The Greatness Of Guinness?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Brianhophead, Dec 27, 2012.

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  1. Brianhophead

    Brianhophead Initiate (0) May 16, 2007 Canada (AB)

    So, having a can of Guinness Draught tonight and it got me thinking. Is it just my imagination, or is Guinness Draught just not as great as everyone seems to say it is? Please weigh in and tell me what you guys think.
     
  2. Avangion

    Avangion Initiate (0) Dec 14, 2012 New York

    I remember really liking it on tap in the UK and Ireland, but not in the US. But it has been a long time since I was a regular Guinness drinker. I used to drink it exclusively because it was the only non-lager beer you could find on tap easily, but I suspect nowadays that it does not necessarily stand up to some of the new stouts that are being produced, especially the Imperial Stouts. Then again, there is no accounting for taste. Nobody can tell you what you like after all.
     
  3. DubbelTrubbel

    DubbelTrubbel Initiate (0) Nov 19, 2012 Georgia

    Maybe not great, but it's very good in my opinion.
     
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  4. jplopez21

    jplopez21 Initiate (0) Nov 14, 2012 Illinois

    Once you've tried an Imperial Stout I dont think you could ever go back to guinness.
     
  5. Brianhophead

    Brianhophead Initiate (0) May 16, 2007 Canada (AB)

    I"m going to compare the Guinness I just had to a Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout. The boys and girls from Samuel Smith Brewing haven't let me down yet.
     
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  6. Casedogg43

    Casedogg43 Initiate (0) Jan 4, 2012 Indiana

    Your title to this thread had me thrown! :stuck_out_tongue:

    You are correct, doesn't campare to American stouts!
     
  7. skyroach

    skyroach Initiate (0) Nov 14, 2008 California

    Guinness in Ireland and the UK is amazing. For a low ABV beer, it's hard to beat. Comparing it to an IRS isn't even fair since they are in entirely different categories.

    In the US, Guinness has a weird metallic taste that it doesn't have in Ireland and the UK, both in cans and on draft. I prefer the Guinness foreign extra stout here in the US, it seems to capture the true Guinness flavor better without the metallic taste (but with a higher ABV).
     
  8. Brianhophead

    Brianhophead Initiate (0) May 16, 2007 Canada (AB)

    Yeah, that's why I put the question marks after it. To signify that I was sort of going "What the What?"
     
  9. emyers

    emyers Initiate (0) Jan 11, 2009 Illinois

    I can't imagine many people on this site think too highly of Guinness.
     
  10. Casedogg43

    Casedogg43 Initiate (0) Jan 4, 2012 Indiana

    One time they had a can that you poured into a glass on a special machine that made it all bubbly and stuff!

    Wew, did that one go over well! :grimacing:
     
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  11. gtermi

    gtermi Initiate (0) Apr 21, 2010 Texas

    I actually like Guinness for what it is. I use to drink that stuff like it was water when I first started drinking beer. It has an amazing mouthfeel and easy to drink. I don't care for it as much as I use to, but I still find it to be a nice enjoyable session stout that doesn't sit too heavy.
     
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  12. Treyliff

    Treyliff Grand Pooh-Bah (4,711) Aug 10, 2010 West Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Guinness has its time and place, I still get it on tap when I'm having Irish Stew at my local Irish Pub.

    However, it doesn't compare to almost any RIS that I've had.
     
  13. jbertsch

    jbertsch Pooh-Bah (2,710) Dec 14, 2008 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Depends on who you're referring to when you say "everyone". If you mean the general BA public, we've collectively scored it as "average". So, not great by any means. If you mean the general masses, well, that's a bigger can of worms that often debated on here.

    Coincidentally, i just recently had the foreign export stout again for the first time in a while, and thought I remembered it being better as I thought I had it in Europe some years ago and liked it. But when I just had it again it had me thinking "this is not as good everyone says it is" because that does rate high.
     
  14. RyanMM

    RyanMM Crusader (403) Mar 12, 2009 Michigan

    OMG, a 4.2% dry stout doesn't compare to a 7%+ RIS?

    STOP THE PRESSES

    :wink:
     
  15. beerjerk666

    beerjerk666 Grand Pooh-Bah (5,081) Aug 22, 2010 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I enjoy Guinness solely on draft, it seems to be the only way to enjoy it, for me at least.
    I just had a SS Oatmeal Stout Christmas Eve, delicious in every way.
     
  16. SammyJaxxxx

    SammyJaxxxx Initiate (0) Feb 23, 2012 New Jersey

    I have no problem ordering a Guiness. There is nothing "bad" about it. There is nothing great about it either.
    When I was in Ireland I enjoyed it immensely. I chalk that up to freshness and the fact that everything tastes better on vacation. Having a Guiness in the 360 bar is pretty great.
     
  17. j47paco

    j47paco Zealot (716) Dec 19, 2010 California
    Trader

    Nostalgia is probably to blame, but Guinness will always hold a special place in my heart. I was drinking it 15 years ago when I didn't know any better and thought it was the greatest beer in the world! I'll still have a pint from time to time. Cheers!
     
  18. gtermi

    gtermi Initiate (0) Apr 21, 2010 Texas

    Well compared to an imperial stout, it's going to taste like water.. Hard to compared it to RIS's
     
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  19. Smakawhat

    Smakawhat Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,727) Mar 18, 2008 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Society

    It is what it is, I have no problems with it, it's pretty ubiquitous...

    However, if choice be made... and rarely am I ever going to find the two in the same place.. I would grab a Cadillac Mountain, a Black Cat from Portsmouth, Old #38, even Murphy's without fail... heck I even like Blue Fin from Shipyard probably equally...

    that said I have no problem with drinking a Guinness, and it never steers me wrong for what it is. Establishments often though aren't all equal who serve it.

    Now I just wish I could get the Export Stout on a regular basis for a good price and not being a crap shoot at the store (much of it sits for too long). Even so.. if I had the choice... i'd grab a Zonker without fail too...
     
  20. kingofhop

    kingofhop Initiate (0) May 9, 2010 Oklahoma
    In Memoriam

    Can't hardly take the Draught stuff. Always enjoy Extra Stout and FES tho.
     
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