So…the first thing your beer mates will ask you when you tell them you have been to Dublin is: “Does Guinness taste any different there?” Now, I could just tell you right now, but where’s the fun in that? Instead, I will regale you with examples of the good craic to be had on the Emerald Isle. To be sure, what makes Ireland the stuff of legend is not the gorgeous countryside or her dogged determination in the face of a meddling empire, but the friendliness of the people. The folks you meet in the pub actually want to talk you, and if you’re in Galway on any night of the week, you will find yourself dancing with strangers and mumbling the words to folk songs everyone else in the place clearly know by heart. But I digress.
As you may know, Gguinness merged with Distillers Company in 1996 and they are now part of the largest beer and spirits conglomerate in the world, Diageo. They launched their Brewhouse Series in 2005 and since most of the pubs I patronised seemed to be tied houses, the taps featured the family products. ‘Hop house 13’ is a hoppy lager and ‘Citra IPA’ is, well, yes you guessed it. Neither of which I have tried. The one I have tasted is pictured below.
Porter being the supreme style of beer IMHO, I am glad to report they didn’t muck it up. This beer is rich and smooth, with evident roast barley and chocolate malts and hints of licorice and molasses. Initially sweet, it has a nice long dry finish. Clean and well balanced. An epitome of the style. If you see it in New Zealand, grab some. Since it comes in a bottle, you can enjoy it at the proper temperature of 13°C, which can’t be said for the pint o’ Guinness they serve in the pubs…
His and hers
Brrrrrr
From Wikipedia: “The brewer currently recommends that draught Guinness should be served at 6 °C (42.8 °F), while Extra Cold Guinness (?) should be served at 3.5 °C (38.6 °F). Prior to the 21st century it was popular to serve Guinness at cellar temperature (about 13 C) and some drinkers preferred it at room temperature (about 20 C).” Translation: If you don’t like your stout served at lager temperature, you are getting old. Everywhere we went the beer was as cold as a milk bottle. I think they are trying to appease all the Heineken drinkers. “You mean it’s dark and warm?!” Well, once we managed to warm them up in our arthritic hands, what did we find? <drum roll please….>
Guinness in the Irish pubs tastes the same as Draught Guinness in the cans. About the only detectable difference is a marginally stronger roast aroma once the beer warms up. We had to try several pints to be certain, but I know the Guild will appreciate our diligence.