While in Dublin to celebrate St Patrick’s Day this year I may have ventured to the Guinness Storehouse on more than one occasion….
Trying Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, sold in various parts of Africa.
On my first visit I was thrilled to visit the Guinness Connoisseur Experience bar, the MOST exclusive Guinness bar in the world. While there not only did I get to enjoy the Connoisseur Experience, but I got to try various types of Guinness from around the world and I also got my own private lesson on how to pour the perfect pint of Guinness.
Mark McGovern, the Guinness Storehouse’s Media Relations Manager showed me how to pour this tasty nectar “just right” in six easy steps. I was quite pleased with my capabilities however I have yet to learn how to make a clover in the foam on the top. I hear that takes a lot of practice.
Practice makes perfect when it comes to learning how to pour the perfect Guinness.
The six easy steps to pour the perfect pint of Guinness are as follows:
Step 1: Use a Guinness branded glass that is clean and dry. (Very important.)
Step 2: Hold the glass at a 45 degree angle with the nozzle near the painted harp on the glass. Never touch the class to the nozzle.
Step 3: Fill to the top of the harp slowly straightening up the glass as you go.
Step 4: Place the glass on the bar for 119.5 seconds to let the surge/nitrogen settle and to allow the creamy head to develop.
Step 5: This time push the tap backwards to allow a smooth flow of beer to come out of the nozzle and top the glass up just proud of the rim.
Step 6: The last and best step…. you are going to have to watch my video to find out what it is!
Sláinte as the Irish say and enjoy your Guinness! :)
Thanks to Mark for inviting me to the Guinness Storehouse, I could probably live there… and to Ireland Tourism. As always all opinions and views expressed are my own.
8 Comments
David
April 26, 2014 at 1:51 am119.5 seconds? What happens if you leave it for 120 seconds … you miss the window of opportunity to let the head roll down the side of the glass in classic fashion? :P
Cailin
April 26, 2014 at 8:51 pmHey David – actually having the head roll down the side of the glass is not in “classic fashion” at all. That is pretty much seen as a disgrace in Dublin and if you receive a spilly guinness you should return it. I think that might only work for other beers :)
Hamish Healys
April 16, 2014 at 9:13 amI didn’t realize there was such a place as Guinness connoisseur experience bar in Dublin. I’m sure you must have enjoyed your stay there. Would any of the competitive beer brands have anything like this in their home base? Carlsberg, for instance or Miller?
Cailin
April 26, 2014 at 8:53 pmHey Hamish – the Connoisseur bar actually hasn’t been open for that long but it is pretty awesome. I’m not sure what other beer brands have, I think Heineken in Amsterdam might have a cool experience and I know Alexander Keith’s beer here in Halifax does :)
Jen
April 10, 2014 at 6:46 amGreat video Cailin! I have poured way too many pints of Guinness while working at a London pub but I don’t think they ever turned out perfect like that.
Cailin
April 26, 2014 at 8:54 pmhaha thanks! It does take skill and patience thats for sure! :)
Tara
April 8, 2014 at 2:22 pm“clean and dry” in the average London Pub? I don’t think so! :-(
Cailin
April 26, 2014 at 8:55 pmthen maybe you shouldn’t be ordering Guinness there ;) haha