The Magic Of Beer Widgets: How Do They Work?

Beer widgets are small, hollow devices that release gas into beer cans or bottles to create a foamy head and a draught-like taste. They were invented by Guinness in 1968/1969 to give their canned brews a silky, creamy head and have since been adopted by other beer brands. The widget works by releasing pressurised gas and liquid into the beer when the can is opened, creating a chain reaction of bubble formation throughout the beer.

The widget's purpose is to release CO2 from the beer to create a head

The widget is a small, hollow device that releases gas into beer when a can or bottle is opened. The device is usually a plastic disc or sphere with a tiny hole in it, through which the gas is released. The widget sits at the bottom of the container, as it is designed to be heavier than the beer so that it does not float.

The purpose of the widget is to release CO2 from the beer to create a head. When the can or bottle is sealed, the beer is pressurised with gas, which forces the beer and gas into the widget. When the container is opened, the pressure drops, and the gas and beer inside the widget are released through the small hole, creating a jet of beer and gas that agitates the surrounding beer. This causes more gas to break out of the solution and form a head.

The widget was invented by Guinness in 1968/1969 to give their canned beers a creamy head, similar to a draught beer. The widget allows canned and bottled beers to imitate the appearance and mouthfeel of a draught beer, creating a thick, creamy head that is more stable and velvety in texture.

The use of the widget has since been adopted by other beer brands, including Old Speckled Hen, Boddingtons Pub Ale, Murphy's Stout, and Young's Double Chocolate Stout. The widget is particularly popular in the UK, where it is used to replicate the taste and experience of a draught beer, which is typically served with a head.

It's a small, hollow device, usually a plastic disk or sphere

A widget is a small, hollow device, usually a plastic disk or sphere, that is placed inside a beer can or bottle to manage the characteristics of the beer's head. The device is designed to release gas into the beer upon opening the container. The widget has a tiny circular aperture in its centre, measuring between 0.02 and 0.25 cm in diameter. Due to its construction, the widget is heavier than beer and sits at the bottom of the container.

The widget works by utilising the pressure inside the beer container. Beer is typically kept under pressure and saturated with gas before it reaches the filling line. This gas can be carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or a mixture of both. Once the beer is canned or bottled, the gas builds up pressure inside, and if a widget is present, beer enters the hollow of the widget. This process continues until the gaseous pressures in the container and the widget are equal.

When the container is opened, the pressure inside drops, but the pressure inside the widget remains higher. This pressure differential causes the widget to shoot a jet of beer and gas into the surrounding beer. As a result, more gas breaks out of the solution, creating a sturdy and thick head. This effect helps canned or bottled beer imitate the appearance and mouthfeel of draught beer dispensed from a tap.

The widget was invented by Guinness in 1968 and was first introduced commercially in cans in 1988 and in bottles in 1999. It has since become popular, with other beer brands adopting the technology to enhance the drinking experience.

It's heavier than beer, so it sits at the bottom of the can

The widget is a small, hollow device that sits at the bottom of a beer can or bottle. It is designed to release gas into the beer when the container is opened. The widget is usually a plastic disk with a tiny circular aperture of 0.02 to 0.25 cm in its centre. It is constructed to be heavier than beer, so it sits at the bottom of the container and does not float.

The widget works by utilising the pressure inside the beer container. Beer is typically kept under pressure and saturated with gas (carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or a mixture) before it is bottled or canned. Once the beer is packaged, the gas builds up pressure inside, and if a widget is present, the beer also enters the hollow of the widget. This process continues until the pressures in the container and inside the widget are equal.

When the container is opened, the pressure inside drops, but the pressure inside the widget remains high. As a result, the widget shoots a jet of beer and gas into the surrounding beer, causing more gas to be released and a thick, creamy head to form. This helps canned or bottled beer imitate the appearance, texture, and taste of draught beer dispensed from a tap.

The widget was invented by Guinness brewers Tony Carey and Sammy Hildebrand in 1968 and was first introduced commercially in cans in 1988. It has since become popular, with many beer brands in the UK and other countries adopting the technology to enhance the drinking experience of their bottled or canned beers.

It was invented by Guinness in 1968/1969

The widget is a small, hollow device that releases gas into beer when a can or bottle is opened. The device was invented by Guinness in 1968/1969 to produce draught-type Guinness from cans or bottles. The widget was designed to be heavier than the beer, so it sits at the bottom of the container. The plastic widget has a tiny circular aperture of 0.02 to 0.25 cm in its centre.

The widget was invented by two brewers at Guinness's St James's Gate Brewery in Dublin, Tony Carey and Sammy Hildebrand, after years of development. It was patented in Ireland by Guinness in 1969, and in the UK in 1972. The widget was introduced commercially in cans in 1988 and in bottles in 1999.

Before the widget, Guinness had been experimenting with an initiator device, which looked like a syringe, to produce bottled draught Guinness. However, this was never actively marketed internationally. In 1984, development restarted on the widget, with the idea of inserting a pressurised plastic capsule into the can. This would release the pressure in a controlled manner when the can was opened, creating a creamy head.

The first-generation widget was a plastic disc held in place by friction at the bottom of the can. This worked well with cold beer, but when served warm, the can would overflow when opened. The floating widget, or "smoothifier", was launched in 1997 and did not have this problem. Guinness continues to use a floating widget today, although there have been some supply issues in recent years.

It's added to the can before it's sealed

The widget is added to the can before it is sealed. It is a small, hollow device, usually a plastic disk or sphere, designed to release gas into the beer when the can is opened. The widget is added to the beer before the can is sealed, floating in the beer with a tiny hole just below the surface. A small shot of liquid nitrogen is then added to the beer, which evaporates during the canning process, creating pressure inside the can. This pressure forces beer and gas into the widget through the hole.

The widget is heavier than the beer, so it does not float and sits at the bottom of the can. When the can is opened, the pressure inside drops, but the pressure inside the widget causes the beer to shoot out of the hole, creating a jet of beer and gas. This causes gas to break out of the solution, forming a thick, creamy head. This process helps to imitate the appearance and mouthfeel of a draught beer.

The widget was first developed by Guinness in 1968 and patented in the UK in 1969. It was designed to give their canned beers a creamy head, similar to a freshly poured draught beer. The widget has since become popular with other beer brands, especially those seeking to replicate the taste and texture of a draught beer in a can.

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