Cheers! Guinness Beer Turns 250
EmailABC's Ammu Kannampilly reports from London: It’s arguably the world’s most famous beer and today, Guinness celebrates its 250th birthday. Celebrations kick off in Dublin, Ireland, where a host of musicians including Kelly Rowland, Sir Tom Jones and Kasabian will perform at venues across the city. But that’s not all — the Black Eyed Peas will be performing in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Sean Paul will entertain crowds in Lagos, Nigeria. It’s unsurprising that Guinness is throwing a global shindig to commemorate Arthur’s Day – named after Arthur Guinness, the founder of Guinness, who signed a 9,000 year lease on Dublin’s St James's Gate Brewery 250 years ago. In fact, Nigeria is one of Guinness’s biggest markets – according to a report published in the Los Angeles Times, “Guinness now sells more beer in Nigeria than it does” in Ireland. If you are lucky enough to live in one of the 4 cities – Dublin, Lagos, Kuala Lumpur, and New York – hosting tonight’s concerts, go to the Guinness website to get more details on what’s happening where. The party kicks off at 5.59 pm in Dublin with a toast to Arthur Guinness, before carrying on to other cities. Guinness is now brewed in almost 50 countries, with ten million glasses drunk around the world every day.
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Somehow, I just can’t get too excited over beer.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | September 24, 2009, 10:30 am 10:30 am
Guinness Beer Turns 250!
Brilliant!
Posted by: Noz | September 24, 2009, 10:30 am 10:30 am
Well pour me a glass of the black stuff and let’s have a chat.
Posted by: Seamus Mc Carthey | September 24, 2009, 10:54 pm 10:54 pm
A pint of plain is your only man!
Posted by: jaiotu | September 25, 2009, 10:31 pm 10:31 pm
Guinness is not a beer. It is a stout. It is also a meal in a glass. In Ireland it was prescribed for pregnant women to enrich the iron in their blood and it is offered to this day as a restorative to people who have just donated blood.
Alas, it is now a global brand. In the good old days people chose where to drink in Dublin based on the delivery schedule from the brewery (which varied). Nothing could compare to a fresh pint, brewed with Camac water (a Liffey tributary). What is brewed elsewhere and sold worldwide today is not nearly as good. But, it has to be said, it is a lot better than a bad pint and the chance of a bad pint now is much much reduced.
When you next have a pint — and you should have one in Dublin before you die — have a look at the glass after you’ve supped your first draught. Notice what happens to the black stuff where you have quaffed the creamy head. It’s isostasy, in a glass.
Posted by: Eats Wombats | September 26, 2009, 7:47 am 7:47 am
What is the plastic ball for in the can of stout?
Posted by: shadow | September 26, 2009, 8:26 pm 8:26 pm
Eat Wombats sounds like a ball of fun to have a pint with…not. And stout is a beer ;)
Posted by: Matt | September 27, 2009, 5:00 am 5:00 am
The plastic ball, called the “widget,” has a very small hole in it. During manufacturing, the can is filled with both Guinness and pressurized nitrogen, which goes into the hole and fills the ball. When the can is opened, the sudden pressure drop causes the combined liquid and nitrogen to jet out of the hole, producing the very fine foamy head that Guinness drinkers expect.
Draft Guinness is made foamy by a fine flow-restrictor in the beer tap.
Posted by: EWAdams | September 27, 2009, 5:43 pm 5:43 pm
Cheers Karen!!! George
Posted by: George Sabol | September 27, 2009, 7:17 pm 7:17 pm
Do you think Guinness tastes better from the can than the bottles? Slainte!
Posted by: Yogi | October 5, 2009, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm
Guinness is good for you. I had my first one, at the bar at the Gresham Hotel, in Dublin in 1966.
I purchased the Anniversary 250 Stout, two days ago.. It is excellent, very similar to the regular stout, and only bottles will do, thank you.
Erin Go Bragh. Maureen Sullivan Drapeau
Posted by: Maureen DRAPEAU | October 6, 2009, 12:04 pm 12:04 pm
I saw on the telly a guy lived on Guinness for a week while a doctor check him out before and after
Guinness has lots of vitamins…
Cheers have another pint LADS
Posted by: Collins | October 14, 2009, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm
It’s nice that Guiness is now 250 years old. However, I recall that a number of breweries in Germany were 1,500 years and older. By that standard, Guiness is not yet to voting age. I fully agree that it tastes great whatever its age.
