Alexei Volkov
If you've ever opened a can of Guinness, you may have heard the clatter of a small plastic ball rattling around inside. This is called a widget, and it's filled with nitrogen. When the can is opened, the nitrogen is released, giving the beer a smooth, creamy head and a velvety texture, just like a freshly poured draught. The widget was introduced in the late '80s to recreate the draught experience for those drinking Guinness at home, and it's since become a beloved feature of the beer, even winning the Queen's Award for Technological Achievement in 1991.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Widget, "Smoothifier" |
| Composition | Hollow, spherical piece of food-grade plastic with a tiny hole |
| Function | Releases nitrogen into the beer upon opening, creating a draught experience in a can |
| History | First introduced in 1989, revamped in 1997 to address foaming issues |
| Impact | Enhanced beer texture and taste, increased popularity for Guinness |
| Recognition | Won the Queen's Award for Technological Achievement in 1991 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The widget replicates the draught experience in a can
The widget in a can of Guinness is a small, white, nitrogen-filled ball. During the canning process, brewers add liquid nitrogen to the beer before sealing the can. When the can is opened, the widget releases the nitrogen into the beer, creating a surge of bubbles and replicating the draught experience. This process gives the beer a velvety texture and a smooth, creamy head, similar to a freshly poured pint from the tap.
Guinness first introduced the widget in the late '80s, and it has since become popular among other beer brands. The widget was a significant innovation for Guinness, allowing drinkers to enjoy their favourite beer outside of pubs. In 1991, the widget won the Queen's Award for Technological Achievement, and in 2004, it was voted by almost 9,000 people as a greater invention than the internet.
The widget was designed to address the technical challenges of serving Guinness in draught format. The addition of nitrogen to the beer transformed the drinking experience, creating a smoother and more delicate taste. Nitrogen bubbles are smaller than carbon dioxide bubbles, resulting in a smoother head and a more stable beer that stays intact when the can is opened.
The widget has undergone design improvements over the years. The first-generation widget, introduced in 1989, had issues with overflowing due to temperature-dependent nitrogen pressurization. In 1997, Guinness launched a new prototype called "The Smoothifier," which resolved the foaming issue. This floating widget design is still used today and has contributed to the popularity of Guinness and its unique drinking experience.
Finding Plastic Section Modulus: A Simple Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Guinness was the world's first nitro beer
Guinness was indeed a pioneer in the world of beer when it introduced the first nitrogenated beer, or nitro beer, as it is commonly known. This innovation not only changed the way beer was made but also had a significant impact on the drinking experience and the entire beer industry. The unique, smooth, and creamy texture of Guinness Draught, with its iconic white head, is all thanks to the nitrogenation process. So, why is Guinness considered the world's first nitro beer? The answer lies in the unique pouring and serving method that Guinness developed, which involves a plastic ball, now famously known as the "widget."
When you buy a can or bottle of Guinness Draught, you'll find a small, hollow plastic ball inside. This is the widget, and it's filled with nitrogen. When the can or bottle is opened, the widget releases the nitrogen into the beer, creating a smooth, creamy pour with a perfect head. The widget was first introduced in 1969 and was a groundbreaking invention at the time. It solved the problem of how to replicate the perfect pub-poured pint of Guinness in a canned or bottled format. The widget ensures that the beer stays fresh and carbonated and that the iconic creamy head is maintained, even when the beer is not consumed immediately.
The use of nitrogen in beer was a significant departure from the traditional carbonation method used by most breweries. Nitrogen is less soluble than carbon dioxide, which is typically used to carbonate beers. This lower solubility means that more gas can be dissolved into the beer, creating a smoother, less fizzy texture. The small bubbles created by nitrogen also give the beer a creamier mouthfeel and a longer-lasting head. The taste of Guinness Draught is also affected by the nitrogenation process. The nitrogen smooths out the bitterness of the roasted malts, creating a more balanced and approachable flavor profile.
Guinness has always been associated with innovation and experimentation, and the development of nitro beer is a testament to this spirit of exploration. The success of Guinness Draught led to the widespread adoption of nitrogenation by other breweries, particularly those specializing in stouts and porters. Today, nitro beers are enjoyed worldwide, and the unique pouring ritual of a Guinness, with its distinctive surge and settle, has become synonymous with a truly authentic drinking experience. So, the next time you crack open a can of Guinness and see that plastic ball, remember that you're holding a small piece of beer history and innovation.
It is worth noting that the plastic ball widget is not the only method of nitrogenating beer. Some breweries use different methods, such as infusing the beer with nitrogen at the point of dispense or using specialized equipment to inject nitrogen during the brewing process. However, the widget was the first widely successful method of bringing nitro beer to the masses, and it remains an iconic and beloved feature of Guinness Draught. So, while other nitro beers are now available, Guinness rightfully earns its place in history as the world's first nitro beer, continuing a legacy of innovation that has shaped the beer industry.
