Guinness

[fezzman]

At most US "BMC bars" (which is 90+ % of our bars) its the best beer you'll find, by far. And that's even if they don't know how to serve it...

That brings me to a short, funny story. I stayed in St. Augustine at a 2.5-3 star hotel (Best Western maybe...can't remember). Anyways, I noticed that they had their own pub named something along the lines of O'Malley's with shamrocks on the windows. I thought to myself, "score" and went in for a pint. To my dismay, they only had TWO beers on tap, Guinness and Bud Light. When I asked the bartender for a Guinness she said she's never served it before and didn't even know how. I told her how, drank my stale Guinness, and never went back.

Never served a Guinness in an Irish pub????

 

[zoebisch01]

Well, I am with Loop, The Baron and some others. It is not what I'd consider a 'bad' beer. It tastes good on the Nitro, when there is nothing better to order. Doesn't do much from the widget bottle for me (I still poured it into a glass). That all being said, we have a different version that comes to us...and on top of that it is pasteurized. Not sure if they do that "o'er there" or not, but I'd imagine on tap in the proper setting it would be very good.

"Name it"

 

[EdWort]

I think the "it's better in Ireland" argument stems from the inconsistent presentation of the US drafts; there are more bad pints here, but the good ones stand up to anything you'll get in Ireland.

I visit Ireland at least once a year, and personally I don't think Guinness travels well. It could be a freshness thing too. I've never had a pint here in the states that stands up to a fresh pint in a good pub in Limerick.

Anyway, after I get full from Guinness, I move on to Smithwicks for a lighter fare.

Here in the states, I like Murphey's Stout in the can with the widgit.

 

[delboy]

I've heard that it's watered down here, though, as opposed to Guiness in Ireland.

Woo it must be really low alcohol over at your end if thats true, it only 4.1 % on draught over here.
I don't know what gas they use to dispense guiness over in the states but nearly all bars go with 75 % Nitrogen and only 25 % CO2, gives you a better sense of that 'false' body that people associate with the drink.

Personally i think its hugely overrated and i don't like the company that make it for a multitude of reasons ie strangled all competetion leading to an incredible paucity of decent beer over here in ireland.
Also its sold on the whole premise of being irish, but the stout style orginated in london, the parent company is based in london, the profits go to london, the smart marketing campaigns are conceived in london etc etc.

Im not london bashing just pointing out that its not as irish/fiddledy dee as it likes to make out.

 

[zoebisch01]

Personally i think its hugely overrated and i don't like the company that make it for a multitude of reasons ie strangled all competetion leading to an incredible paucity of decent beer over here in ireland.

I remember seeing a show where they went there and then they went to a place not too far away from there. I recall the guy mentioning that the beer at the other place was far far better. Any ideas to what the brewery was/is?

 

[delboy]

I remember seeing a show where they went there and then they went to a place not too far away from there. I recall the guy mentioning that the beer at the other place was far far better. Any ideas to what the brewery was/is?

Im not sure but the big three are guiness, murphy and beamish.

http://www.xs4all.nl/~patto1ro/irlbrew.htm

Heres a we link for irish brewries, might be of interest?? Towards the bottom the author goes into the different forms of guiness and how it has evolved over the years.

 

[brewt00l]

That brings me to a short, funny story. I stayed in St. Augustine at a 2.5-3 star hotel (Best Western maybe...can't remember). Anyways, I noticed that they had their own pub named something along the lines of O'Malley's with shamrocks on the windows. I thought to myself, "score" and went in for a pint. To my dismay, they only had TWO beers on tap, Guinness and Bud Light. When I asked the bartender for a Guinness she said she's never served it before and didn't even know how. I told her how, drank my stale Guinness, and never went back.

Never served a Guinness in an Irish pub????

LOL..I had a similar experience in an "Irish" pub in Jersey City. They had all sorts of Guinness signs around the joint and I asked for one. "We don't have Guinness" was the response. Murphys? Beamish? Nope and Nope. Any stouts? Nah. I settled for a Brooklyn lager.

Edit: I should add that any fan of Guinness/dry stouts in the southeastern PA area should give Sly Fox's version a try....rather tasty.

 

[Junebug]

Guinness is my drink of choice while in Ireland, but it certainly leaves a lot to be desired here in the states. I'm betting that a good home-brewed "clone" would be a better option in these parts.

 

[Whelk]

I like the stuff. The problem around here is, except for a few bars that sell alot of it and can keep the kegs new and fresh, it's usually kinda stale or the bar serves it so cold that you can't taste anything...

Agreed. I've had it in Ireland and plenty of times in the US, and to be honest, it's usually great. Sometimes it's stale, but I've only gotten that in pretty scummy bars. It's often served way too cold, so I let it sit on the table. To be honest, the appearance of the beer is so good that it really ups the beer in my opinion. That perfect creamy head, that deep, deep color of the beer...awesome.

 

[Pabst Blue Robot]

I enjoy Guinness quite a bit, even from the widget can. It is overpriced, but I don't necessarily think it's over rated, it is to its style what Pilsner Urquell is to its. Also one of the few beers that I liked when I started drinking beer and still like just as much.

 

[Cheesefood]

Like most stouts, I can handle one or two per year.

 

[Jaybird]

I love it. for what it is... I mean you cant compare it to american stouts its just not the same. there are so many things I really do love about it. The fact that its a light beer for one you can drink a buttload of the stuff and still never catch a buzz which makes it a great session beer. cant go wrong with a black and tan(what beer do you float? the light one.) float it on a nice Bass ale. ever tryed a Guiness extra stout float for breakfast? pour it over a good vinilla bean icecream and enjoy
very good stuff IMHO
JJ

 

[Bosh]

Very nice mouthfeel but very bland taste.

A beer that's that black should have some roastyness to it

Basically to me, Guiness seems to be the ideal stout for people who don't like stout...

 

[Thalon]

Guiness Extra Stout was one of the first beers I ever tried when I started to drink. Back then I could almost choke because of how strong it was. (Please don't laugh!) But now that I've had a few years experience and am brewing my own now, the draught literally tastes like water to me, and the Extra Stout has just enough flavor to be noticeable. I guess that's what impresses the BMC crowd.

I gave it an Overrated vote. Like others have said, it works as a session beer. I would absolutely LOVE to visit Ireland someday and taste the real thing.

 

[Proofman]

Like many people have stated here, I like Guiness draught alot, but I don't think it is superb. Sometimes, especially in summer, I want a stout that isn't so heavy. When I gather at my friends shop in the hot southern summer afternoons to drink a load, I will pick up a sixer of draught in a bottle when I want a stout and it's 98F with 75% humidity.