"My second was a glass of Guinness beer which I have found to be very good because it was very foamy and stays that way. The thing I noticed was , it was very dark. And very hard beer . What is a good beverage to recommend drinking in Ireland? Beer must taste different than here?"

 

First of all the Guinness stays foamy because it is served with nitrogen rather than CO2 like most beers we're used to in the US.  The nitrogen creates that foamy/creamy head that lingers throughout most of the pint.  Guinness itself is no different in Ireland than it is in the US.  It is the same exact recipe brewed the same exact way.  Any improvement in flavor found in a pint of Guinness in Ireland is simply due to far more attention being paid to the details in the way it is kept and served.  In Ireland the beer selection is very standard throughought the country.  Most pubs will have Guinness, Smithwicks, Harp, Carlsberg, a cider, and maybe Budweiser on tap.  All stuff you can get at irish pubs in the United States.  Incidentally Guinness is not even an Irish owned brewery anymore.  They are owned by the large internation beverage firm Diageo based out of London. 

You'll seem some variation in some places with Murphy's (mostly in and around Co. Cork), Beamish (also mostly in and around Co. Cork), Kilkenny, etc. showing up on tap.  There has been a small craft beer revolution in Ireland with smaller breweries popping up like O'Hara's in Carlow, Galway Hooker in Galway, Porterhouse (Dublin), Eight Degree, and a few others.  However these microbrewed beers have not yet gotten widespread distribution in Ireland other than in Dublin where you now have places that specialize in serving them (like Bull and Castle).  But it's not yet like in the US where it seems you can go to most bars these days and find a pretty significant selection of microbrews and mass market brews side by side.

I did just recently discovered a place in Doolin called Hotel Doolin http://www.hoteldoolin.ie/Drink that, as you can see from the link, specializes in serving Irish craft beers at their pub.  Kind of cool if you ask me.  In fact, it prompted me to book a room there for this coming October 29th.  They even have had their own beer brewed specially for them by a small local brewer (an Irish Red Ale).  I also found out that in nearby Lisdoonvarna (about 7km from Doolin) is a brewpub called the Roadside Tavern that has it's own attached brewery called the Burren Brewery http://www.roadsidetavern.ie/.  I heard rumor that they got some of their equipment from the Biddy Early Brewery in Co. Clare that closed not too long ago. 

Anyhow, that's a long winded answer to your question and probably more than you wanted to know about Irish beer.  Short answer is the beer, for the most part, tastes the same as in the US.  What makes it better sometimes in Ireland is the atmosphere you're drinking in and the attention to some of the details that often can be found lacking in a US irish pub.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have been to Ireland many times and I can assure you that Guinness tastes quite different there ... according to my taste buds. Maybe it indeed is the process of storing and pouring it, but the fact is that I rarely have one here in the U.S. that I like and absolutely can't wait to grab a glass in Ireland. 

Don't notice any marked differences in the others you mentioned, but for me there is major difference in the taste of Guinness, and I have had two Irish pub owners in Chicago mention the same thing.

Just another reason to go over there!   The photo is of one of the best in the land at pouring the black stuff -- Oliver Mack at Dick Mack's in Dingle.

I'm thirsty all of a sudden.

Geno

-- Edited by Geno on Wednesday 17th of October 2012 01:19:22 PM

"Maybe it indeed is the process of storing and pouring it,"

I can't think of any other explanation other than attention to detail, quick turnover, cleanliness of tap lines, and the underrated affect of drinking it in the right atmosphere. Every pint of Guinness served in the US is brewed at St. James Gate just like every pint served in Ireland using the same process, ingredients, and quality control. What else could it be? Do they brew separate batches differently for export? I don't know. I doubt it but do you know Geno?A

 

Edit:  Guinness draft that is.  I understand the bottled Guinness Extra Stout is brewed in Canada for N. American market.

