Been in Ireland since Saturday, and it couldn’t be better. What a lovely country with lovely people. One thing I’ve noticed, at least here in the “real capital” Cork, that “Guinness is for tourists.” Everyone here drinks Murphy’s. Anyway, back to work with Donncha on some WordPress.com goodies.
That might be the case in hicksvil-err lovely country city Cork, but I guarantee you that up here in Dublin, the Guinness is quaffed quite frequently. Not by m’self, I’m more of a Heineken drinker… but I don’t count any way, because I’m Canadian. 🙂 By the way – finding Canadian beer here? Not easy 🙂
Maybe making a big song and dance about drinking Guinness is for tourists — “Wow! Look! I’m in Ireland drinking a Guinness! Quick, take a picture!” — but in Dublin, people just drink the stuff.
Murphy’s was founded in Cork, so it could be a territorial pride thing. Ask about the local seccessionist movement called “The People’s Republic of Cork”.
The real capital is Dublin. If you want to talk about the “real capital”, that’s Tara. Corkonians, get back in your box! 🙂
Oh and I’d like to thank Cork for sicking Eddie Hobbs on us.
Thanks lads. Could you not have kept him quiet?
Ignore them Matt, they’ve all got the misfortune of living in Dublin. Matt you should try some Beamish too that’s another local stout.
Other than that enjoy your stay.
Every town in Ireland has it’s town beer. Ever had a pint of Kilkenny? Only beer I ever managed to get down more than two mouthfuls.
I quit at three.
I drink Smithwicks, myself, when out in a bar. Guinness is just not my thing – I guess it’s like the difference between tea, and coffee (Guinness being the coffee).
Here in Monaghan, the local “beer” is bloody strong poitÃn. I can’t stomach the stuff, myself, but my dad likes to grab a bottle or two whenever he’s over, to show off to his pals in London.
I’m with Kae: Smithwicks is the way to go. If you’re in the west or north west of the country and you ask for beer, that’s exactly what you get.
Kilkenny is rubbish, BTW. 🙂
I personally find Murphy’s to taste much better than Guinness… don’t get me wrong, I love them both- but Murphy’s is a bit smoother with less yeasty aftertaste. That, and at least at my local beer shop, it’s cheaper.
Plus the draft cans they sell here in the US for Murphy’s use a different patented widget to gas up the beer with nitrogen; I think the one in the Murphy’s can (and Boddington’s, for that matter) does a better job than the Guinness widget. smaller bubbles, more head, creamier beer.
But that’s just me. If I was in Ireland I think I’d drink anything I could find!
Matt, enjoy your stay in Ireland. Didn’t realise we were on the same land mass! If you’re venturing north of the border I’ll buy you a couple of pints in return for a world-class blogging system! Best o’ luck!
I’m waving from Belfast, can you see me? 🙂
I don’t think we have a town beer though, Guinness is my usual.
Murphy’s is smoother, but less creamy.
However it doesn’t make too much difference as places here rarely have both on tap. I loved Dublin while I was there. was so pretty.
I’ve been preferring Murphy’s over Guinness for hella days… maybe it’s in my blood…
South or west, but home is best, right?
I heard that Guinness produced in Ireland actually has weaker alcohol content than the rest of Europe, because alcohol is taxed by the percentage, by volume. I’m not sure if this is true or not. Can someone clarify this for me?
lucky you. i’ve been dying to go home — born and raised in ireland — for almost a year.
Wouldn’t surprise me at all, Roman, in Ireland most beers are 4.x% and anywhere I’ve been in Europe have an alcohol of 5.x%
While in Belfast, Donegal, Derry and the like, a kind young lady introduced me to the practice of ordering an Irish Whiskey to sip while the stout was being poured…the trick was to order another stout before you were too close to the bottom of the present one so that you wouldn’t go thirsty during the transition. If you forgot, then you might have to order another Whiskey whilst they poured the stout. After a few whiskeys, the stout was like mother’s milk and brand wasn’t too terribly important ( the stout’s or the whiskey’s). It just so happened that this wonderful trick was introduced to me in Belfast with Bushmill’s ( Deluxe Product ) and Guiness. Cheers!
I fond stout to be too bitter – whenever I’ll be to Ireland again I’ll stick to Smithwick’s or a Black Tan (however its spelled). Irish Mist on the rocks is also something very tasty 😀
cu, w0lf.
@ kae: Sadly Smithwicks doesnt get exported to the rest of the world. In an irish pub in Germany you’ll only get Kilkenny, so I stick with my normal beer (‘Helles’, that would be something like lager, but it tastes helluva lot better than that .. bah .. lager *hualp*).
cu, w0lf.
For the record, the last time I flew over to Boston, I managed to find a pub that had Smithwicks in Quincy Market. I also managed to find it in a place over in Dedham, though I can’t remember it’s name.
In Waterford, it’s “Large bottles from the shelf” … that’s room temperature Guinness to the rest of ye!