When U.S. President Barack Obama stopped off in his ancestral home of Moneygall, County Offaly, last Monday, the world was watching as he paused before taking a sip out of his perfectly poured pint of Guinness.

After his first mouthful the president remarked that the last time he had ordered a pint of the ‘black stuff’ in Ireland was during a stopover at Shannon en route to Afghanistan.

"What I realized is you guys are keeping all the best stuff here," Obama said as he stood in Ollie Hayes’s Bar.

While Guinness can be found in almost every corner of the world, it takes a lot to find the perfect pint and there is no better place to find it than in Ireland.

Here are the top ten reasons why Guinness tastes so good in Ireland.

1.    All Guinness sold in Ireland is made in Ireland, so the travel miles are minimal in comparison. Meaning an Irish pint of Guinness is probably the freshest on offer.

2.    Guinness is a popular drink in almost every watering hole in Ireland, which means the draw on the lines is regular, which in turn drastically increases the quality of the stout.

3.    In Ireland the Guinness is usually only sold in a proper branded glass, which is the perfect shape and volume for a pint. You wouldn’t expect to be served a glass of Chardonnay in a tumbler while in Napa Valley. Same thing applies for Guinness in Ireland.

4.    A publican outside of Ireland is more unlikely to have the correct combination of gases. Guinness has a carbonated level less than half of a normal beer and the perfect pint involves a precise blend of carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

5.    Working in any bar anywhere in Ireland, one of the first things you learn to do is pull a pint of Guinness. Tilting the glass as you pour, allowing enough time for it to settle before topping it off with the perfect head is a skill acquired by few but mastered by the Irish.

6.    Like most beers and ales, Guinness must be served at the correct temperature. The beverage will fail to release its full flavor if it is too cold.

7.    Guinness representatives are on call in Ireland if there are any issues and also make regular visits to ensure that the lines are clean.

8.    Nothing compares to the feeling of authenticity when drinking a pint of Guinness in the country where it originated.

9.    Scientists have proven that nothing compares to a pint of Guinness stout in Ireland, after an extensive study.

10. Guinness is to Ireland what lobsters are to Maine, what pizza is to Italy. It is one drink that is served with pride in Ireland.
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