Plastic Pollution: Marine Life's Deadly Threat
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The widget slowly releases nitrogen into the beer
The widget is a small, hollow, spherical piece of food-grade plastic with a tiny hole in it. It is filled with nitrogen and sits inside the can of Guinness. When the can is opened, the widget releases the nitrogen into the beer, creating a surge of bubbles and replicating the draught experience. This process gives the beer a smooth, velvety texture and a creamy head.
The widget was introduced by Guinness in the late '80s to address the challenge of maintaining the desired levels of nitrogen in packaged beers once they are opened. Nitrogen is added to Guinness to create a sweeter, silkier taste compared to beers that use carbon dioxide. Nitrogen bubbles are smaller than CO2 bubbles, resulting in a smoother and more delicate head. They are also more stable, so when a beer is opened, more of the tiny bubbles stay intact.
The widget was a significant innovation for Guinness, allowing drinkers to enjoy their favourite beer outside of pubs. In 1991, it won the Queen's Award for Technological Achievement, and in 2004, it was voted by almost 9,000 people as a greater invention than the internet.
The widget has also been a commercial success for Guinness, with its unique ability to slowly release nitrogen into the beer upon opening, creating a smooth and creamy drinking experience that has helped to maintain the popularity of the brand, even with the rise of craft beers.
Over time, the widget design has been improved to address issues such as foaming and beer being forced into the widget during pressurization, with the current version, dubbed "The Smoothifier," being introduced in 1997.
Human Bones: A Cost-Effective Alternative to Plastic?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The widget was first added to cans in 1989
The widget was first added to cans of Guinness in 1989, but the idea for it was conceived much earlier. In 1969, two Guinness brewers at the company's St James's Gate Brewery in Dublin, Tony Carey and Sammy Hildebrand, developed a system for producing draught-type Guinness from cans or bottles through the discharge of gas from an internal compartment. This was patented the same year, but it wasn't until over two decades later that the widget was introduced to cans.
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 providing a smooth and creamy mouthfeel similar to that of a draught beer. This innovation allowed Guinness lovers to enjoy their favourite beer outside of pubs and was a significant contributor to the brand's popularity.
The development of the widget was not without its challenges. The initial design, a plastic disc held in place by friction at the bottom of the can, worked well when the beer was served cold, but when served warm, the can would overflow when opened due to the nitrogen being overly pressurised. In 1997, Guinness revamped the design and launched a new prototype called "The Smoothifier", a floating widget that did not have the same foaming issues.
The widget has since become a beloved feature of Guinness cans, with some even considering it a greater invention than the internet. It has also been adopted by other beer brands, such as John Smith's, Young's Double Chocolate Stout, and Boddingtons Pub Ale, showcasing its impact on the industry.
Wood and Plastic Instructors: What's the Difference?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The widget won the Queen's Award for Technological Achievement
The Guinness widget is a tiny, floating, spherical plastic ball, also known as a "smoothifier", that sits inside beer cans. During canning, pressurised nitrogen is added to the brew, which trickles into a hole in the widget. When the can is opened, the widget releases the nitrogenated beer into the rest of the beer, giving it a velvety texture and a draught-like experience.
The widget was developed by Alan Forage and William Byrne, with work starting on it in 1984-85. It was patented by Guinness, and the company began commissioning in January 1988, with a national launch date of March 1989. The floating widget, which does not cause the can to overflow when served warm, was launched in 1997.
The widget has proven to be immensely popular, with a 2004 survey of almost 9,000 people voting it as a greater invention than the internet. In 1991, the widget won the Queen's Award for Technological Achievement, beating the internet and email. The award is the highest official UK award for British businesses, and the widget won by being voted by Britons as the best invention of the previous 40 years.
The widget has been described as a "greater invention than the internet" due to its ability to perfectly replicate the draught experience in a can. When the can is opened, the widget agitates the surrounding liquid, creating a surge of bubbles and a smooth, delicate, and creamy head that is unmistakably Guinness.
Plastic Pollution: A Journey Up the Food Chain
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The plastic ball, or widget, is filled with nitrogen. When the can is opened, the nitrogen is released, creating a surge of bubbles and replicating the draught experience.
The nitrogen released from the widget gives the beer a smoother, more delicate taste and a velvety texture.
Guinness introduced the widget in the late '80s. The floating widget, which they call the "Smoothifier", was launched in 1997.
Other beers that use widgets include Young's Double Chocolate Stout, Murphy's Stout, and Boddingtons Pub Ale.
