In Ireland, there is one essential drink that is a true symbol of the entire nation. It is Guinness! This typically Irish beer is so successful that it is estimated that more than one million pints are consumed every day in Ireland! An institution dating back to 1759, best enjoyed properly at the pub, on draught, like all Irish people do.
Guinness
A true Irish stout
A Guinness being served – © bizoo_n
Guinness is a historic Irish beer, brewed since 1759 by the famous Arthur Guinness, a rather inspired man who embarked on brewing beer with one idea: to conquer Ireland with new flavours.
After more than 260 years of existence, the bet seems more than successful. Irish beer is sold every day in Ireland in astronomical quantities, and is also exported with the same success throughout the rest of the world!
But what is this Irish beer really like? First of all, it should be noted that it is a stout (a category of beer with pronounced flavours), with a dark ruby colour tending towards deep black. It stands out from other beers thanks to its thick, creamy white head infused with nitrogen, as well as its strongly bitter and caramelised aromas.
This produces a beer with character, made using special ingredients such as roasted malt and roasted barley grains…
Guinness also differs from other beers through the entire process involved in serving it on draught. Indeed, the Irish brewery continually emphasises that a good draught Guinness requires a preparation time of 119.5 seconds. Not one second less—this is no joking matter in Ireland!
The beer is served using a special nitrogen-powered tap (unlike others, which use CO2). To fill the liquid with lovely bubbles, the pint is poured in two stages, with a necessary pause to allow the head to form.
More than one million pints served every day in Ireland
A giant exported throughout the world
A pint of Guinness – Charlotte Marillet – cc
Arthur Guinness’s success was truly spectacular. Over the centuries, the brewery became an unstoppable industrial machine, capable of meeting extremely high demand. Its success is due not only to the quality of its beer, but also to the quality of its communications.
Let us say it plainly: in addition to offering a good beer, the brewery developed an overwhelming marketing strategy over the decades, making it the market leader in Ireland!
The establishment thus achieved the feat of becoming a powerful national symbol, bringing honour to Ireland.
Most Irish people also drink an average of one Guinness a day and consume it at the pub… Why? Because in Ireland it is impossible to escape advertising praising the merits of this beer! It must be said that the group Diageo, which owns the brewery, spares no expense. Its advertising is immense: advertisements, transport trucks, TV spots, rugby sponsorship… Irish beer is everywhere, omnipresent wherever you go in Ireland! You encounter it in the streets, in pubs: everywhere!
There is even a museum dedicated to it in Dublin: the Guinness Storehouse is one of the Irish capital’s top attractions. It offers an extravagantly immersive experience, introducing you to the history of the brewery and its founder, as well as its production methods, ingredients, marketing choices, and so on! The museum is so large that it even has restaurants serving traditional dishes cooked with their dark beer! A bar at the top of the museum will offer you a free pint, and the establishment even provides a 360° panoramic view of Dublin!
In short, the brand is omnipresent and embedded in the daily lives of the Irish! An impressive feat that has the merit of surprising travellers when they set foot on Irish soil!
Add to that its pleasant taste, finesse and balance on the palate… and you have a powerful brand that has become a national beer in its own right: the most widely consumed throughout the country! It has almost become a symbol of Irish identity all by itself! For many travellers, drinking a pint of the famous stout is a must, if only to immerse themselves more deeply in Irish culture!
Guinness symbols
As for symbols, the magnificent Celtic harp takes pride of place, appearing on every glass bearing the brand’s mark, as well as on every can and bottle. As an anecdote, this harp does not face the same way as the one symbolising the Irish state. The harp was chosen as Ireland’s national symbol by the government many years after Guinness adopted it, thus causing a notable conflict of interest between the two parties. The brewery won the battle, and the state was forced to choose the harp facing the other way…
Another symbol of the brand is the toucan. The bird first appeared on advertising posters dating from the 1940s. It was shown comfortably settled in a nest, praising the merits of the beer. This symbol was intended to convey an idea of gentleness and comfort. Guinness is enjoyed peacefully, in a friendly setting…
Finally, the famous slogan “Guinness is good for You” has left its mark and has become an essential reference when talking about this beer.
The different Guinness beers
Guinness West Indies Porter – © Guide Irlande.com
The St James’s Brewery produces different types of beer in order to meet the varying demands of its consumers. For those wondering why the brewery made this choice, it is simply because it wanted to renew and diversify its range. There is indeed an extremely extensive selection in addition to the original Guinness. This enables the Diageo group to establish itself throughout the world with flavours adapted to its target audiences.
The following beers are therefore available:
- Guinness Draught: this is the most widely consumed beer in Ireland. Its alcohol content is relatively low, at 4.2%, making it a relatively mild beer. It has caramelised malty flavours, reminiscent of certain coffee notes.
- Guinness Extra Stout: this beer is stronger than Guinness Draught and has an average alcohol content of 7%. More bitter, it is dispensed on draught with carbon dioxide, unlike the other Guinness beers, which are served with nitrogen.
- Guinness Brewhouse Series: this beer comes in several other varieties produced in limited series in fewer than 300 pubs in Ireland. These series are frequently renewed and delight the Irish.
- Guinness West Indies Porter: a 1801 beer brought up to date, with very pronounced flavours.
- Guinness Milk Stout: a Guinness with flavours of milk, chocolate and roasted malt.
Guinness Hop House 13: a blonde beer that is extremely popular in Ireland!
Guinness Foreign Extra Stout: a beer specially created in 1801 for African countries! A beverage higher in alcohol and hops!
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