Ireland Guide

Ireland Blog

Anybody that uses the British Channel 4 program Father Ted as their guide to Irish society and culture understands that everyone in Ireland, including catholic priests uses the word Feck a lot. (along with arse and girls!)

I am a Russian student doing my PHD in Physics in Dublin. When I first came to Ireland naturally I wanted to visit the famous pubs here and learn about the local beers.
Before coming to Ireland I had naturally tried Guinness. Guinness has long been my favorite beer in fact.

Arthur Guinness started his Dublin brewery in 1759. Guinness is a Poter style beer that was popular in London at this time. However, to avoid taxes on Malted Barley Guinness used a unmalted variety and roasted it. This is what gives Guinness its unique flavor and color.

Guiness is the top beer in Ireland and popular around the world. Interestingly, its biggest market is Africa. However, it has growing popularity around the world. In 2006 Canada surpassed Ireland in Guiness consumption.
In the early nineteenth century there were over 200 breweries in Ireland but today there are just over 10. The surviving Irish breweries represent some of the best beers in the world and this is no doubt what drove the others out of buiness.
My second favorite Irish beer is Beamish Irish Stout. It is also thick and black and has a creamy white head.
Beamish smells of roasted malts and faintly of chocolate. It tastes milky and it finishes bitter.

Beamish is brewed by Beamish and Crawford in Cork and is the only Irish Stout that is only brewed in Ireland. So where ever you buy it in the world you know it is the real thing. This is important because Guinness lovers will tell you that Guinness tastes different country to country.
Next on my list is O'hara's Celtic Stout. The smell is very sweet and it has a smoky BBQ like flavor. I would not drink this all night but it is nice for a change after a few pints of Guinness. O'hara's Celtic Stout from the Carlow Brewing Company which was only established in 1998.

Well, as you can see from the list so far I am into stouts. But Ireland is also famous for Cream Ales.
My favorite cream ale is Kilkenny. Kilkenny is a mild hopped Irish ale that has a red tint to it. It is named for the city of Kilkenny. For some reason it seems to be very popular in Finland and Canada. Maybe it tastes best on a cold day :).

Finally, I would like to give special mention to Murphy's Irish Red. It is very bubbly, dry and crisp with a deep red hue. Almost everyone likes this beer but again its not something I would drink all night. Guinness is the best beer to chug all night. After all Guiness is supposed to be healthy :).

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