Guinness

Brand: Guinness

4.2% alc./vol 440ml

Country of origin: Ireland

Type: Stout

Previously had? Yes

For my first review, I decided to talk about one of my favorite beers. At first I didn't care much for Guinness, and often would end up wasting half the can which goes against my belief that wasting beer is blasphemous. It wasn't until a trip to England in 2010 that I found my liking for Guinness. In 99% of pubs I visited, and believe me, there were a lot, they would serve Guinness from a sub-zero tap which dispensed the sweet black gold at a temperature below 0 degrees Celsius. When you purchase your Guinness draught tall boy cans for home, I would suggest putting it in the freezer for an hour prior to drinking to simulate the effect. A friend recently traveled to Ireland and told me that they serve Guinness from kegs located directly below the counter (most bars keep kegs in the basement), and it was super cold and super fresh. The least amount of distance your beer has to travel before your glass, the better

One of the reasons I like this beer is because the enjoyment starts even before you drink. You should always pour Guinness into pint glass to enjoy (I have heard arguments to the contrary but I stand firm), and the visual is really beautiful thing. The amber bubbles of CO2 fall heavy to the bottom of the glass like a golden waterfall before rising to the top and settling into a delicious and thick head, the likes of which are thick enough for talented bartenders to be able to draw designs into the foam. Guinness, like most brewers of class, uses a widget in there draught cans in order to release CO2 into the beer to make it taste like fresh from the tap.

Guinness is either a beer that you really like, or you really don't.  I was fortunate enough to change from a strong dislike to a very strong enjoyment. A Stout is made from roasted malt or barley, hops, water and yeast. This gives it a light smoked flavour which is well matched with the coffee flavour typical of most Dry or "Irish" stouts. Drinkers looking for a lighter tasting beer with less after taste should tread lightly with Guinness. An un written rule I have heard from many a seasoned beer drinker such as my father, is that if you can finish the first, each one tastes better than the last. I have just poured my second pint of Guinness of the day and I can say that this statement is very true. On my second pint, the flavours taste smoother and you can taste the coffee and toast flavours that were not as noticeable the first time around.

If you have the opportunity to travel to the UK, I strongly recommend heading to the nearest pub and ordering a sub-zero pint of Guinness, even if you are not a fan. You may just be as lucky as I was.

"I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts, and beer."

-Abraham Lincoln