After 2 pints back home I really miss the Guinness and Murphy's in Ireland. It is much smoother and creamier there. If you are on your way enjoy one for me and several for yourself, Slainte!

We thought the Guiness in Ireland was so delicious.
I have been told that is because it really does not travel well, and therefore is much better when not transported so far.

Actually, it is not pasturized in Ireland. They have to pasturize it when they ship it to the U.S. because of the possible long shelf life. It is not the same beer.

Also, Heineken. It's a smooth beer in Holland, but once they export it, it's awful!!! This is spoken from a person who has lived on/off for 5 years in Belgium.

Agreed! The Guiness is wonderfully rich and creamy in Ireland, nothing like you get here in US.
Sweet nectar of the gods it is!
Slainte! (B)

Posted by Budman:

Also, Heineken. It's a smooth beer in Holland, but once they export it, it's awful!!!

* * *

You aren't kidding! Heineken is almost invariably "skunky" in the U.S. and it is outstanding in Europe.

Couldn't agree with you more Chip!

I'm not sure if it's also pasturized going to the UK? I've had Guinness in pubs both in Ireland and in England and I can taste a distinct difference in smoothness.

You don't have to go to Europe for fine beer. Oregon is the home to many micro-breweries. My hubby, who likes that black, tarry stuff, too, enjoys Terminator Stout, produced on premises at the McMinammon breweries.
Interestingly, western Oregon, like Ireland, is emerald in color. Maybe the moss growing between the toes inspires people to make great beer!

Guinness in the British Isles

The drinker's myth has long been that there is a difference between "Dublin Guinness" (brewed in Dublin), and "London Guinness" (brewed at Guiness' Park Royal, London, brewery, which is claimed by serious drinkers to over-process Guinness). The myth goes on to claim that there is a limted area around Liverpool which is served, by sea, from Dublin - that part of England being nearer Dublin than London. As a corollary, several traditionally Irish pubs in Southern England (pubs Irishmen went to: not the ones designed by London ad agencies) claimed to sell bootleg Dublin Guinness.

I've no idea if it's true: Guinness needs careful, unique handling in a pub, and that's inevitably more challenging in England. Anyone interested might start with the CAMRA site (www.camra.org.uk): the Bible of anyone seriously interested in the technology, diistribution and mismanagement of real beer.

Guinness is brewed in the states along with Heineken on lic. agrements .In Ireland the Guinness Brewery brews Budweiser in Ireland and Bud is the # 1 selling beer in Ireland (all the young drinkers like cold Beer thats why Guinness is serving it super chilled to keep pace with Bud). For the best pint of Guinness in Dublin go to Nole Leanords Pub on the cornner of the Guinness Brewery and the river lffy .The owner told me A lot of the Guinness workers go ther after work so it has to be right they sure let him know if it is not ! its just down from the Train station . Much better than the Guinness sky bar IMHO!

Here in the UK there are a few problems with different beers.
For example Drinks like Heineken,Grolsh,Stella Artois are not made in Holland or Belgium they are actually brewed in the UK.
I fail to understand how Stella Brewed in Magor South Wales can ever taste the same as Stella brewed in Belgium.
In fact when I read the label and it says "brewed under licence in UK " I don't bother with it.
The comment about beer not travelling well is quite true.
Here in Cardiff we have a fabulous brewery called 'Brains ' their Bitters are delicious but they really are not found too far away as they don't travel well. I think the furthest I found them is Padstowe in Cornwall.....unless you know better.


Muck

I have been in 'Pull a Perfect Pint of Guinness' contests at Cruise's Pub in Ennis (County Clare) and at the Silver Dollar Pub in NewcastleWest (County Limerick). I have visited Irish Pubs in Portugal and in Spain. Twice I had to teach bartenders in Spain how to correctly pull pints of Guinness.

Many Irish Guinness-lovers don't like the 'Extra Cold' tap introduced about 10-years ago. For me, it depends on what kind of day it is. I think the Extra Cold does take away some of the creamy-ness but it's nice if you're just having one and it's a warm day.

Guinness isn't the same outside Ireland and, for my money, it's best in Dublin. I especially liked it in Madigan's (on middle Earl pedestrian mall). I think it's best fresh and it's freshest if it is almost constantly flowing. So go to the busiest Pubs - that's where you'll find the freshest, creamiest Guinness

As for the Oregonian who posted on this subject: If you're in Pennsylvania try Yuengling's Porter or Black & Tan.

I can't believe that nobody has mentioned this - Guinness in Ireland is made with water taken direct from the River Liffey!

Now, while that may not inspire the hygienists among you, it does account for the difference in taste, even in neighbouring UK!

Anna

Sorry Anna, but it is a myth that they use water from the Liffey, direct or otherwise.

I was told that the closer you get to Dublin, the better the pint. So, I think that the place next to the brewery would be the freshest My friend in Skib said that the local whiskey which used to be made in Cork, but was moved to Dublin, no longer taste the same because of the water. This point I can not argue, but it does demonstrate how loyal some people can be to their favorite elixir. I will do my next taste testing in Sept as I will drink Murphy's in Cork and Guinness everywhere else. Cheers PS I am glad to know that Heinikin can taste better. I look forward to my first visit to Amsterdam.

To my knowledge, the Guinness that we drink in the States is not brewed here, but in the UK and imported by Guinness Bass Import Company in CT. Last I heard, the only beer available in the States that is still brewed in Ireland is Beamish. Smithwicks is apparently available in Toronto which is the closest we can come to that.

The quality of the pint does vary as you travel around the country which I found particularly true of Murphy's. The Murphy's I had near Cork was delicious, but that on the Dingle peninsula was thin in flavor.

I agree that the US has some fantastic micro brews and the NW is well known for that. Throw out Coors and you have some great beer brewed in Colorado. The list is quite long with Boulder alone producing 7 microbrews.

Bill

And Zywiec is better in POland and Svyturas is WAY better in Lithuania (because I havenot found a place in the States that has Svyturas)

NEDSIRELAND . . Teaching an Indonesian bartender in Jakarta how to draw the pint 'o Guiness was a real challenge. . terrible stuff,by the time it gets there, but better than the local beers.

Rich

wojazz3, is Coors actually classified as "beer"?

Can I get a 'Balck and Tan' in Ireland or is that asking for trouble?
Someone told me I have to ask for 'Half and Half' but I understand that to be Guinness and Harp, not Guinness and Bass...

I have drank plenty of Heineken in Europe (unfortunately). It is definitely as skunky in Europe as it is in the Stats. That is just the taste of Heineken.