Guinness NitroSurge review: Can it rival a draft pint of the black stuff?

Don’t get me wrong, I love a Guinness.

But if there’s one beer I’m not keeping in the fridge at home, it’s usually a can of the black stuff.

Guinness NitroSurge, £30 at Amazon

Sure, you could say that about virtually any draught beer, but any Guinness aficionado will tell you the art behind a good pint of Ireland’s finest is in how it’s poured.

Ditching the plastic ball-filled cans, I got my hands on Guinness’ NitroSurge invention to see if I could get that draught-poured taste from my very own kitchen.

Said to give you the “perfect pour” time after time, the Guinness NitroSurge utilises ultrasonic technology to guide your two-part pouring efforts.

So, with my NitroSurge in hand and eight cans stocked in the fridge, I got to work testing if this device truly could rival a draught pint of Guinness.

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How I tested the Guinness NitroSurge

As someone who almost solely orders a pint of Guinness in the pub, I’m more than equipped to tell you if this device is all it’s made out to be.

For several days across a week, I used my Guinness NitroSurge to produce a few pints from home.

I made notes on the taste of the pint compared to a draught and regular can of Guinness, as well as the finish, freshness, and whether it’s worth the price tag.

I then gave the NitroSurge a possible rating out of 5 to determine whether or not I’ll be sticking to the draught version of my favourite stout from here on out.

Guinness NitroSurge, £30

Guinness NitroSurge review: Quick Summary

Pros:

• Simple to use
• Small and compact
• Delivers a creamy finish
• Easy to clean
• Better than a regular can

Cons:

• Pressurised cans can spill everywhere
• Device turns off too frequently
• Not as good as a draught pint

Rating: 3.5/5

With the aim of replicating the creamy and velvety texture of a fresh draught pint of Guinness, the NitroSurge had a lot to live up to.

Using ultrasonic technology, it aims to deliver the “perfect pour” by employing the same two-part pouring process you get in the pub.

The device itself is compact, arriving complete with a cleaning brush, nozzle, and charging cable.

Fitting it was simple, too. The only downside was that the cans seemed to burst open with some force, meaning they constantly splashed my clothes and kitchen.

The NitroSurge was straightforward to use and involved holding the glass at a 45-degree angle, filling it two-thirds, waiting for it to settle, and completing the pour.

While the process was easy to follow, the device frequently switched off every few minutes to conserve battery, which meant you had to keep an eye on it.

In terms of results, the NitroSurge certainly delivered a better taste and finish compared to Guinness’ regular cans. However, it still doesn’t quite match the standard of a good draught pint.

Moving forward, I’ll certainly continue using the NitroSurge now that I have it, but I’ll need to make an effort to ensure I have the cans available, as they can be difficult to find in supermarkets.

Guinness NitroSurge review: Full review

Guinness NitroSurge, £30

Despite being an adamant viewer of @shitlondonguinness and having a fair few (unironic) “splitting the G” sessions under my belt, I can tell you that I did, in fact, enjoy a Guinness before it was cool.

Gloating aside, I will admit that I wouldn’t usually dare drink the stuff outside of the pub.

The nitrogen-filled plastic balls nestled in the regular cans have never done it for me, and despite my considerable efforts, I can wholeheartedly say I’d never poured a good pint of Guinness at home.

Having switched to the Nigerian version of liquid gold some time ago, I acknowledged it was probably about time that I gave Guinness’ viral NitroSurge invention a go.

On arrival, I was surprised by just how compact the NitroSurge device was.

In the small box, I found the device itself, the nozzle, a cleaning brush, and a charging cable.

With the football on that evening, I wasted no time cracking open the cans to test my new device.

The cans themselves were pressurised to weaponised levels, much to the dismay of my white T-shirt and the worktop.

After the cleanup was finalised, I swiftly attached the NitroSurge to the top and got pouring.

Guinness NitroSurge, £30

Utilising two weeks’ worth of past pub experience, I steadily held the glass at a 45° angle, filled it until about two-thirds full, and waited the golden two minutes for it to settle.

