On Friday night, SB and I shared a lovely meal and drinks at Paddy Coyne’s, my favorite dark and cozy Irish pub.
I was dismayed to learn they were out of Mac n’ Jacks. Our waitress then rattled off the 10 or so other beers they have on tap, but somewhere in there I was distracted by something shiny. She finished her list, staring at me expectantly, implying that it was my line. She was too pretty and friendly to make her list them all again. My brain grasped about for something I may have heard, and settled on Guinness. Guinness! I heard Guinness.
And that’s how I ended up having my FIRST EVER pint of Guinness on Friday night. Yes, first ever. You see, I only started drinking beer about a year ago. Really! It’s true. I thought beer was icky until I turned 30. So I’m relatively new on this beer journey. When I’ve found something I like, I just order it all the time, because I’ve tried certain beers that I DON’T like. I think it’s the really hoppy ones? I don’t know.
The Guinness arrived and I blew SB’s mind when I told him I’d never had one before. He assures me I may have been the world’s oldest Guinness virgin. My first sip was all foam. He started to tell me about the next sip, that starts with foam, and then the flavor of the brew washes over your tongue, his voice shaking with emotion, but then he just stopped, glad he was there to watch it all unfold.
It was good! It didn’t really taste like any beer I’ve had before. I get why people say it tastes a little like chocolate. I was a bit puzzled as to why I no longer had any room in my stomach for my fish and chips, but this is the way of the Guinness, I am learning.
1) I read somewhere that if you drink enough Guinness, you can actually get all of the nutrients your body needs. And then some, I’m sure. And it was a ridiculous amount of beer, probably more liquid than is safe to drink in a day, let alone alcoholic liquid…
2) Melissa is sorta picky about her beers, but in the category of Irish beers, she’s a big fan of Smithwick’s (pronounced ‘smith-icks’, or ‘smitticks’ if you want to sound extra Irish). Something to try next time you’re at Paddy Coyne’s…
3) Another awesome Melissa-approved Irish beer-y treat is the Black-and-Tan. Half Guinness, half pale ale (usually Bass or Harp). Mmmmm…
Slainte! An Irish cheers to you. I enjoy a good Irish beer, you know. So perhaps we can share a pint together sometime. I think Guinness is yummy. And I like Smithwicks, too (yes, pronounced Smitticks). Mmmm, and Black and Tans! I gotta get to a pub sometime soon.
Maybe we can do Zumba then go for a pint…
Guinness isn’t my favorite but I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed it! I give you all my share of Guinness, k?
I’ve also been on a bit of a beer journey, and enjoying some great micro-beers. But by the end of the night, I can’t remember the name of such beers. It’s all just so “yummy in my tummy”.
Aren’t hubby’s fun to drink beer with?
In Ireland … Guinness is pretty much considered a meal, and workers at the Guinness brewery at least used to be able to go home with a couple pints o’ night. Perhaps not anymore, but once upon a time …
Still can’t believe you’re a Guinness virgin. Sheesh.
So … here’s my favorite Guinness including drink recipe I picked up on Cork (mind you, the land o’ Murphy’s … also a good thick Irish beer) … anyhow, it’s called an Irish Black Russian, and I was taught this by the seemingly 15-year-old bartend down the block from my flat back in the day. It sounds weird, but it tastes great:
Irish Black Russian
Take one pint glass
Add a shot or two o’ vodka
Fill most of the glass with Coca Cola … save about 2 inches at the top
Take a CAN of Guinness (unless you have access to a tap) and top off the drink, with emphasis on the FOAM (hence the can, it foams more than the bottle)
Basically, the Coca Cola sweetens the Guinness (including the foam), and the vodka provides the bulk of the alcohol … a very unique and yummy taste … and when I describe it, everyone says “EW!” … until they try it … then it’s round-the-table yums.
And that’s your straight-from-Ireland drinkin’ lesson for the night. …
(Oh yeah, and I remember in Ireland having to working up to drinking a whole pint, but in London if a lady orders more than half a pint at a time you get looked at weird … oddness.)
I love the Guinness! I myself have had for dinner – I like to think it’s a complete meal, shut up.
I also like Smithwicks, and Boddington’s is good too.
I’m a little worried to post this, but you are certainly not the oldest Guinness virgin. I’m 35 (almost 36) and have not had one either. Not a big beer drinker I guess…
It’s a meal in a glass. Guinness does take on an entirely different taste when you are drinking it in Ireland, so you must put that on your TO DO list. Best time to have a Guinness is right after you give birth, it’s full of nutrients and best of all, Iron! Glad you discovered it. Love ya
Jamie: Hey thanks! I will give those recommendations a try! Thanks also for the pronunciation guide.
Noreen: It has been too long since I enjoyed my favorite Irish pub witrh my favorite Irish lass.
Camille: Yes, husbands are fun to drink beer with. It’s funny, but drinking beer makes me feel like more of a grownup.
chickadee: That sounds like a recipe for disaaster, but I am willing to give it a try. Seriously, though, beer, booze, and sugar? I might as well sleep on the bathroom floor.
JR: I have been outside of the Boddington’s brewery in Manchester England England. Sadly, too poor to take the tour.
jazan: Hi there! Well, I would recommend giving it a try. It was way easier to drink than some of the other beers I’ve tried. It didn’t make my nose wrinkle at all.
seriously? I’m glad you’ve made it. You should try a poor man’s Black Velvet – Guinness & Cider (Magner’s is best) – this is my absolute favorite.
For the record, a Black & Tan is Guinness & Bass or Smithwick’s (or any ale).
A Half and Half is Guinness and Harp (or any Lager type beer).
Then there’s a Black & Blue (Guinness & Blue Moon).
A Black Velvet (not for the Poor Man) is Guinness & Champaigne.
Enough of my Irish Pub Beer Slinging nerdiness, except that if you threw Jameson in the place of vodka in that cocktail described above by Tacoma Chickadee it would be even better. But you know how I loooove my Jameson.
xo
Irish car bomb, anyone?
dahli: You are indeed an expert in all things Irish pub. I shall have to try all of those options!
jamie: recipe for DIS. ASS. TER.