What Was the Guinness Surger?
The Guinness Surger was a small plug-in unit that used an ultrasonic pulse to make a poured pint of specially formulated Guinness "surge" and settle into a creamy head, mimicking a draft pour at home. It was Guinness's first serious at-home draft device, and the ancestor of today's NitroSurge.
The UK home kit went on sale in April 2006 in selected supermarkets at around £17, with a starter pack containing the unit, a pint glass and two 520 ml cans of Guinness Draught Surger. Four-packs of cans sold for around £5.
Did you know?
The home Surger did not last. Diageo withdrew the UK home unit in April 2008 after what it described as a two-year trial, telling customers the uptake wasn't what it had hoped for. Tesco was the retail partner. The bar-top version continued in some markets, and second-hand units still turn up.
How It Worked
Surger cans had no widget. You poured the whole can into a glass, placed the glass on the unit's metal plate (with a little water on it to carry the pulse), and pressed the button. The ultrasonic pulse released the gas in the beer and the pint settled with a creamy head.
| Feature | Surger cans | Regular Draught cans |
|---|---|---|
| Widget | None | Yes |
| Activation | Ultrasonic pulse from the unit | Opening the can |
| Availability today | Very limited | Everywhere |
Warning
The Surger was designed for widget-free Surger cans. Regular widget cans have already released their nitrogen by the time they are poured, so the unit has much less to work with.
Using One If You Still Have It
- Chill the can thoroughly.
- Plug in the unit and put a small amount of cold water on the metal plate.
- Pour the whole can into a clean tulip glass in one steady pour.
- Place the glass on the plate and press the button once.
- Wait for the surge to settle into a head.
Pressing the button repeatedly does not improve things and can cause over-foaming. Wipe the plate after use and never submerge the unit.
The Regular-Can Hack
Because Surger cans are so hard to find, owners have long experimented with regular widget cans. We have not run a controlled test of this ourselves; what follows is what some owners report.
Regular can straight onto the Surger
Some owners report a modest secondary surge and a slightly denser head, with a higher risk of over-foaming. The consensus is that the improvement is small, because the widget has already done most of the work.
The needle method
A more involved approach that some owners describe: pierce a tiny hole near the top of a very cold, upright can (above the liquid line) and let the gas hiss out slowly until it stops, so that the widget never gets the sudden pressure drop that triggers it. Then open the can, pour, and use the Surger as normal. Owners who do this report results closer to proper Surger cans.
Warning
This involves sharp objects and pressurised cans. Never pierce a warm or shaken can, and keep it upright. We describe the method because people ask about it, not because we recommend it.
Should You Buy One Today?
Almost certainly not. The home Surger has been discontinued in the UK since 2008, cans are scarce, and the NitroSurge does the same job with cans you can actually buy. If you already own a Surger and can find cans, enjoy it as a piece of Guinness history.
For draft Guinness done properly, find the community-rated Guinness pubs near you.
Sources
- Tech Digest: The Guinness Surger (April 2006) — UK launch April 2006, ~£17 starter kit with two 520 ml cans, ultrasonic pulse, plug-in unit
- Guinness Surger blog: Why is Guinness Surger no longer available in UK shops? — home unit withdrawn April 2008 after a two-year trial; Tesco as retail partner
Want the modern equivalent? Read our complete Guinness NitroSurge guide.
