Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
In honour of this day, I thought I would introduce you to what I consider the “perfect pint.” And, no, I am not talking about the green beer which is popular on this day, since what I consider the perfect pint is too dark to be coloured!
Of course, I am talking about Guinness Draught beer. And while these instructions about pouring the perfect pint are adequate, they miss one key step: when you pour the pint, you have to pour it such so that a four leaf clover impression is left in the head of the beer. I know one bartender in Edmonton who can do this. This, in my opinion, is truly the perfect pint!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
(If you do have a drink today, please drink responsibly! And do NOT drink and drive!)
I have to disagree – the truly perfect pint is when you have Guiness in Ireland itself. It doesn’t travel so well, so to have it on the Emerald Isle itself is a whole other ball game.
Matt
I’d have to agree with Matt. It is the perfect cure for jetlag, and you save a great deal of money on food, since a pint of Guinness is rather like drinking a loaf of bread.
Now, where is that bartender in Edmonton? 😉
I’ve had several pints of Guiness in Ireland. You can get it cold but many prefer it warm in a warm cup. To my Canadian tastebuds that was most definitely not perfect.
We were also in a little Pub in Belfast and there was a couple of elderly gentlemen that pushed their beers back to their server because the shamrock was not done properly in their foam. I don’t know if this is a common practice but I did witness it on two different occasions.
Having quaffed a pint or two in Belfast, I can say that the setting makes all the difference. BTW 1. “cold” Guinness was at the time I was there the new rage. I have no idea if that’s still true; 2. cold or not, Guinness is the perfect lubricant for good theological conversation… well for about 35 minutes or so.
Mmmm, Guiness. I think you have to be over 30 to enjoy it properly, though. I never used to care for it much, but have grown to love it over the years. It still doesn’t beat the best stout, though, Martson’s Oyster Stout, brewed where I grew up in Burton-on-Trent.
OK, Matt and others, you do not have to rub it in that I am in Edmonton, thousands of kilometres away from Ireland! 🙁
One day I look forward to visiting the St James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin in person…. until then, alas, I will have to settle for local pubs!
(And Talmida… it’s the Highrun bar on 50th street and about 98 Ave in Capilano.)
I lived in Dublin for a year and was never served warm beer.
But I have to agree, it does taste better there, and makes a study session go along rather well. Check out some pics of my favorite Irish pubs on my blog.
“Irish Pubs”
I too like a Guinness. But perhaps my favourite stout is Ste. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout (brewed in Montreal). I know it doesn’t have any oyster juice added (Mark), but one might wonder whether that is a good idea.
Phil