Stuff You Should Know Short Stuff: The Guinness Widget
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Jan 29, 2025 Dive into the fascinating world of Guinness beer and its unique widget technology. Discover how this innovative device simulates the draft experience right in your can. Learn about the science of nitrogen versus carbon dioxide, and how it creates that signature creamy texture. Hear anecdotes about the widget's origins and its inventor, Michael Ash, and understand why enjoying Guinness in a pub adds to the experience. This inventive approach has revolutionized the way we enjoy beer at home!
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Widget Origins
- The term "widget" likely originated from a 1924 play.
- Guinness adopted the term, making a physical "widget" for their cans.
Widget Purpose
- The Guinness widget makes canned Guinness taste more like draught Guinness.
- Draught Guinness is closer to cask Guinness, which has a unique profile.
Nitrogen in Guinness
- Michael Ash, a Guinness mathematician and brewer, explored using nitrogen in Guinness.
- Nitrogen, unlike CO2, creates a smoother, creamier texture, essential for replicating cask Guinness.