Guinness vs Europe: Today in Ireland we sure do see a lot of alcopops and stupidly-coloured cocktails being consumed in Irish pubs. But actually, the biggest-selling brand of any alcoholic drink in Ireland is still Guinness. But why is this? And what are other Europeans drinking?
Why are the Irish so loyal to the Guinness brand? It is now owned by Diageo, a British conglomerate, so it isn’t REALLY Irish anymore. But still, a quarter of all beer sold in Ireland is Guinness.
Guinness: The back story
Guinness has been around in Ireland since 1759, when Arthur Guinness started brewing ales at the St James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin. In 1759 he signed a 9,000 year lease at £45 per annum for the unused brewery. Ten years later, Arthur Guinness first exported his ale: he shipped some barrels to Great Britain. And Guinness sales have boomed there ever since. And the good fortune didn’t stop in Britain. Guinness is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide. It is brewed in almost 60 countries and 1.8 billion US pints are sold every year. The brand now generates almost €2 billion annually.
So here are some things that may point to why Guinness is still so popular with Irish drinkers:
Guinness: Things to know
-Way back when, Guinness workers had unbelievable staff benefits and excellent pay. The generosity of the company towards its staff was unprecedented. It created massive goodwill in the community. However this was not without its politics: before 1939, if a Guinness brewer wished to marry a Catholic, his resignation was requested. Enough said.
-In October 1886 Guinness became a public company, and was averaging sales of 1,138,000 barrels a year. This was despite the brewery’s refusal to either advertise or offer its beer at a discount. Word-of-mouth was driving all of the sales.
-In the 1970s, following declining sales, the decision was taken to make Guinness Extra Stout more “drinkable.” The brand was re-launched in 1981. Pale malt was used for the first time. Now the draught beer’s thick, creamy head comes from mixing the beer with nitrogen when poured. It is the creamy head that drinkers love about the brand.
– Guinness is often referred to as “the black stuff” and as a “Pint of Plain.”
-Despite its reputation as a meal in a glass, Guinness only contains 198 kcal per imperial pint. This is fewer calories than skimmed milk or orange juice and most other non-light beers.
-Although Guinness may appear to be black, it is officially a very dark shade of ruby.
-Studies claim that Guinness can be beneficial to the heart. Researchers found that antioxidant compounds in the Guinness, similar to those found in certain fruits and vegetables are responsible for health benefits because they slow down the deposit of harmful cholesterol on the artery walls.
Guinness: More things to know
-In the 1020s, Guinness conducted market research and found out that after drinking a pint of Guinness, people “felt good.” The slogan was born – “Guinness is Good for You.” This type of advertising for alcoholic drinks that implies improved physical performance or enhanced personal qualities is now prohibited in Ireland. But some of the old ads still survive around the traps. And let’s face it, it does make you feel good. Whether that translates as BEING good for you is a whole other ball of wax.
-The production of Guinness involves the use of isinglass made from fish. Isinglass is used as a fining agent for settling out suspended matter in the vat. So if you are vegetarian you might want to skip Guinness.
-The perfect pint of Draught Guinness is the product of a double pour, which should take 119.53 seconds. Guinness has promoted this wait with advertising campaigns such as “good things come to those who wait.” Despite this, Guinness has endorsed the use of the Exactap invention. The Exactap is the fastest beer dispense system in the world and can deliver a perfectly presented Guinness, with no overfilling, in just 4 seconds.
So we can see from the above why Irish people still prefer a Guinness over other brands. While Guinness may be the largest-selling alcoholic drink in Ireland, there are many runners-up. We drink a lot of normal beer, whiskeys, ciders and Irish liqueurs. We do tend to stick to drinks that have always traditionally been around in Ireland.
Guinness for the Irish. But What Are Others Are Drinking?
Czech Republic
For people that lunch in an experimental way, try a glass of Bohemian absinth. It is flavoured with wormwood (which is as bitter as a jilted bride) and sports a mind-boggling-high alcohol content. Bohemian-style absinths are mixed with herbal extracts and artificial colouring for that extra punch. Mmmm chemicals. Yummy. An ingredient in Bohemian absinth called thujone is even said to be psychotropic. So if you drink it and then you see pretty butterflies you’ll know to put the glass down and go do something good for society.
Austria
Turn On is an interesting beverage compliments of the Austrians. You should consider it even though it is alcohol-free – primarily because it is an aphrodisiac drink. You can’t go wrong with the promising slogan, “This beverage will arouse you.” The cherry-flavoured fizzy drink is made with “erotic herbs” and offers you a “nice tingling sensation flowing through your body.” Obviously, you shouldn’t believe everything you read, unless we have written it. But try it and see if the ugly Austrian guy next to you starts to look seriously hot. He probably will, because there are no ugly men in Austria. Sigh.
Croatia
A Croatian favourite is Maraskino – a liqueur of utter pleasure and frightfully difficult to resist. Maraskino is made from “miraculous and healthy” marasca cherries which grow around Zadar. Croatians associate it with health and we are loving this philosophy.
Germany
Germany is a land of trough-sized glasses designed to be filled by truly drinkable beer. Our recommendation for people in Deutschland is the springy Eku Pils, a German pilsner. It’s a light brew – perfect for those car-sized glasses. Remember travellers, pigs also drink from troughs and decorum is free.
Hungary
Hungary’s native spirit, called pálinka, is a distilled brandy, usually made from plums. A bankable hobby of older Hungarian ladies is to cook up a nice little pot of the stuff in their free time. We now all know where we want to retire. Alas. This moonshine is not for alcoholic beginners. Get lessons before swallowing, friend. Another favourite of the Hungarians is a drink called “Unicum” so famous it’s a national institution. But because it is known as the “national accelerator” the advice would be to back away slowly if offered it and run as fast as you can back to your Mummy.
Italy
Aperol is Italy’s most popular light spirit and one of my hands-down favourites. At just €1 a pop it’s also everyone’s favourite price – cheap. But it’s quality all the way. This bright orange drink is scoffed by more than 3.4 million Italians every day. Aperol’s flavour and colour is achieved through a subtle blend of bitter orange, gentian, rhubarb and an array of herbs and roots. Surely one portion of your 5 fruit and veges a day?
Netherlands
Here the drop of choice is Jenever which is a juniper-flavored drink. It is the traditional liquor of the Netherlands and Flanders, from which gin has evolved. Jenever is often drunk with cold lager beer as a chaser; this is sometimes referred to as a kopstoot or “headbutt.” Enough said.
Poland
Poland has long been part of the “vodka belt”. (Perfect if you love anything fashion). This belt pulls in northern European countries from Russia to Norway where they aren’t scared to get up in the morning and down a shot before munching their cornflakes. The most famous of these is Zubrowka or Bison grass vodka. This Polish specialty is supposed to have aphrodisiac qualities for men. So if you have trouble drinking it, and you are a woman, give it to the hot guy next to you. You may change fate with this stuff. If you are a man, scull it and report back to us.
Slovakia
It is said that if God grew it, the Slovaks have turned it into alcohol. A favourite Slovak drink called Slivovica is about 60% alcohol and it has the same aroma as a burning phone. Home-made Slivovica is supposedly pure enough to not leave you with a hangover. Don’t believe the hype of supermarket Slivovica. You’ll wake up the next morning convinced that your head hads caved in.