Sometimes the best patio is the one in your own backyard, or perhaps overlooking the lake at the cottage. But no matter where you are, the experience is bound to be better with a frosty Guinness in hand.
The famous Irish stout, hailing from Dublin (where the Guinness Storehouse, “the home of Guinness,” is the city’s top attraction), is arguably the world’s most famous beer.
As an aside, some Irish friends once let me in on the secret that the dark elixir settles the stomach before a serious drinking session, so, it’s also got that going for it. (Maybe that’s the origin of the famous “Guinness is Good for You” slogan?)
Of course, over the years – Guinness was first brewed in 1759 – there have been plenty of other noteworthy slogans, among them: “Guinness for Strength,” “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark,” and “Good Things Come to Those Who Wait!”
Such is the history and lore of the beverage that even the proper pouring of a pint is an exercise that merits (reservable) lessons at the Storehouse. Know that it should be chilled, the “head” is desired (not an excuse to scrimp on filling), and that it should take 119 seconds to pour it properly (hence, “good things come to those who wait…”).
Alas, the prospects of having a proper pint poured in Dublin or elsewhere are diminished during these pandemic-plagued days, and we’ll look at the amazing rooftop Gravity Bar at the Storehouse in a future column; but until then, here’s a guide to pouring your own perfect pint on the patio at home. It’s as easy as 1-2-3:
1. Guinness is very simple to serve at home. To begin, place the can in the fridge for about two to three hours before you plan to drink it; this will bring it down to the correct temperature.
2. When you open the can, you’ll hear a fizzing sound – this is the widget releasing the nitrogen into the beer. Wait a few seconds before pouring, let the widget do its work and you’ll get a smooth pour. The widget is a little ball that sits in the can, full of nitrogen that releases once the can is opened to give you the same settle and surge on Guinness that you get in a pub.
3. Finally, hold your glass at a 45-degree angle, and slowly pour the beer in off the side of the glass. As the glass starts filling up, slowly tilt it upright and once it’s full, let the Guinness settle until you get a clear line formed between the white head and dark liquid below. Then it’s ready to enjoy! Sláinte!
For true fans, check out this video, “5 Fun Facts About Guinness.”
With summer in mind – and glass in hand – we at Travel Industry Today continue our seasonal series on some of the planet’s best bars, patios and rooftop venues to enjoy during the (hopefully good) weather. Send your suggestions to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com.
Previous articles: https://travelindustrytoday.com/pub-crawl/