Guinness

[sparroa]

Eric,
I would consider Guinness to be extremely high quality. Consistency and quality control are perhaps the greatest assets of a brewer and Guinness has that in spades. (The same could be said for Budweiser or most of the other macrobrewers)
It is mild in flavour compared to Imperial Stouts and other big bold beers being produced today, but as *the* iconic dark beer it is an easy target, but I think it achieves its goals quite well. Just to be clear, I know what you mean when you say that you consider it to be lacking - I just think it gets knocked unfairly from time to time.
The thickness, IMO, is mostly an illusion due to the nitrogenated head. The beer is quite light despite its creamy consistency - particularly after a few pints!
okrent,
Sorry, I thought you conflated the two. I just wanted to point out that they were different beers.
sothron,
It sounds like we could be good drinking buddies. I love port, bourbon, and a good American IPA like you wouldn't believe.

 

[bigboi]

I am a big fan of IPA's, though maybe a guinnes should be on the menu for tomorrow. Ahh screw I'm going to buy me some 70minute IPA from Dogfish head!!!

 

[peckinpahhombre]

I'm Irish, so of course I love Guinness. I have drank many pints of The Goodness, including at the St. James Gate brewery in Dublin. Still, as much as I love it, I love Murphy's stout even more. Murphy's is made in Cork, and is the largest competitor to Guinness and the two are big rivals. I think the reason it really synchs with my palate is that it is a little less sweet than Guinness.
However, in North America it is much harder to find Murphys on tap than Guinness. Oddly enough, I just got back from a Disney cruise, and there was an Irish pub on the ship and they sold Murphys on tap but not Guinness. Ok by me.

 

[topd]

I was introduced to Guinness Draught in London... (From the spigot behind the bar, 'on tap', not from a can like here in the U.S.) It took a couple drinks to get the hang of it, at room temperature, but I love it. The bottled Extra Stout is excellent! That's what I'll be indulging in this afternoon.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

I can only drink Guinness on tap. I just can't drink the stuff in the can or the bottle. Luckily, virtually every pub here in Canada serves it on tap, so finding it is not a problem. The Irish say that Guinness tastes far better when you drink it closer to St James Gate. I think there is some science here, as some say Guinness draught does not travel very well. I do know that when I'm in Ireland it tastes exceptionally good. I don't know, however, whether that is science or psychology - perhaps a little of both.

 

[cedeks]

It is so strange I thought I am the only one who doesn't like beer and prefer Guinness by far... happy to know that some people share this with me... cheers guys