-- Edited by markan on Wednesday 17th of October 2012 08:09:49 PM

Guinness is not the brew it used to be and has been the subject of many disagreements between myself and Guinness reps over the years, talking of imitation Irish bars is subjective as no Irish bar is the same as any other unless part of a chain (usually made to look olde worlde). Guinness is now to my mind imitation Guinness brewed to gain the favour of the new younger Lager drinkers. In 1979 I gained my certificate as a cellar man from the Brewers Society in the UK. Guinness came in a double skin barrel containing its own gas between the skins. It was over 5 proof compared to the 4 proof today. Barrels had to be kept at 12degrees as compared to the 6 or 8 today. It flowed through 10mm 3/8" pipes not the micro bore flash cooler snakes used today and the poor has been marketed as the key based on the old way of pouring requiring a long settlement time and the malt yeast head had to be taken of with a knife. each mouthful left its tell tale mark all the way down the glass. There are campaigns for Real Ale and real Pubs..I would be happy to campaign for Real Guinness.

Anyway. Guinness is now a fairly low Alcohol 4% Low Calorie 125 and Low Carb 10 drink could be marketed as diet drink? Murphy's is as said a sweeter milder version of Irish Stout, Smitwicks Beer is also nitrogen pumped to keep false head like new Guinness and many lagers.

Michele Erdvig wrote:

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I prefer Smithwick's over Guinness but that is just me. Kilkenny tends to stay foamy and is lighter than Guinness.

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 I usually drink Smithwick's here. I really enjoyed Murphy's when I was in Co Cork. I agree with Geno on avoiding Guiness here in the US.

This is sort of interesting.  The gentleman was so interested in the subject he wrote a blog about it!  You can also get some ideas on this video.

Not sure what the right or wrong answer is, but all this is making me thirsty... 

Geno

-- Edited by Geno on Thursday 18th of October 2012 12:51:21 PM

Hah your funny geno .....
I would prefer a beer that was smoother and sweeter. FOAMY as to Guinness I didn't like it but would give it r try in Ireland. Since it might be treated with more care there. The sound of the name Murphy's milk makes my mouth water and want to try

Sitting in a restaurant in Edinburgh enjoying a pint of Guinness. It tastes equally good in Scotland as in Ireland! Have never found it anywhere in the US to taste this good. Dan

In my experience, trying to compare an American Irish pub to one in Ireland is a night and day, apples and oranges, experience. Remember that at the end of the day there will always be an appeal to the American taste in an American pub. In Ireland, their appeal is relevant to their own traditions and expectations, and never the twain shall meet! Visit Ireland and experience the feelings that only the Irish can provide. You will be glad you did. JohnT

I agree that it is comparing apples and oranges. It will be interesting to see Steph's take on it after she returns from Ireland.

I think the attention to detail of keeping tap and lines clean is a valid point.  From some bars here in the U.S., I know that is too often not at the top of the list each day.  That indeed can make a major difference in the taste.  Thanks for the Lisdoonvarna note -- we will be going through there and I will try and stop.  Is it actually in the village or outside?

 

Thanks

-- Edited by Geno on Wednesday 31st of October 2012 11:14:30 AM

The Roadside Tavern is in the village. It is on the road that leads to Doolin about one block or two from the main crossroad. It's a really nice, cozy, old pub. I would like to stay a night in Lisdoonvara next time just to spend a night at this pub.

Sorry guys I know I havnt commented I've been studying a lot so I can be homework free. For my trip.=-O Even thinkin about a goin to Peru for a week. this would be a week before going to Ireland and Scotland. Lol hmmm B-) so is Guinness made differently in Ireland? Or is it how it is cautiously taken care of while easily pouring that gives it a different taste ?

FYI, straight from Guinness's own website in the FAQ section. Apparently they get asked this question a lot:

Is it true that you get a much better pint of GUINNESS® stout in Ireland?

GUINNESS® is GUINNESS® - wherever you are. We always use pure, fresh water from natural local sources for the GUINNESS® stout brewed outside Ireland. That said, in blind tests (with a bunch of highly cynical journalists) none of our sample could tell the difference between Irish-brewed GUINNESS® and the locally produced variety. All the GUINNESS® sold in the UK, Ireland and North America is brewed in Ireland at the historic St. James's Gate Brewery in Dublin.