how can you regulate the speed of flow ? angle ?
Apparently it’s all about temp but I’ve gotten very thin heads if I stop the pour too soon or before the light turns off
Longer surge than I’d usually do
Had a tough time finding a surger unit, but finally snagged one. For anyone else still looking for one, I got it online from McHughs off license: https://www.mchughs.ie/Guinness-Nitrosurge-Device
I was pessimistic about the order being fulfilled so only ordered the surger, no cans. But it arrived within a few days, so got some cans down in the local Dunnes
Wasn't too sure about mine recently but had a very flat can tonight so decided to charge it for the first time in a few weeks and the next can was excellent. They say a charge lasts for 100 cans (I think) but looks like it needs to be charged regularly for full effect.
Also about the temperature, I would have put my normal draught cans in the freezer for 20 minutes or so before drinking but have found doing the same with the surger cans leads to a very thin head.
I have a few friends that have been constantly telling me how much better the surger units are, the nitrosurge are etc. "The Dome Head" was one saying that cropped up a lot.
Anyway, more recently two of them (that wouldn't mix in the same circles) have shown me that they are taking full advantage of the 24 x 538ml cans that have been on sale since just before Hallowe'en. Currently in Tesco for €20.
They turn the can upside down hear the widget hit the bottom, then back up until you hear the widget again and repeat a few times. Then open the can, tilt it into a Pint glass and pour while using the can to spin the glass at the same time (effectively causing a slower version/effect of the vibrating plate) in one go. They seem happy with it, after saying how big the difference was for so long. And you get the dome effect with the 538ml cans.
Anyone seen the device floating anywhere?
seems to be completely sold out everywhere
assume that home beer tap is just a surger in a fancy frame? at that price it seems to be more aimed at cafés etc (though not in Ireland with our stupid licensing laws).
you can buy a kegerator with taps for about €500 that you could put commercial kegs into. Takes up more space though and requires a gas setup.
Supervalu Maynooth quite recently.
Dunnes, Horan Centre, Tralee had loads a few days ago. Also seen them in multiple local Tescos recently.
Supervalu seem to have a decent stock left
Any links for a kegerator for that money? All seem about the same as that tap (The tap I assume is the same as they use for the 0.0 in the pubs?), once you add taps and line on top of the fridge. Not the tap is good value, just half interested in a kegerator or home tap set up!
OK, I underestimated the kegerator cost a bit - here's most of what you need for 700:
https://www.geterbrewed.ie/kegerator-series-x-2-tap-get-er-brewed/
you'd need an extra connector for commercial kegs as well.
they also sell a conversion kit if you wanted to use an old fridge
Supervalu seem to have loads of surgers, they're behind the counter though rather than on shelves, must have had loads lifted
Even with inflation and the keg added it comes to roughly the same price as just that tap.
I've seen a few place that things are crazy prices, but easily avoided. Usually the ones that are (apparently) all over facebook or appear first in google results, as they are the ones I have been sent and usually tell people to avoid.
Got one in Supervalu in Limerick last week, it was behind the counter
Behind the counter from day one. Possibly they don't want customers getting them confused with normal widget cans.
I can see the 6 surge cans for 15 euro for sale in quite a few places but is anywhere doing any bigger slabs than this? Like 12 or 20 cans?
They've only ever mentioned them being sold in sixes. The new pricing regime for beer means that they can't be sold in larger quantities at a lower price per can so there's not much point doing it.
Ok fair enough, although I see regular draught cans larger packs for sale so curious why.
https://www.tesco.ie/groceries/Product/Details/?id=308460133
Fair enough the surger cans might be more expensive but are they forbidden for selling a 15 pack for 30 euro which is slightly better value than the 6 for 15. I guess that is all that is available at this point in time so.
Expect those larger packs to completely disappear from sale come January 1st.
As the surger cans only launched recently, it probably didn't make much sense for them to bring out larger packs for just a few weeks.
I'm open to correction on this, but AFAIK the draught cans in large slabs are a different size to the ones sold as singles and smaller packs. That makes them a different product and therefore not subject to the pricing rule. I doubt the volume of Surger cans being produced is sufficient to make it worthwhile pulling off the same trick.
the Guinness slabs are 538ml cans.
But several supermarkets are selling slabs of Carlsberg for €15 while also selling 8 packs and individual cans of the same volume for a higher per unit cost, so I'm not sure if you're right about the way the rules are being applied.
Surger units down to €20 in my local Tesco (Tralee Manor). I imagine it's the same across the board.
Been happily surging away with the 538 draft cans. Been using the pin hole trick, let the can settle and use a cold glass as @Royale with Cheese suggested. Dome head everytime in a full pint glass.
Cant say for certain if my beer is any better...but don't really care as I'm enjoying the new ritual.
Had this debate on insta over the weekend. Definitely seemed to be a better head/ creamier pint with the pin on a widget can rather than just opening and surging. Not a scientific experiment by any means (as other factors could be at play), but enough for me to carry on with the thumb tack!
Suggest you keep on with a rigorous long term testing regime to verify these results.
Best results so far with widget cans have been Beamish and O'Hara's Nitro!
My understanding is that no matter what size the can or bottle is and regardless of quantity, the minimum price is 10 cent per gram of alcohol. So a 538ml can of Guinness has 18 grams of alcohol so it's minimum price is €1.80. No discounted price lower than that so a slab would be minimum €43.20.
You can easily work it out: A 500ml can of 4% beer has (500ml x 4%) 20ml of alcohol. The mass of alcohol is approximately 0.8 that of water so 20ml of alcohol has a mass of 16g. 16g x 10 cent is €1.60 so minimum price for a slab of that product would be €38.40.
Bear in mind that these are minimum prices and where each brand decides to position its price point remains to be seen. Heineken/Carlsberg etc may not want to be seen at the same price as Dutch Gold or similar. It'll be interesting to see if some products get squeezed out. Time will tell.
Maybe I'm missing something (hopefully) but the days of cheap slabs are about to end. So I'm stocking up on what I'll consume before the expiry dates 😁
