As we move past the St. Patrick’s Day holiday (which I’m sure was a boon to many a pub and tavern this year since it fell on a Saturday), I’d like to take a moment to talk about beer.  Not just any beer, mind you, but a drink that is so much more than just the sum of its ingredients.

I’m talking, of course, about Guinness.

Dark, rich, and hearty, it’s the beverage that literally fuels Ireland.  I’ve been lucky enough to travel there, and let me tell you, walk into any pub from Dublin to Limerick, ask for a pint, and you’ll be handed  a glass full of this wonderful brownish-black elixir as your standard order (much the same way as asking for a lager in Pennsylvania will automatically get you a Yuengling).

Many people are turned off by stouts, but if you’ve never tried a Guinness (and I mean a “real” Guinness – on draft – from a bar or pub that knows how to do it right), then you don’t know what you’re missing.

If poured correctly by the bartender, a good pint of Guinness takes time.  First, the barkeep will fill half of the glass, let it settle for a few minutes, then come back and top off the glass, leaving just a thin head of thick foam on the top.  Sometimes – if the bartender is really good – they can showcase their artistry and flair by adding a small shamrock into the froth.

I love to stare at a full pint as it beckons me to take that first sip from that wide-rimmed, logo glass.  I raise the pint and close my eyes, tilting it to my lips.  Ahhhhhh, it’s heavenly!  Milky at first, it then hits my taste buds with its dark, roasted flavor.  There are hints of coffee and caramel in there as well.  It’s also surprisingly smooth, without the harsh punch of hops (as from an IPA).  I liken it to drinking black silk.  After a swallow or two, I set the beer back on the bar, leaving a blonde ring around the glass from where the head previously marked its level in the glass.  It gets better with each sip, and legend states that the “perfect pint” will have between five to seven rings in the glass once it’s emptied.

The Irish are fanatical about their Guinness.  To them, it’s one of life’s necessities – as important to them as bread and water.  It fuels their conversations in the pubs and crosses all cultural boundaries.  Men drink it.  Women drink it.  They’ll even douse a pacifier in it to help quiet a wee lad or lassie who may be fussy.  If you feel lonely or uncomfortable in an Irish pub, tell the person next to you that you’ve never had a Guinness and want to know what all the fuss is about.  Not only will you probably be introduced to everyone in the bar, but by the end of the night (and several pints later), you’ll have made a roomful of new friends for life – guaranteed.

Guinness is in the process of opening a new brewery right here in Maryland, their first on US soil since 1954.  Located just outside of Baltimore, it is scheduled to open in 2018.  Although it will be brewing the company’s “American Blonde” lager onsite, I’m sure you can get a pint of the “good stuff” there as well.

For more information on the Baltimore brewery, click here.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s time for me to find a pub, order a pint, and work on my “rings”.

Slainte!