starlifter Loc: Towson, MD

Seeing all the St Patricks day news has reminded me of a Guiness story. On a bus trip to Nova Scotia a year or two ago. My wife and I were in a very nice hotel in Fairfax. The hotel had some Guiness signs near the bar entrance. One day after coming back to the hotel after a day of touring we thought it would be nice to relax with a nice pint of that delicious nectar. So we go in and sit down at the bar and i order 2 Giuness"s or how ever you say the plural. The bar tender say's " bottles or cans". Without saying anything or looking at each other we both spun around on our stolls and left. Some people have no class. I think I mumbled a "no thank you" on the way out. We did manage to find a nice place and had a couple of pints While I had a nice Shepherds pie and my wife some delicious salmon.

Ourspolair

Since they put the "widget" in the cans, years ago, the canned product is actually pretty good, but I agree that it is better from the tap.

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

Right you are. I opened a can the other day and it poured just like it was coming from a tap.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

The only time I tried a Guiness was after a wedding rehearsal dinner. It was from a tap and to me was very bitter, and smokey flavored. I took one sip. A friend there said he would gladly accept it if I did not want it. I gladly gave it away.

I've heard since then that Guiness in the states is totally different from Guiness in Ireland.

happy sailor Loc: Ontario, Canada

You are absolutely right the widget makes all the difference, here is mine from yesterday

(Download)

Canisdirus

If you were blindfolded...you could not tell the difference between the can and the keg.

MrMophoto Loc: Rhode Island "The biggest little"

When I first turned of age to legally drink (18 at the time) My crowd would regularly descend on the one bar in town that had Guinness on tap and would drink the place dry (of Guinness). We also developed a snobbery for canned or bottled versions, which I still harbor today. I have had other stouts and porters from cans or bottles that were on a par with tap poured Guinness, so I guess I'll have to force myself to try a six pack, or two. Thanks!

starlifter Loc: Towson, MD

10'-4

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

If I could only drink one beer (okay stout), it would be Guinness - my all time favorite. There's always at least a couple of 6 packs in the fridge.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Guinness from the can with the “widget” is pretty good, although in general, I prefer my beer from bottles, but my question is: what is the “widget” and what does it do?

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

The world famous Guinness widget uses an ingenious nitrogen filled capsule that surges with bubbles when the ring pull is opened – replicating the draught experience in a can.

Canisdirus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a98zhIpn0pg
Here is an explanation...

BrianFlaherty Loc: Wilseyville, CA

For all of you Guinness people, a question: Where is the ONLY place where Guinness "was" produced outside of Dublin that was virtually indistinguishable from Dublin-brewed? Y'all never gonna guess this! In fact, while in Ireland in 1973, I asked folks all over Ireland; and, at the Guinness Brewery itself. . .And, none knew the answer, except one Guinness brewmaster in Dublin. . .

Ready for the answer? A few years ago (late 1940's) Guinness decided to go into the American market; and, did a survey of locations in the United States. They were primarily looking for the "proper" water; plus a "sophisticated" drinking population. The San Francisco Bay Area came up with the Super Trifecta: a vacant brewery on the shore of San Francisco Bay; a drinking population reasonably familiar with the Guinness "product;" And, above all, a water source that was virtually indistinguishable from Dublin water! Proximity to California's Central Valley agriculture was another "plus."

The Irish "invaders" were ecstatic! They purchased the brewery property at a "bargain basement" price; made arrangements for the agricultural ingredients and the water supply; brought their brewing people in from Dublin; and, the marketing team began preparing the United States for "American-brewed" Guinness.

The first batches of Guinness Stout were exactly as they hoped; and, production was ramped up. Pubs and taverns were supplied. . .And, Guinness Stout flowed from the taps in 1950. But, the flavor was NOT what the American palate cared for. . .And, in 1951, production was shut down; and, the Irish invasion was retired to a page in the History books!

Oh, yeah. . .Ya wanted to know where this all took place: Oakland (ie: Emeryville), California. . .not far from the toll plaza on the east end of the San Francisco Bay Bridge. . .38th and San Pablo, a block or so from where the Oakland Oaks played Pacific Coast League baseball (They won the PCL championship in 1948, under Casey Stengel. And, the PCL championship in 1949 and 1950, under Chuck Dressen. Stengel went up to the Yankees in 1949; and, Dressen went up to the Dodgers. . .All this in the shadow of the erstwhile Irish "experiment" with Guinness)

The brewery was the home of some "no name" local beers for a few years before being taken over by Pepsi-Cola. And, these days it is in the heart of Emeryville's resurgence as a Yuppie area of boutique shops and Fine Dining. I also believe Guinness is served in bottles and on draft. . .But it ain't brewed locally! <smile>

This historic note owes it's veracity to Lee Coe and Fritz Maytag; and, yours truly, Brian Flaherty. We were there!

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Thank you - now I’m going to have to do some further reading to understand the mechanism.

Canisdirus

Guinness operates a brewery in Baltimore, Maryland.