Posted by: Ed | October 15, 2009, 7:23 am 7:23 am
The locals in Ireland call it “Genius”
Posted by: douglas | October 15, 2009, 12:56 pm 12:56 pm
This is my favorite stout, and favorite ‘beer’ drink, for that matter. Reading the article and other comments, it’s a pretty interesting drink also. Delicious, too! Cheers! :D
Posted by: Sayward | October 15, 2009, 5:20 pm 5:20 pm
To Arthur!
Posted by: Damian Barton | October 15, 2009, 9:32 pm 9:32 pm
Guiness is overhyped. Murphy’s stout is way much better. It is made in Cork. I know this for a fact. Having drunk each in Dublin and in Cork, or in Asia, in South America, in Africa, in North America, in Australia and in Antartica. Ask your mate to help you in a taste-test of these stouts. You will surprise yourself.
Posted by: Barrett | October 18, 2009, 2:24 pm 2:24 pm
250 years old and still going strong! You just can’t improve on a great thing!
Here in the state of Missouri, in the USA, we drink Guiness all of the time and love it!
Happy Birthday to a fine stout!
Posted by: Longhunter | October 24, 2009, 8:31 am 8:31 am
A Guinness a day keeps the doctor away!
Cheers and Happy Birthday!
:)
Posted by: Sam | October 29, 2009, 1:37 pm 1:37 pm
I love it so much! So proud!!! So so proud! Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Samantha | October 29, 2009, 6:22 pm 6:22 pm
It’s unfortunate though, that the success of draught Guinness has come at the expense of bottled Guinness Extra Stout, which is a completely different beer and worth celebrating in its own right.
Posted by: dave | November 4, 2009, 9:31 am 9:31 am
It’s unfortunate, though, that the popularity of draught Guinness has come at the expense of bottled Guinness Extra Stout, which is a completely different beer and worth celebrating in its own right.
Posted by: dave | November 4, 2009, 9:33 am 9:33 am
I was told on a personal tour of the brewery in Dublin that Guinness was brewed in five places. Dublin, Malaysia, Nigeria and two other cities in Africa. In Dublin some of the stout is dehydrated to syrup. Oumped in to tank trucks and taken to the docks. There it is put into plastic containers. Then shipped all over the world to be hydrated, caned, bottled, and keged at fifty-two breweries.
Posted by: John | November 4, 2009, 5:09 pm 5:09 pm
I have had Guinness on tap at my home since 2001. I tis wonderful to be able to pull a perfect pint anytime I want.
Posted by: John | November 4, 2009, 5:10 pm 5:10 pm
Vile liquid *shudder* tastes like it’s 250 years old, that part is true.
Posted by: meme | November 12, 2009, 10:30 am 10:30 am
HMMM…
“ten million glasses drunk”
HMMM… Shouldn’t that be
“Ten Million Drunk Glasses”?¿?
Posted by: jimiznhb | November 12, 2009, 9:09 pm 9:09 pm
It’s not beer, it’s stout…
Posted by: x | November 13, 2009, 12:24 pm 12:24 pm
The Mayans were wrong! Don’t worry about 2012, the World Ends in the year 10,759 when the Guinness lease expires on St. James Gate Brewery!
Posted by: Brian S | November 20, 2009, 10:37 am 10:37 am
Guinness is best on tap. I prefer cans to bottles if I am somewhere that doesn’t have it on tap. While Guinness is great, I really prefer a brew called Beamish… It is another excellent Irish stout that is great on tap or in a can. It is now impossible to find outside of Ireland though, as the owners (Heineken) decided to limit its production. As for Murphy’s Stout, it is a bit too metallic for my taste. Happy 250th birthday to Guinness!
Posted by: Jon | November 25, 2009, 3:04 pm 3:04 pm
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GUNIESS STOUT.LETS ALL HAVE ANOTHER PINT FROM YOUR FRIEND
JERRY SOUTH CAROLINA (USA)
Posted by: Jerry D | November 29, 2009, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm
Happy Birthday, Guinness — may you have many more!
