Ireland: Guinness presents “biggest dispense innovation for 30 years”

Guinness today presented a new device to serve “beautiful, fresh Guinness Draught on tap to outlets around the world, no matter their size or setup. The “new cutting-edge technology” is dubbed  Guinness MicroDraught and features a machine with about the size of a coffee maker, where you can pour one can of Guinness Draught into a glass “honouring the iconic two part pour, [just] plug and play, [with] no kegs [and] no beer lines.“ (Please click on this link to see, how the device works.)

“Primarily the MicroDraught system is for use in bars around the world, so our marketing strategy is really direct to our bartender and our public audience,” explains Gráinne Wafer, Global Brand Director, Guinness. However, “there is potential for Guinness to devise a similar appliance to be used by drinkers at home. “Consumers, particularly over the last year, have increased consumption at home,” she says. “So we’re looking at a wide range of innovation that will allow us to meet all of those needs in the home. And we’ll assess whether this is part of that at the right time.”

According to the company, MicroDraught is Guinness’ biggest dispense innovation since the launch of the “widget” 30 years ago. The Guinness Widget uses an ingenious nitrogen filled capsule that surges with bubbles when the ring pull is opened – replicating the draught experience in a can.

“While the Guinness used is brewed in exactly the same way, instead of kegging it in traditional, larger kegs for use in a standard bar set-up, Guinness Draught beer is delivered in unique cans, which are simply slotted into the Guinness MicroDraught unit and poured for a beautiful serve of Guinness in a pint glass, every time,” the company stated on its website. The product was designed to pour Guinness in new places and new spaces, such as restaurants, where previously it would be impossible to serve on tap due to the lack of keg system, beer lines and cooling system complexities.

It will be trialed in Fridays restaurants in Great Britain from June, in venues in Ireland from July and fully launched in Korea in July. Further trials in the United States, China, Hong Kong, Germany and Russia will follow later this year. In Korea, almost 20 million pints of Guinness Draught are consumed by 3.7 million people every year, however 90% of those pints are enjoyed at home. The launch of Guinness MicroDraught will enable more consumers than ever before to enjoy Guinness Draught on tap at widespread locations throughout Korea.

“Guinness is enjoyed the world over and globally renowned for pushing boundaries in technology. Guinness MicroDraught is the next step in this journey and today’s launch means that Guinness will be available in over 12,000 more outlets for millions more consumers to enjoy,” says Gráinne Wafer, Global Brand Director, Guinness.

The secret to how the MicroDraught unit produces beautiful Guinness every time is the world-first patent-pending double coaxial piercing of the can. It uses an air pump - as opposed to the gas cylinder used in the traditional system - to push the liquid out of the can and through the standard Guinness Draught spout. The result is a beautiful two-part pour with the iconic surge and settle and cold, smooth taste.

“Guinness MicroDraught is a significant dispense innovation and enables us to continue Guinness’ upmost commitment to quality around the globe. It ensures the iconic Guinness pour and ideal temperature is guaranteed every time - meaning that only the best, freshest Guinness is served wherever you choose to enjoy it – from Seoul to San Francisco,” says Steve Gilsenan, Global Head of Quality, Guinness.

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