The White Ball In Guinness Beer Explained

If you've ever opened a can of Guinness, you may have heard a strange rattling sound. That's the widget—a small, hollow, spherical piece of plastic with a tiny hole in it. Also known as the smoothifier, it was developed by Guinness in 1969 to give their canned brews a silky, creamy head, just like a freshly poured draught. When the can is opened, the widget releases nitrogenated beer, creating a burst of tiny nitrogen bubbles that give Guinness its signature texture and taste.

The widget's purpose: to make Guinness taste better

The widget in Guinness beer cans is a small plastic ball that plays a crucial role in enhancing the taste and texture of the beer. Dubbed the "Smoothifier" by Guinness, the widget's purpose is to recreate the experience of drinking a freshly poured pint of Guinness from the tap, even when it's enjoyed straight from the can.

Guinness beer is known for its distinctive creamy head and smooth, velvety texture. Achieving this signature texture in a canned beer, however, presents a unique challenge. Typically, breweries use carbon dioxide to give beer its characteristic fizz. However, when a sweeter, silkier mouthfeel is desired, as is the case with Guinness, brewers turn to nitrogenation.

Nitrogen bubbles are smaller than carbon dioxide bubbles, resulting in a smoother and more delicate head. Additionally, the smaller nitrogen bubbles are more stable, so when you open a can of Guinness, more of these tiny bubbles remain intact. This contributes to the thicker, creamier texture that Guinness is famous for.

The widget is an ingenious solution to the challenge of maintaining optimal levels of nitrogen in a canned beer. It is a hollow, spherical piece of food-grade plastic with a tiny hole. During the canning process, brewers add liquid nitrogen to the beer, which quickly evaporates and creates pressure inside the sealed can. This pressure forces gas and liquid into the widget through its small hole.

When the can is opened, the pressure inside drops to equalise with the room's pressure. However, the pressure inside the widget remains higher, causing the nitrogenated beer inside to be released with a "pssshhh" sound. This surge of nitrogenated beer mixes with the rest of the beer, creating a foamy head and the velvety texture that Guinness is known for.

The widget in Guinness beer cans is a clever innovation that ensures a consistent and exceptional taste experience. By releasing nitrogen into the beer, it replicates the draught experience, making each can of Guinness taste as if it were freshly poured from the tap.

The widget's design: a small, hollow, spherical piece of plastic

The widget is a small, hollow, spherical piece of plastic, about the size of a ping pong ball, with a tiny hole in it. It was developed by Guinness in 1969 to give their canned brews a silky, creamy head, just like a freshly poured draught beer.

During the canning process, brewers add liquid nitrogen to the beer before sealing the can. This liquid nitrogen quickly evaporates, creating pressure inside the can. This pressure forces gas and liquid into the widget through its tiny hole. When the can is opened, the pressure inside drops to equalise with the room, but the pressure inside the widget remains higher. This causes the nitrogen inside the widget to be released into the beer, creating a burst of tiny bubbles that rise to the top of the beer. This is what creates the thick, creamy head that Guinness is known for.

The widget is placed inside the can during the canning process. As the can is filled with beer and sealed, so is the widget. It is important to note that the widget itself is not filled with nitrogen, but rather, it is the nitrogen in the can that enters the widget through the small hole. This process is time-sensitive, and the beer should be poured immediately after opening the can to achieve the perfect creamy head.

The floating widget in cans was introduced by Guinness in 1997 to address the issue of overflow when the beer was served warm. The widget in bottles, on the other hand, is shaped like a rocket and is longer than the spherical widget in cans. The rocket widget is designed for the beer to be enjoyed straight from the bottle.

The widget's function: to release nitrogen into the beer

The widget in Guinness beer cans is a small, hollow, spherical piece of food-grade plastic with a tiny hole in it. It was developed by Guinness in 1969 and released in 1989 to give their canned brews a silky, creamy head, akin to the two-part pour you would get at a pub. The widget is placed inside the can during the manufacturing process. Brewers then add liquid nitrogen to the beer before sealing the can. This liquid nitrogen quickly evaporates, creating pressure inside the can, which forces gas and liquid into the widget through its tiny hole.

