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(More customer reviews)I have to admit that I don't always drink beer (I am more of a Gin & Tonic or Single Malt Scotch kind of guy) but when I do I prefer bottles. However, when I am out at the community pool (no glass allowed) or grillin' n' chillin' (it's a Texas thing) I will bring a little cooler with canned beer in it. Of course the problem with that is unless you drink them quickly they become warm pretty fast once they are out of the cooler. That's not bad if you are drinking a Guinness but it's kind of nasty for a lager or an ale. Enter the Ice Hole (I know, not a name that I would have chosen, but it is what it is).
First, I decided to give it a test. Using a digital thermometer I measured a beer right out of the refrigerator at 38.7 degrees Fahrenheit and left it open in a room with a 77 degree ambient temperature. Here are my results:
Hour 1: 36.7 (it got 2 degrees colder!)
Hour 2: 37.4
Hour 3: 37.7
Hour 4: 37.6 (?)
Hour 5: 37.8
Hour 6: 37.9
Hour 7: 38.5
Hour 8: 42.9 (all of the ice had melted but the water was still cold)
Hour 9: 50.5
I then took out another one and left it out for an hour WITHOUT the Ice Hole. It went from 38.6 to 60.2, in just an hour!
Now don't get me wrong, anyone who takes 7 hours to drink a beer doesn't deserve one. That's not what this little cooler is all about. If you are drinking to get a buzz (not that there's anything wrong with that) you probably won't need this as you will be drinking the first 3 or 4 beers pretty fast and after that, who cares if they are warm? But if you are drinking for taste or refreshment the Ice Hole will ensure that each sip is refrigerator cold, beer after beer, for a whole afternoon.
When I lay out by our pool I often read, nap or swim a little and it can take me an hour to finish a beer. I still bring my little cooler full of ice cubes and keep 3 or 4 beers in it (in case I want to share with a friend...). Once opened I pop it into the Ice Hole and it keeps it cold. If it is in the sun or if it is pretty hot outside it won't last near as long as it did in my test but it's good for several hours.
If you like to have a cold one nearby when you are working in the garage, mowing the yard, attending church (just kidding), I think you you will really like this. Now for the not-so-good:
It is essentially a small, plastic bucket with an aluminum cylinder inside and a plastic top. Since it reminds people of a child's sand pail it does look a little silly when you carry it around. Also, it gets a lot of condensation on it and it leaves a little puddle wherever you sit it. Not bad if you are outside but it's not going to make the wife happy if you use it on the coffee table unless you put something under it. You have to put it together but it comes with great instructions (with pictures!). Finally, this is something that I would expect to see on a late night info-mercial, "But wait! Order now and you get a second Ice Hole at no extra cost! (just pay separate shipping and handling of $4.99 each)" so it could be a little cheaper.
I have heard rumors that you can use it for something other than beer, such as a soda, but I can't verify that. I have found that now that I have it I drink more beer while I am working (at home) on my computer. It seems that my biggest problem with doing that before was that it got warm unless you drank quickly where a Gin and Tonic has ice in it.
I would like to see an improved version that is a little smaller and has a koozie around it. That would take care of the condensation and could make it look snazzier. Because of that I would give it 4 1/2 stars but since there is no half stars on Amazon I will round it up to 5. Still, I love it and am going to buy one for bottles as well.
DISCLAIMER: Although I was not paid for this review I was given one Ice hole for free in the hope that I would review it.
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Beerberg Ice Hole Cooler (for 12oz cans)Beerberg Ice Hole beverage cooler for 12oz cans of beer (or soda). ... It's a bitty 'berg for your beer! ... Note: Some assembly required.
Click here for more information about Beerberg Ice Hole Cooler (for 12oz cans)
