What's That Little Ball Rattling Around Inside Guinness Cans?

Inside every can of Guinness, there's a small, white, plastic ball known as a widget. This ingenious device plays a crucial role in delivering the iconic creamy head and smooth texture of draft Guinness in a can. The widget is filled with nitrogen, an essential component in creating the beer's signature velvety mouthfeel. During the canning process, the can is filled with beer and a small amount of liquid nitrogen is added. The can is then sealed, and as the liquid nitrogen evaporates, it creates pressure inside the can. When the can is opened, the pressure drop allows the nitrogen to escape from the widget, releasing a burst of bubbles. This process helps to create the creamy foam and texture similar to that of a pint served on draft. The innovation of the widget, first introduced in the late 1980s, revolutionized the way canned beer could mimic the experience of draft beer. By incorporating this tiny yet effective mechanism, Guinness ensured that their beer maintained its distinctive character, offering consumers a taste experience as close to the pub pour as possible, even when enjoyed from the comfort of home.