St. Patrick’s Day is here and it’s important to remember that on March 17th, everyone is a little bit Irish. What better way to celebrate the Emerald Isle than with a nice tall pint of Guinness?
COED sat down with Aaron Ridgeway, a Guinness Brewer and Beer Specialist at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, and he answered all the questions you’ve ever had about the classic Irish stout.
So, how do I pour the perfect Guinness pint?
Aaron Ridgeway: The perfect Guinness pint is a two-part pour over 6 different steps:
Step 1: The Glassware. Cool, clean, dry, and Guinness branded. You want your pint to look right when you’re done.
Step 2: The Angle. Hit a 45-degree slant to make sure the beer will flow nicely and smoothly.
Step 3: The Pour. Pull the tap handle all the way down towards you. You’ll hear the hiss as the pressure of the tap releases Guinness into the glass. You can watch the nitrogen gas separate from the liquid as it leaves the tap. As the glass fills, level it out all the way while continuing to pour, and then shut the tap off once you hit the top of the harp (just over 3/4 full) and leave it on the bar in full view.
Step 4: The Settle and Surge. This is a step of anticipation. Of waiting. The longest minute of your life! You can see the millions of bubbles of nitrogen rise and fall as the shape of the glasses causes an incredible cascade down the edges as the head begins to form on the top of the beer. As the surge subsides you’ll notice the beer darken in color, and once it’s settled completely it’s ready for…
Step 5: Make your Pint Proud. Take your glass back from the bar, hold it level underneath the spout, and then push forward on the tap handle. This reduces the pressure in the line and gives you more control. Stop once the top of the head comes just over the lip of the glass, finishing in a beautiful dome. This is what we call a ‘proud’ pint.
Step 6: The Presentation. Guinness drinkers enjoy our beer with their eyes before it even so much as touches their lips. There is quite honestly just something about how it looks. Take your time, and present the pint with harp facing forward, leaving it on the bar without spilling a drop over the sides. It’s ready to enjoy once it’s turned completely dark.
Congratulations, you’ve crafted the perfect pint!
Why is Guinness the perfect beer for my St. Patrick’s Day party?
Ridgeway: Guinness is the perfect beer for your St. Patrick’s Day party because not only can you enjoy a beautifully smooth Guinness Draught from our limited edition cans if you’re not going to a bar, but you can also choose any of the beers we have in our family to make sure there’s a Guinness for everyone, including our American Blond Lager and Irish Wheat.
We’ve been brewing at St. James’ Gate since 1759, and now have the widest selection of beer available since we started our journey. It’s also worth remembering that this St. Patrick’s Day will be Guinness’ 200th in the United States, and you can even mark the occasion with our 200th Anniversary Stout, celebrating the beginnings of a long relationship with the US and the use of black patent malt in the brew, that gives Guinness its rich roasted flavour and dark ruby red colour.
The ties between Ireland and the United States run deep, and an amazing way to celebrate that relationship is to get your friends together, celebrate your heritage, and enjoy yourself responsibly. With a Guinness, you can cheers to the fact that on the 17th of March, everyone is Irish!
Why should I go with Bulleit Bourbon over Irish Whiskey?
Ridgeway: Bulleit Bourbon is an All-American Kentucky Whiskey that has a beautiful amber color and a nose packed with notes of gentle spice and sweet oak. Having Bulleit Bourbon instead of Irish whiskey is a great way to give a nod to the Irish-American ties and the spirit of innovation that has come with a sense of heritage. Using a small batch method inspired by over 150 years of history in the Bulleit family, it’s a bourbon that has a clean, satiny finish with notes of toffee, and an amazing character thanks to its high rye content, which is something normally not present in Irish whiskey. This gives it some great flavor and depth and is a wonderful way to celebrate being a part of the United States on St. Patrick’s Day.
What’s the perfect food to serve with Guinness at my St. Patrick’s Day party?
Ridgeway: A classic food pairing has existed since 1837 with the first reference to Guinness and oysters made by the then-to-be Prime Minister of Britain, Benjamin Disraeli. Ireland is famous for its seafood and oysters are a really beautiful pairing that combines wonderfully with Guinness Extra Stout. The salty, briny flavor of the oysters perfectly matches the dry, roasted bitterness of a bottle, and is a perfect appetizer for any St. Patrick’s day get together.
For dessert, some Guinness truffles can be easily whipped up, or maybe even some chocolate mousse or a Guinness cake, made using our Guinness Draught. The nitrogen in Draught allows a softer, smoother finish. This enables the malt character of our beer to come through giving it a distinctive bittersweet character which is divine when combined with cakes, sweets, desserts, and bread.
Take a picture of it with you and your friends and tag it #stacheforcharity and for every photo, Guinness will donate $1 up to $100,000 to the Guinness Gives Back fund, which directly supports community efforts like Team Rubicon, which specializes in Veteran-led disaster relief efforts.