Guinness is a brand of Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin, Ireland in 1759. It is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost 50 countries and available in over 120 countries.
Founded by Arthur Guinness in 1759 at St James's Gate, Dublin, Ireland.
The first export of Guinness to the United Kingdom took place in 1769.
In the 19th century, Guinness became popular in Ireland and soon became the largest brewery in the country.
In 1986, Guinness became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Diageo plc.
In 2000, Guinness started brewing in Malaysia and quickly became the best-selling foreign stout in the country.
In 2006, Guinness began to experiment with new beer styles and released the first of its 'Brewer’s Project' range.
Murphy's is another Irish dry stout brewed in County Cork, Ireland, that is owned by Heineken International. Like Guinness, it is known for its smooth and velvety flavor, and is a popular alternative to Guinness.
Beamish is another Irish dry stout that originated in the Beamish and Crawford Brewery in Cork, Ireland. It is now owned by Heineken International, and has a reputation for being slightly sweeter and less bitter than Guinness.
Mackeson is a sweet, milk stout that was first brewed in the UK in the 19th century. It is known for its rich chocolatey flavor and creamy texture.
The flagship product of the brand, Guinness Draught is a smooth and velvety Irish dry stout that is famous for its distinctive black color and creamy white head. It has a slightly bitter taste with a hint of coffee and caramel.
Originally brewed for export to West Africa, Guinness Foreign Extra Stout is a stronger, more robust version of the classic Guinness stout. It has a complex flavor profile of dark chocolate, caramel, and dried fruit, and is often described as a 'meal in a glass'.
Introduced in 1961, Guinness Extra Stout is a richer and fuller-bodied version of the classic Guinness Draught. It has a more pronounced hoppy flavor, with notes of dark chocolate and coffee.
Guinness is special because of its unique brewing process, which involves roasting barley in a patented method known as 'kilning'. This gives the beer its distinctive dark color and rich flavor. Additionally, the use of nitrogen in the carbonation process creates a creamy texture and thick, long-lasting head.
Most Guinness products are not vegan, as they contain small amounts of fish bladder (isinglass) as a fining agent. However, Guinness has announced plans to make all of its beers vegan-friendly by the end of 2021 by switching to a plant-based alternative.
A pint of Guinness Draught contains approximately 125 calories, which is slightly lower than most other beers.
To pour a perfect Guinness, hold the glass at a 45-degree angle and pour the beer slowly down the side of the glass until it is about three-quarters full. Then, let the beer settle for a minute or two before topping it off with a final pour. The iconic Guinness head should be about two fingers thick and creamy in texture.
Some people claim that Guinness tastes better in Ireland, but this is largely a matter of personal opinion. The brewing process and recipe for Guinness is consistent worldwide, but factors such as storage, shipping, and serving temperature can affect the taste of the beer.