Drinking Guinness may be a close approximation to
heaven, but something people often ask me, as I'm an Irish person living in England, is:
"Does it really taste different at home?"
And the answer? Yes, yes, yes,
unbelievably and
subtly so!
Irish Guinness, which is brewed in Dublin tastes
crisp and
clear (whether it is the
extra-cold stuff or not), a touch more
bitter and
tart than the
English version (which is brewed in
London). Additionally, Irish Guinness feels
smoother in the mouth and can certainly be
downed more easily (not that I advocate the practice).
Why?
On a recent visit to the
Dublin brewery, I asked what the
difference between the two is. The answer explains the above mentioned differences perfectly:
Water. In Dublin, the Guinness is brewed using water from a
Spring which occurs naturally somewhere near the brewery. In London, the Guinness is brewed from good old
Thames Water (not from the river, the stuff the "
Thames Water" company pumps down the
mains). Since it is an oft-quoted, but no doubt
apocryphal saying that the average
molecule of
Thames Water has been through a
Human body eight times since it last was in the
Sea, I will
rest my case.
To add my two-pence worth, the best pint of Guinness I've ever had was served in my local pub.