During this time, the NitroSurge rather annoyingly turned itself off.

While this is excellent for conserving battery, it’s not particularly ideal for individuals like myself with a less-than-stellar attention span.

Once I’d turned it back on, the pulsing resumed, and I was left with what resembled a half-decent pint of Guinness.

The head was creamy, and the familiar velvety texture was certainly there (for the first 15 minutes, anyway).

Cleaning the device afterwards was straightforward as well, with a quick rinse under the tap and the odd nozzle brushing doing the job within seconds.

For the rest of the week, my experience was much the same – decent home pints, but not quite on par with the pub-pulled goodness I was used to.

Don’t get me wrong, the NitroSurge offered a vast improvement on the regular Guinness cans, but it fell somewhat short of the “perfect pour” claims.

I’ll undoubtedly give it a go again in the future, but with cans only sold in selected locations and online, I’ll have to make a conscientious effort to actually use the thing.

However, for £30, I can easily see myself purchasing the NitroSurge as either a birthday or Christmas gift in the future, partially for novelty and partially for use.

Guinness NitroSurge review: The verdict

If you’re a serious Guinness lover, I’d consider the NitroSurge to be a game-changer when it comes to drinking the black stuff at home.

Thanks to ultrasonic technology, the NitroSurge delivers a crisp, creamy and velvety texture that mimics a draft pint.

It doesn’t quite match the pub experience, but it’s a lot better than the regular Guinness cans you can find in supermarkets.

Ideal for the occasional indulgence, the NitroSurge likely won’t become your go-to drink-from-home choice, but for £30 you can’t go wrong.

Overall, it’s a fun way to elevate your home Guinness game, but not a full draught replacement.

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How Does Guinness NitroSurge Work?

The Guinness NitroSurge works by using ultrasonic technology to replicate the same quality as a draught pour.

It achieves this by creating nitrogen bubbles that give Guinness its distinctive surge and creamy flavour.

The NitroSurge device attaches to the top of specially designed Guinness cans.

These cans are optimised to release nitrogen bubbles in a specific way when combined with the NitroSurge device, resulting in a texture and taste similar to that of a draught pint.

How to Use Guinness NitroSurge

Using the Guinness NitroSurge is simple and can be broken down into a few quick steps:

• Open your dedicated Guinness NitroSurge can.
• Align the nozzle with the can opening.
• Push the device down firmly on top of the can.
• Push the button to activate (the harp logo will light up).
• Hold your glass at a 45-degree angle and pour until it is two-thirds full.
• Bring your glass back to level and allow it to settle (60–120 seconds).
• Keep the glass level and angle the can at 45 degrees for the final pour.
• Enjoy!

Can You Use NitroSurge on Normal Guinness Cans?

Yes, but it won’t make much difference.

The reason why NitroSurge works well in the first place is partially due to the way the cans release nitrogen bubbles. Without that, it’s essentially ineffective.

That said, some users online are claiming that “the pin trick” can deliver similar results.

By sticking a pin in the top of the can, waiting until all the gas is released, and then using the NitroSurge, a small group of users suggest that it produces almost identical results.

I haven’t managed to test these claims yet for myself, so I’ll be sticking to the dedicated cans for now.

Where to Buy Guinness NitroSurge Cans

Guinness NitroSurge cans are available from several retailers online.

With various prices and quantities, it’s best to shop around for a deal that suits you.

Currently, the best retailers to buy Guinness NitroSurge cans are Amazon, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Waitrose, Ocado, and Sainsbury’s.

Is NitroSurge Worth It Compared to a Normal Can of Guinness?

NitroSurge cans are slightly more expensive than regular Guinness cans, but the taste is far superior in my opinion.

When compared to normal cans, I found the NitroSurged options to be creamier, better tasting, and far more enjoyable.

The cans weren’t quite as good as a draught pint, but as far as Guinness at home goes, it’s about the best you can get.

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