliding shuttle that positions the O-ring |
| Flow control | Built in (side lever) | Not on the standard model |
| Spout | Fixed, angled to drain after each pour | Threaded and interchangeable (stout, growler, ball lock) |
| Shank fit | Standard US beer shanks | Standard US beer shanks (1-1/8"-18 thread) |
| Typical price | $78.95 at Wholesale Beer Parts | About $40 to $48 at homebrew retailers |
| Best for | Bars, restaurants, taprooms, high-carbonation beer, serious home setups | Budget home kegerators, homebrewers who like to tinker |
Do you need a flow control faucet?
Flow control is the biggest reason to choose the 650SS. A small lever on the side of the faucet lets you slow the pour without touching the regulator. It earns its keep when:
- You pour highly carbonated beer, such as a hefeweizen or a Belgian, that foams at full speed.
- You fill sampler glasses, flights, or growlers and need a slower, gentler pour.
- Your system runs a little out of balance and you need a quick fix at the tap while you sort out the root cause. Our guide to fixing foamy beer covers the permanent fixes.
The standard Intertap has no flow control. A flow-control version has been sold, but availability varies, and many retailers now point buyers to KegLand's NukaTap Flow Control instead. If flow control matters to you, the 650SS gives you a proven version from a long-standing commercial brand.
Which faucet is better for growlers and stout?
This is where the Intertap shines. Its spout unscrews, so you can swap in a stout spout, a growler filler, or a ball lock spout for filling kegs. If you like to experiment at home, that flexibility is handy.
Perlick takes a simpler route. The spout is fixed, but a slip-on growler filler made for Perlick faucets costs $9.95. Note that standard growler fillers do not fit Perlick faucets, so buy the Perlick version. For nitro beer or espresso martinis, a dedicated stainless steel stout faucet ($83.94) is built for nitro pours and is the better choice if stout is on your menu every day.
Fits Perlick 630SS and 650SS faucets. Standard growler fillers will not fit.
Is the Perlick worth the extra money?
The Intertap costs less up front, usually about $30 to $40 less per tap than a 650SS. On a four-tap kegerator that is roughly $120 to $160, which is a real difference if budget comes first.
The case for Perlick is cost per year, not cost per faucet. Seals and O-rings are the parts that wear, and Perlick rebuild parts are cheap and easy to find. We stock them:
- Perlick 630SS/650SS Front Seat O-Ring (70141-1): $0.65
- Perlick 67989SK Flow Control Seal Kit: $6.00
- Perlick 67989LK Flow Control Lever Seal Kit: $28.31
- Perlick 1013021 Faucet Coupling Gasket: $0.75
Replace a few dollars of seals when the faucet starts to drip and the stainless body keeps going. In a busy bar pouring hundreds of beers a day, that is the trade that pays off.
Which forward-sealing faucet should you buy?
Here is the simple ladder, from budget to best:
- Good: Intertap. Building your first home kegerator on a budget, you want to swap spouts, and you don't need flow control.
- Better: Perlick 630SS ($59.95). Perlick's forward-sealing build without flow control. The closest Perlick to Intertap on price. Also available in a tarnish-free brass finish (630SSTF) for $84.95.
- Best: Perlick 650SS ($78.95). Our pick for bars, restaurants, taprooms, and anyone pouring a mix of styles, filling growlers or flights, or wanting one faucet to buy once and rebuild for years.
Same forward-sealing stainless design as the 650SS, without the flow control lever.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Perlick 650SS better than the Intertap?
For commercial use, yes. Both are forward-sealing stainless faucets, but the Perlick 650SS adds built-in flow control and uses commercial-grade parts with inexpensive rebuild kits. The Intertap is the better value for a budget home kegerator, especially if you want interchangeable spouts.
Will a Perlick 650SS fit my existing shank?
Yes. The 650SS fits standard North American beer shanks, the same ones a standard faucet threads onto. If you are replacing the shank anyway, Perlick stainless century shanks are available in 1-1/2 inch and 2-1/2 inch lengths.
Will a standard growler filler fit a Perlick faucet?
No. Standard growler fillers do not fit Perlick 630SS or 650SS faucets. Use a growler filler made specifically for Perlick faucets.
Do forward-sealing faucets still need cleaning?
Yes. Forward sealing stops the lever from sticking between pours, but you still need to clean your lines and faucets on a regular schedule. A caustic clean every 2 weeks and an acid clean every 6 months is a good standard, and the faucet should be taken apart and cleaned along with the lines.
What is the difference between the Perlick 630SS and 650SS?
Both are forward-sealing 304 stainless faucets with the same sealing design. The 650SS adds a built-in flow compensator lever so you can slow the pour at the tap. The 630SS is $59.95 and the 650SS is $78.95 at Wholesale Beer Parts.
Related guides
- Kegerator Parts Guide: Every Component Explained
- Fix Foamy Beer: Causes and Fixes for Draft Systems
- How to Clean Beer Lines: A Step-by-Step Guide for Bars
Ready to stop fighting sticky taps?
The Perlick 650SS fits your existing shank and pours cleaner from the first glass of the day.
Shop the Perlick 650SS →Not sure what fits your setup? Contact us. Free technical support on every order.
