Why Guinness?

[MacBean]

My Guiness yesterday had a shamrock (or at least a clover leaf) imprinted in the foam. Do they always come that way and I never noticed?

Guiness is good, but Boddington's is better! But only on tap, I don't care for either one in a can.

[cdarwin]

My Guiness yesterday had a shamrock (or at least a clover leaf) imprinted in the foam. Do they always come that way and I never noticed?

It depends how much effort your barkeep is willing to put into your service. Most folks will as it is sort of expected. Some will even go so far as to put other interesting designs in the head. This is possible due to the very nice, thick head that comes with a Guinness stout through a nitrogen tap.

[IrishSailor]

My Guiness yesterday had a shamrock (or at least a clover leaf) imprinted in the foam. Do they always come that way and I never noticed?

Guiness is good, but Boddington's is better! But only on tap, I don't care for either one in a can.

MacBean,
Only if the bartender is good and the bar isn't busy. Rarely will you find a bartender who takes the time to do that if the bar is packed. It's actually easy to do once you have the hang of it. You just make one figure eight, then start on another, but don't finish the bottom loop. That leaves the "stem" of the shamrock.

[CDNSushi]

My Guiness yesterday had a shamrock (or at least a clover leaf) imprinted in the foam. Do they always come that way and I never noticed?

Mine usually comes with a heart imprinted in the foam, courtesy of the smokin' hot Japanese waitress... (Some days I love this country)...

[beloitpiper]

However, other Irish dry-style stouts such as Murphy's, Donniebrook, etc. are also fantastic, they lack the lactic "twang" that is the Guinness trademark, but they are also easy to drink.

As stout goes, I prefer either Beamish's or Murphy's over Guinness', but Guinness is easier to obtain. I also think their reds are better than Smithwick's (which is the red ale made by Guinness). I'm biassed, because those beers are from Cork.

If I have a choice between Guinness and Murphys, I choose Murphys. That being said, I usually go for the microbrew. I've been all over the country and I've found that in this day-in-age, any bar worth its salt should have two or three local ales on tap.

If you're in southern Wisconsin looking for something dark, try Lake Louie Warped Speed (Scotch Ale), Tyranena Chief Blackhawk Porter, Lake Louie Tommy's Porter, Ale Asylum Contorter Porter, or New Glarus Road Slush (Coffee Stout). Each of those will wallop Guinness many times over.

[Joshua]

. I'm biassed,

Two cracks, four cheeks?

[AKScott]

Just piling on, Guiness more or less defines the style "dry stout", it is commonly available, suitable for session drinking and varies a bit from country to country.

As beers go Guiness is the easiest to get "good" beer in North American lager country.

Partial to export stouts myself, a different subset of stouts in general. My favorite that I know of so far is Lion Stout from Sri Lanka, the best I can get locally is Sheaf Stout from Australia.

[cdarwin]

I really dig the availability argument. I think this must be the case, as I can't think of a single pub worth spending time in that doesn't at least have Guinness on nitro. Actually, I can think of one place, but it specializes in craft and import brews. I suppose I have spent far too much time there lately and have forgotten how nice it is to be just about anywhere and still get a decent draft beer.

I might as well throw my hat in the ring by pointing out my current 'go-to' beers. If the weather is right and I'm feeling a stout I generally choose Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout. If I'm in the mood for something bitter and sweet I will generally refer to La Fin Du Monde.

[tkdog]

Beer is good, Guinness is better, but I'm stuck on hard cider. I don't know why - probably my sweet tooth.

[robthehiker]

Beer is good, Guinness is better, but I'm stuck on hard cider. I don't know why - probably my sweet tooth.

While in London on business many years ago I was taken to a pub by my new boss - the managing director of our UK office. It was early in the day following a late night of drinking with him and I couldn't face the prospect of another beer. As he ordered I saw the Strongbow tap and said "oh, I'll have a Strongbow - I've never had it before". Drinks arrived, we clinked glasses, I took a sip and said "hey, this is pretty good". He replied "yes, it is and it's also a f*#@ing woman's drink". The next time the bartender looked my way I waved him over, looked my boss in the eye then said to the bartender "same again please".

I still like Strongbow.