If you’re unfamiliar with Guinness, you may find the rattling noise that comes with its canned version rather alarming. Idaho-based TikTok creator Hailey (@haipopham) sure did.
After discovering a signature object in her Guinness can, she turned to TikTok for answers.
What Did This Woman Find In Her Guinness?
In her video, Hailey’s boyfriend holds up a small, white, hollow ball.
“Tell me why my boyfriend and I found this inside a Guinness can?” she asks in the text overlay. “It tasted so weird so we decided to open up the can.”
Confused, she adds in the caption, “I need answers.”
Viewers Have Answers—And Sarcasm
Hailey’s video has over 645,000 views. And the commenters are seemingly well-versed on all things Guinness. Many used sarcasm to criticize Hailey for not knowing what was inside the can, with the most common response being something along the lines of “Tell me it’s your first time drinking Guinness without telling me it’s your first time drinking Guinness.”
“…are you old enough to drink,” one asked in the top comment.
“Literally a widget. It says it on the can,” another remarked.
But a few came to Hailey’s defense, sharing that her video also helped them learn something new.
“I don’t drink beer, so I never would have known this. idk why everyone is acting like it’s your first day on earth lol. I learned something, ty,” one commenter said.
Another agreed, “I didn’t know what that was either bahaha y’all acting like she’s new to the world but in reality not everyone is a beer drinker.”
@haipopham I need answers
How It Works
The widget is responsible for canned Guinness’ flavor and texture, which is described as rich, creamy, smooth, and velvety. In an effort to replicate that same iconic draught pour you’d get at the pub at home, Guinness includes a nitrogen-filled ball, the widget, in its canned product. When a customer pops the can open, the widget essentially gets activated through that pressure and pushes the nitrogen bubbles through the two tiny holes.
The History
In 1959, mathematician and master brewer Michael Ash, who worked for Guinness, created the nitrogenated dispense system, and thus the very first nitro beer. However, it was Tony Carey and Sammy Hildebrand who invented the the widget in 1969 and officially released it to the public 20 years later. It went on to earn the U.K.’s Queen’s Award for Technological Achievement in 1991. In 1997, John Lunn expanded on their design by crafting the widget fans know and love today, per Food & Wine.
BroBible reached out to Hailey via TikTok comment and direct message as well as to Guinness via press email.