When the can is opened, the pressure inside the can drops to equalise with the room, but the pressure inside the widget remains higher, causing the nitrogen inside to squirt into the beer. This creates a burst of tiny nitrogen bubbles that rise to the top of the beer, forming a thick, creamy head. This process is time-sensitive, so the beer should be poured immediately after opening to achieve the desired effect.

The use of nitrogen in beer results in a smoother and more delicate taste compared to carbon dioxide, as nitrogen bubbles are smaller. Nitrogen bubbles are also more stable, so more of them will stay intact when the beer is opened, giving the brew a thicker, more velvety "mouthfeel". Guinness was the world's first nitro beer, and the widget was created to slowly release nitrogen into the beer upon opening, maintaining the desired taste.

The widget's history: patented in 1969, first released in 1989, updated in 1997

The widget, a small plastic ball with a hole in it that sits inside a can of beer, was first patented by Guinness in 1969. The widget is placed inside the can when the beer is put under pressure, and this extra dose of nitrogenated beer is released when the can is opened, combining with the rest of the beer to produce a foamy head. This innovation aimed to replicate the draught beer experience, imitating the surge of bubbles created by tiny holes in the tap used to pour a pint of Guinness.

It wasn't until a decade later, in 1989, that consumers could finally experience the widget for themselves. Guinness released their first widget-equipped cans, bringing the pub experience into people's homes. This marked a significant step forward in the history of canned beer, as it elevated the drinking experience and brought it closer to the traditional draught beer.

The widget underwent an update in 1997, further refining the technology and ensuring a consistent and perfect pour for beer drinkers. This update cemented the widget's place in the beer industry, and it has since become a staple for canned Guinness and other beers seeking to replicate that smooth, creamy head synonymous with a freshly poured pint.

The widget's history is a testament to Guinness' commitment to innovation and their desire to provide consumers with the perfect pint, whether enjoyed in the comfort of their homes or at their local pub. The widget's invention and subsequent release revolutionised the canned beer market, setting a new standard for beer drinkers worldwide.

The widget's popularity: voted one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century

The widget in Guinness beer cans has become an iconic feature of the beverage, and its popularity is evident in it being voted one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century by the British people. The widget is a tiny, hollow, spherical piece of food-grade plastic with a small hole, often described as resembling a ping pong ball. Its purpose is to give canned Guinness the same silky, creamy head as a freshly poured draught pint, providing a smooth and delicate taste.

The widget was first patented by Guinness in 1969, but it wasn't until 1989 that they released their first-generation widget. This initial version was a flattened disc that sat at the bottom of the can, and it worked effectively when the beer was served cold, but warmer temperatures could cause overflowing upon opening the can. In 1997, Guinness introduced the floating, spherical widget we know today, also known as the "smoothifier." This new design fixed the issue of overflowing and became a huge success.

The widget works by having pressurised nitrogenated beer pass into it through the small hole during the canning process. When the can is opened, the nitrogenated beer is forced out of the widget, mixing with the rest of the beer and creating the iconic foamy head. This process gives Guinness its distinctive velvety texture and mouthfeel, setting it apart from other beers.

The popularity of the widget is evident not just in its invention awards but also in its cultural impact. It has been described as "magic" and even as having a therapeutic effect on people. Some have even created games using the widgets, demonstrating their versatility and the sense of wonder they evoke. The widget has become synonymous with the Guinness brand and is an integral part of the Guinness drinking experience, providing a unique and enjoyable moment for consumers.

Since its introduction by Guinness, the widget has been adopted by other brewers, who have created their own versions. This widespread adoption highlights the widget's enduring popularity and its significance in the history of beverage innovation. It is a testament to the ingenuity and creativity of its inventors and has earned its place as one of the most celebrated inventions of the 20th century.

Frequently asked questions