Ireland | EUNewsletter

Beer with an Irish accent

IrelandThe Irish pub where the spirit of Ireland lives is a must see when visiting Ireland. This is the place where modern jazz, blues, rock music sounds mix with traditional dances going back as far as the 11th century. This is where you can also find Irish dark beer.

Brewing in Ireland has a long history, and by the beginning of the nineteenth century there were over two hundred breweries in the country. The famous Guinness is manufactured here. With a 250-year-old history, this beer is at present produced in more than 35 countries and occupies 85% of the Irish beer market. Its origins are traced to 1759 when Arthur Guinness rented the Saint-James-Gate beerhouses in Dublin for 9 thousand years. Since that day the bitter dark beer brand has achieved fame worldwide.

The technique of pouring beer has remained unchanged throughout the centuries. First, the cup is half filled with a 45 degree inclination, after which the cup is straightened and slowly filled to the end. The cream-coloured foam layer on the surface must be no more, no less a finger thick.

Among other famous dark Irish beers are Beamish & Crawford (1792) and Murphy’s (1865). In comparison to the heavier and bitterer Guinness and Beamish, Murphy’s is a lighter and sweeter stout.

Irrespective of the beer taste, the atmosphere of the Irish pub will greet you everywhere in Ireland, and in many places abroad.