White Plains, N.Y.-based Heineken USA announced that Heineken Light and Strongbow Gold Apple Hard Cider now are available on the BrewLock keg system. BrewLock, the company’s on-premise draft technology, was developed by Heineken as a means to consistently provide a freshly brewed beer taste in an easy-to-install format, without compromising the quality that consumers demand, the company says.

“BrewLock’s ability to block outside contaminants and provide a truly great draft beer experience every time is not lost on consumers,” said Mark Lang, on-premise sales strategy and shopper marketing manager, in a statement. “Initial results report a 23 percent increase in rate of sale for Heineken and Newcastle Brown Ale, further illustrating just how important a quality draft beer is to consumers. It’s this clear growth and consumer acceptance that has enabled us to extend the BrewLock system to more of our portfolio beginning with Strongbow Gold Apple and Heineken Light. We are excited to see the system continue to grow with these brands.”

BrewLock kegs are easy to install, significantly lighter in weight than steel barrels and are horizontally stackable when not in use, resulting in a smaller cooler footprint, the company says. They also provide a nearly 100 percent yield, it adds.

“Not only are BrewLock kegs cost effective, but they’re recyclable,” Lang said. “The revolutionary BrewLock system eliminates nearly 50 percent of all draft system failures and provides a fresh taste every time.”

The BrewLock keg is a patented double wall 20-liter keg made from 100 percent recyclable PET plastic. The liquid resides in a bladder inside the keg, which is protected by the PET shell. BrewLock uses a small, customized air compressor that exerts pressure in the area between the shell and the bladder, pushing the liquid through the draft lines untouched, the company says. The system has been used since 2014 to dispense Heineken Lager and Newcastle Brown Ale, it adds.