Guinness beer is a traditional Irish dark beer made from barley, hops, water and a specific strain of ale yeast. It is renowned for its distinctive dark color, creamy texture and frothy appearance. The malt and hop flavor of Guinness is sweet and chocolaty with hints of coffee in the flavor as well. It has a sweet nose, with hints of malt that break through, and its palate is soft, creamy and balanced.
Every good connoisseur of Guinness should know his Guinness Draught tasting notes. More than 250 years of beer history and beer sold in 150 countries make this company one of the largest breweries in the world. In 1759, Arthur Guinness, a brewer from St. James's Gate in Dublin, Ireland, started brewing Guinness, a dry dark beer made from Irish rye and barley.
Nearly 50 countries produce it and it is available in more than 120 countries. It is one of the most popular alcohol brands in the world. The Irish used to drink Guinness on tap until the 1960s. As a result, Arthur Guinness stopped brewing beers and became dark beer instead of beer, which later hit the shelves of the world.
The deep color and caramelized flavor that are characteristic of Guinness comes from roasted but not malted barley. Dark beer is known for its dense, creamy foam, which is achieved by mixing beer with nitrogen to create smaller bubbles that result in a thicker foam. Guinness is always bitter due to the ingredients it contains and the process used to prepare it. You will notice a coffee-like taste in the product as it is prepared with barley, resulting in a roasted taste from the malted material. Still, you will perceive a soft, subtle and creamy taste on your tongue.
Guinness-style beer is not carbonated or artificially filtered, and is dispensed from the keg without any added pressure. As such, it can be considered a lager rather than a bitter. Every good connoisseur of Guinness should know his Guinness Draught tasting notes.
