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Top 10 Guinness facts

By
KATE HICKEY,

Published Sunday, August 29, 2010, 7:49 AM
Updated Sunday, August 29, 2010, 7:49 AM

 

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Pint of Guinness
Pint of Guinness

When you walk into a bar in Ireland you could shout across at the barman and ask for a pint of plain, the good stuff, your best or Irish Mother’s milk.

You could even just walk up to the bar and hold your forefinger in the air, any barman worth his salt would know that you were asking for a pint of Guinness

Officially the most internationally recognized symbol of Ireland, Guinness is the most popular alcoholic drink in Ireland and in many other countries besides.

To visit the photo gallery the Great History of Guinness click HERE

Here are some of many interesting facts about the black stuff.
 
1.Pouring a glass or pint of Guinness is a skill. A “perfect pour” should take 199.50 seconds. This is the result of pour at an angle of 45 degrees followed by a rest. This is crucial. Most Irish people would cringe if they saw anyone pour it any other way.

After a pause, long enough so what’s in the glass is a perfect black, the rest of the glass is filled, again at a 45 degree angle. What is handed across the bar should have a creamy head and should be served at exactly 42.8F.

2.It is a known fact that the Irish love to travel around the world but did you know that Guinness is brewed in more than 150 countries. These include Nigeria and Indonesia.

3.Though the Irish obviously love a pint of plain 40 percent of all Guinness is sold in Africa. Who would have thought that in such a hot climate it would go down so well!

4.Over 10 million glasses are sold every day. Are you doing your part? That’s quite a high quota to fill.

5.Guinness is the perfect diet drink. A pint of the good stuff contains only 198 calories. That’s less than most light beers, wine, orange juice or even low fat milk.

6.Guinness does not contain oatmeal, contrary to a popular myth. This wonderful stuff is made of roasted malted barley, hops, yeast, and water. Also it’s not black. It actually a very nice dark ruby red.

7.The famous advertisement slogan "Guinness is Good For You" is still used around the world. Though Guinness has now officially on the record as denying this claim some research does support that Guinness is good for your heart.

It was not so long ago in Ireland that pregnant women were told to drink a glass of Guinness every day to fortify themselves and their baby.

8.St. James’ Gate Brewery, in Dublin City was leased for 9000 years at an annual fee of about $65.

In 1759 when Arthur Guinness was just starting out in the brewing business he had such confidence in his product that he knew his brewery would still be running in 9000 years time. Well that’s 251 years over with. I’m pretty sure Guinness will make it the next 8,750.

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Posted by maxriley on Oct 29, 2010, 09:56 AM EDT
GOD'S GIFT TO THE IRISH WITH THE HELP OF HE GUINNESS FAMILY
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Posted by jakeleg on Sep 27, 2010, 12:22 PM EDT
Everytime i drink giunness;I think of my Irish father,and it even tastes better.
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Posted by Silling on Sep 26, 2010, 01:04 PM EDT
I am an alcoholic dry ten years. But I must admit, that Guinness was the most philosophical drink I ever tasted. If I ever have a slip, it will be premeditated and I can assure you it will be a pint of Guinness I'll be aiming for.
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Posted by mhichil on Sep 22, 2010, 12:30 PM EDT
I am preparing for the 251 year celebration! slainte!
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Posted by peterson on Sep 12, 2010, 03:33 PM EDT
Slante !!
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Posted by Liamkeyes on Sep 06, 2010, 12:13 PM EDT
Slainte agus Dia go Deo leath. Health and Gios be with you forever.
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Posted by Downunderyan on Aug 30, 2010, 07:37 AM EDT
There are so many other facts about Guinness that the list could be endless. Here are some additional facts: The Irish Blood Transfusion Service offered blood donors a bottle of Guinness as a 'pick-me-up' after donating blood - my first blood donation and first legal Guinness was when I was 16 years old and on summer camp with the Irish Army Reserve in Tralee County Kerry in 1969; Most Irish people prefer a 'soft' pint i.e. un-chilled, over a 'hard' or chilled pint; the first Church Sunday School in Ireland was paid for by Arthur Guinness from the rising profits of his special brew; and lastly, the family name Guinness is an anglicisation of the old Irish name MacAongus (son of the chosen one), no doubt adopted after conversion from the 'Old Faith' to the new, 'reformed' Church of England.
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Posted by larrydalamb on Aug 29, 2010, 06:38 PM EDT
Guinness stout is available in a number of variants and strengths, which include: Guinness Draught, sold in kegs, widget cans, and bottles: 4.1 to 4.3% alcohol by volume (ABV); the Extra Cold is served through a super cooler at 3.5°C (38.3°F). Guinness Original/Extra Stout: 4.2 or 4.3% ABV in Ireland and the rest of Europe, 4.1% in Germany, 4.8% in Namibia and South Africa), 5% in the United States and Canada, and 6% in Australia and Japan. Guinness Foreign Extra Stout: 7.5% ABV version sold in Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and Asia. The basis is an unfermented but hopped Guinness wort extract shipped from Dublin, which is added to local ingredients and brewed locally. The strength can vary, for example, it is sold at 5% ABV in China, 6.5% ABV in Jamaica and East Africa, and 8% ABV in Singapore. In Nigeria a proportion of sorghum is used. Foreign Extra Stout is blended with a small amount of intentionally soured beer.
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Posted by JamesMurphy on Aug 29, 2010, 02:09 PM EDT
As much as I love Guinness, I prefer Murphy's for its less bitter taste. But one has to be careful mentioning this in Ireland. In Kerry, for example, such talk is tantamount to treason.
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Posted by jimnsandy on Aug 29, 2010, 12:46 PM EDT
I learned to pour the perfect pint in Durty Nelly's and then went on to Dublin and toured the brewery. I will go back in 2010 to make sure things have not changed.
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Posted by DeaconJack on Aug 29, 2010, 10:51 AM EDT
A little mention of the genius that invented the CO2 charger for the cans and bottles would be nice.
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Posted by LinLinisme on Aug 29, 2010, 10:08 AM EDT
I want one. Send me to Ireland, and I will tell you if it's the best. I imagine that it is
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Posted by crowsnest on Aug 29, 2010, 09:56 AM EDT
Can someone tell me what percentage of alcohol is in a pint of Guinness?
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Posted by ORourkes on Aug 29, 2010, 09:32 AM EDT
Love the Guinness....smoother that chocolate!
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Posted by 1661996usmc on Aug 29, 2010, 09:32 AM EDT
I love Guinness!! The best Guinness is served in Ireland. I have found a few places that come close in the U.S., but none like Irelend.
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Posted by killowen on Aug 29, 2010, 09:20 AM EDT
The half pint of guinness I had in Ireland in mid july tasted like soap suds. Best tasting bottle of such type suds was in mid 1800's in Tokyo. Had it with a meal instead of wine - it was that good.
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Posted by carrickcourt on Aug 29, 2010, 09:19 AM EDT
When ever I raise a pint of Arthur's stout porter to my lips I remember my late Irish cousins George, Davy, and Tom. The lads are fondly remembered by their USA second cousin once removed when ever I have a pint of Guinness.
 


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