Portal:Ireland/Selected article archive/42

Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness (1725–1803) at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost 50 countries and available in over 100 countries.

A distinctive feature is the burnt flavour which is derived from the use of roasted unmalted barley. For many years a portion of aged brew was blended with freshly brewed product to give a sharp lactic flavour (which was a characteristic of the original porter). Although the palate of Guinness still features a characteristic "tang", the company has refused to confirm whether this type of blending still occurs.

The thick creamy head is the result of the beer being mixed with nitrogen when being poured. It is popular with Irish people both in Ireland and abroad in spite of a decline in consumption since 2001, is still the best-selling alcoholic drink in Ireland. Read more...