I like a pint or two of Guinness, but I switch to lager afterward because Guinness is very rich; it’s almost like a meal to me.
Guinness has minerals in it that you cannot get from any other source — it really is good for you.:)
Posted by: The Bigger E | November 30, 2009, 10:03 am 10:03 am
Nogeria Guiness is the best of them all.It is rich and dark (like most Nigerians) and it is a cheaper form of Viagra.Our wives (in Nigeria ) make sure we always have a steady supply.
Posted by: redd wood | November 30, 2009, 4:06 pm 4:06 pm
Now here is news I can smile about! Congrats to Guiness, Think I’ll go out and buy some today to enjoy tonight.
Posted by: Walt Grabowski | December 3, 2009, 1:06 pm 1:06 pm
Guinness is not beer, it is mother’s milk of the god’s and they have allowed us mortals to imbibe as we allow the elitist scum to destroy us!
Posted by: god_is_beer | December 13, 2009, 12:10 am 12:10 am
In 9ja (Nigeria), Guinness is a popular brand. We love the bitter sweetness. We call it the Black Gold.
To Arthur
Posted by: Ekene | December 16, 2009, 6:51 am 6:51 am
Guiness is not a beer! it is a stout!!
Posted by: reio;a | December 21, 2009, 11:39 am 11:39 am
WOW!!!
Posted by: George | December 22, 2009, 9:02 pm 9:02 pm
My Dad’s birthday is Sept 24th. We are Irish too. I guess it’s in my blood. Would love to have a pint in Dublin before I die. BRILLIANT!!
Posted by: David Cunningham | January 1, 2010, 1:44 pm 1:44 pm
Well……..well…well… Last year I visited the Dublin brewery where they make Guinness, and I was informed that all this beer comes from only this brew facility, however, now I hear that it has 50 brewery factories making Guinness. What is the truth,……gimmi some truth here!
Thanks
Posted by: Stephen E. Lawrence | January 5, 2010, 5:12 pm 5:12 pm
Love Guinness!! The only stout for me. Slainte’
Posted by: Cody Brazier | January 7, 2010, 8:59 am 8:59 am
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
Posted by: Jason Springs | January 12, 2010, 7:43 am 7:43 am
And that’s just the bottle in the back of my ‘fridge!
Posted by: Kelly | January 19, 2010, 9:14 am 9:14 am
Damian, your assertion is not a fact. ( Okay, it’s a fact that you prefer Murphy’s stout; that doesn’t make it a fact that Murphy’s is better.) In fact , Guiness is extra stout, so it’s stoutier. I’ve had both, also, and I prefer Guiness. As does God. So there.
Posted by: SpiritGael | January 20, 2010, 7:26 pm 7:26 pm
Tis such an honor to be Irish and have Guinness as a life long partner.
Posted by: Bill | February 4, 2010, 1:52 am 1:52 am
I like a good Guinness now and again. I’ve had a few in Dublin, Ireland, too. You have to do that when you visit Ireland. All said, “Happy Birthday, Guinness, and MANY happy returns!”
Posted by: Nan | February 5, 2010, 8:00 pm 8:00 pm
A Toast to Joan Desadora of the Parting Glass in Saratoga NY. There is no better Pub or “Puller” of Guinness, and anyone who has been there will agree.
Yankees Stadium during Playoffs and the Parting Glass after the Travers were Sports Illustrated “Top Places to Be” in NY.
Cheers to Joan, Kathy, Sue, and Linda! You make the Saratoga meet something all will remember!!!
Posted by: James Avanzino | February 10, 2010, 3:30 am 3:30 am
To set the record straight: Guinness IS a beer; all stouts are beer by definition. Stouts are a category of beer, as are lagers, pilsners, etc. Its the combination of different types of grains, hops, yeast, aging, and fermentation temperatures that determine its category.
Posted by: ironwolf | February 16, 2010, 12:35 pm 12:35 pm
Guiness is much better in Ireland than the Canadian-licensed crap we have to drink in the United States.
Kind of like eating “crepes” in Mexico.
Posted by: Gary | February 19, 2010, 2:06 pm 2:06 pm
My veterinarian recommended it for my mare to stimulate her milk production post foaling! It worked. 1 bottle morning and night mixed with her grain. Slainte
Posted by: Whistleville | February 19, 2010, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm