Sofia Martinez
If you've ever opened a can of Guinness, you may have noticed a small plastic ball floating inside. This is called a widget, and it's filled with nitrogen. When the can is opened, the widget releases the nitrogen, creating a surge of bubbles and giving the beer its trademark creamy head and smooth, velvety texture. But why is this necessary? Well, it turns out that nitrogen bubbles are smaller than carbon dioxide bubbles, which most beers use for carbonation. This means that nitrogen produces a smoother, more delicate mouthfeel without the acidic bite of carbonation. So, when you crack open a can of Guinness, you're getting a drinking experience that's closer to a fresh pint poured from the tap.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Widget, Smoothifier |
| Composition | Plastic, nitrogen-filled |
| Shape | Spherical |
| Size | Ping-pong ball-sized |
| Function | Releases nitrogen into the beer to create a smooth, delicate, and foamy texture |
| History | Invented in 1968, patented in 1969, first added to cans in 1988/1989 |
| Popularity | Won the Queen's Award for Technological Achievement in 1991 |
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What You'll Learn
The plastic ball is called a widget
The plastic ball found in cans of Guinness beer is officially called a widget. The widget is a hollow, spherical piece of food-grade plastic with a tiny hole in it. It is about the size of a ping pong ball.
During the canning process, brewers add liquid nitrogen to the beer immediately before sealing it. The liquid nitrogen quickly evaporates in the container, and some of it trickles into the widget. When the can is opened, the widget releases the nitrogenated beer into the rest of the beer, creating a surge of bubbles and giving the beer a velvety texture. This replicates the draught experience, providing a mouthfeel similar to drinking Guinness from the tap in a pub.
The widget was invented in 1968 by two brewers, and patented in the UK in 1972. However, it was not produced in cans until 1988 and in bottles in 1989. Guinness allowed the patent to lapse, and it was not until 1984 that work restarted on the invention, under the direction of Alan Forage. The widget was first added to cans in 1989, and Guinness has been using a floating widget since 1997, although it switched back to a fixed widget system in 2020 due to supply issues caused by COVID-19.
The widget was created to solve the problem of how to achieve the same creamy head when stout is poured from a can, as when it is keg-poured. Nitrogen bubbles are smaller than carbon dioxide bubbles, resulting in a smoother and more delicate drinking experience. They are also more stable, so when a beer is cracked open, more of the tiny bubbles stay intact. This, along with the smaller bubbles, gives the brew a thicker, more velvety "mouthfeel" without the acidic bite of carbonation with CO2.
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It replicates the draught experience
The plastic ball in Guinness cans, also known as the widget, is designed to replicate the draught experience. The widget is a small, hollow, spherical piece of food-grade plastic with a tiny hole in it. During the canning process, brewers add liquid nitrogen to the beer before sealing the can. When the can is opened, the widget releases the nitrogenated beer into the rest of the beer, creating a surge of bubbles and providing a velvety texture and mouthfeel. This process simulates the experience of drinking Guinness from a tap, with a smooth and delicate drinking experience.
The widget was first invented in 1968 by two brewers, who created a ping-pong-sized plastic ball that releases nitrogen into the can when opened. The nitrogen produces bubbles that rise to the surface, replicating the foamy head of keg-poured Guinness. This invention allowed Guinness to be enjoyed outside of pubs, providing a smooth and delicate drinking experience that became synonymous with the brand.
Guinness patented the widget in the UK in 1972, but it wasn't introduced into cans until 1988 and bottles in 1989. The widget technology faced some initial challenges, such as beer being forced into the widget during pressurization, which affected the quality of the head. However, these issues were eventually overcome, and the widget became a popular feature of Guinness cans.
The widget in Guinness cans has been through several design iterations. The first-generation widget was a plastic disc held in place by friction at the bottom of the can. This design worked well when the beer was served cold, but when served warm, the can would overflow upon opening. To address this issue, Guinness launched the floating widget, also known as the "Smoothifier," in 1997. This design allowed the widget to float in the beer, with the hole slightly below the surface, ensuring consistent results regardless of the serving temperature.
The floating widget not only improved the drinking experience but also contributed to the distinctive appearance of Guinness. The nitrogen released by the widget creates a thick, foamy head that lingers in the glass due to nitrogen's inability to dissolve in air. This creamy head has become a trademark of Guinness, setting it apart from other beers and contributing to its iconic status.
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It's filled with nitrogen
The plastic ball in Guinness cans, also known as a widget, is filled with nitrogen. During the canning process, brewers add liquid nitrogen to the beer immediately before sealing it up. The liquid nitrogen quickly evaporates in the container. Nitrogen is not absorbed into the beer as well as carbon dioxide, so Guinness contains less carbon dioxide and is therefore less fizzy. When the can is opened, the widget releases the nitrogen into the beer, creating a surge of bubbles and replicating the draught experience. This results in a smoother and more delicate drinking experience, with a thicker, more velvety "mouthfeel".
The widget was invented in 1968 by two brewers, who discovered how to release nitrogen into a pressurized can when it is opened. This invention solved the problem of how to achieve the same creamy head in stout poured from a can as in a keg-poured Guinness. In 1969, Guinness patented the widget, but it was not utilised for 20 years and was first added to cans in 1989. The widget was initially a plastic disc held in place by friction in the bottom of the can, but this design caused the can to overflow when served warm. In 1997, Guinness launched a floating widget called the "Smoothifier", which does not have this issue.
The widget has been popular with consumers, with a 2004 survey of almost 9,000 people voting it a greater invention than the internet. It allows Guinness lovers to enjoy their favourite beer outside of a pub, with a fresh, draught-like taste. The widget has also been adopted by other beer brands in the UK, often alongside regular carbonated products.
While the widget has been a successful innovation for Guinness, it has also faced some criticism. Some people have raised concerns about the environmental impact of the plastic balls, which can stay in the environment for hundreds of years. Others have expressed frustration with finding the widget in their beer, especially if it reduces the amount of beer they can pour from the can. Despite these concerns, the widget has overall been a positive development for Guinness, enhancing the drinking experience for many fans of the beer.
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It was invented in 1968
The plastic ball in Guinness cans, known as the "widget", was invented in 1968. It is a ping-pong-sized ball made of plastic with a tiny hole in it. During the canning process, brewers add liquid nitrogen to the beer before sealing the can. When the can is opened, the nitrogen is released from the widget and infuses with the beer, creating a surge of bubbles and a smooth, velvety texture. This replicates the draught experience of drinking Guinness from the tap, giving it a fresh taste and feel.
The widget was created to address the challenge of achieving the same creamy head in canned Guinness that was produced in keg-poured Guinness. In 1959, mathematician Michael Ash discovered how to pressurize Guinness casks with a nitrogen/carbon dioxide blend, resulting in the cherished creamy head. However, it wasn't until 1968 that the widget was invented to replicate this effect in canned Guinness.
The widget was patented in the UK in 1969 or 1972, but it wasn't until the late 1980s that it was introduced to cans and bottles. In 1991, the widget won the Queen's Award for Technological Achievement as the best technological marvel of the past 40 years, demonstrating its significance and impact. This award-winning invention has since become a beloved feature of Guinness, allowing fans to enjoy their favourite beer with the perfect head and texture, wherever they are.
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It's been used since 1989
The plastic ball widget in Guinness cans has been used since 1989. Although the device was patented in 1969, it was not utilised for 20 years. The widget is a small, hollow, spherical piece of food-grade plastic with a tiny hole in it. It is filled with nitrogen, which is released when the can is opened, infusing the beer with nitrogen and creating a surge of bubbles. This replicates the draught experience, providing a smooth and delicate drinking experience with a thick, foamy head.
The widget was invented by two brewers in 1968 and patented in the UK in 1972. It was first introduced to cans in 1988 and bottles in 1989. The design of the widget involves a plastic capsule that is pressurised during the filling process and then releases this pressure in a controlled manner when the can is opened. This process creates the characteristic creamy head on the beer.
Guinness was the world's first nitro beer, and the widget plays a crucial role in maintaining the desired levels of nitrogen in the beer. Nitrogen bubbles are smaller than CO2 bubbles, resulting in a smoother and more delicate mouthfeel. The nitrogen also gives Guinness its trademark foamy head, which lingers in the glass as nitrogen does not dissolve in air.
The widget technology soon became popular, with other beer brands in the UK adopting it. Guinness launched an improved version of the widget called the "Smoothifier" in 1997, which addressed some of the issues with the initial design. This floating widget did not cause the can to overflow when served warm.
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Frequently asked questions
The plastic ball in a can of Guinness is called a widget. It's a hollow, spherical piece of food-grade plastic with a tiny hole in it. It's filled with nitrogen, which is released when the can is opened, giving the beer a smooth, velvety texture and a foamy head.
During the canning process, brewers add liquid nitrogen to the beer before sealing the can. The liquid nitrogen evaporates, and the nitrogen slowly escapes from the widget when the can is opened, creating a surge of bubbles and infusing the beer with nitrogen.
Guinness was the world's first nitro beer. Nitrogen bubbles are smaller than CO2 bubbles, resulting in a smoother and more delicate taste. Widgets help maintain the desired level of nitrogen in the beer once the can is opened, replicating the draught experience.
The widget was invented in 1968 and patented in the UK in 1972, but it wasn't until 1988 that it was first produced in cans, and 1989 for bottles. Guinness has been using a floating widget since 1997 but switched back to a fixed widget system in 2020 due to supply issues caused by COVID-19.
