Guinness 101: How to Pour the Perfect Pint
Whether you’re freshly back from the Emerald Isle and still have that four-leaf clover smell, or are daydreaming of stepping foot in Ireland, this step-by-step how-to will have you pouring the perfect pint of Guinness in no time.
by Reid Flynn
posted June 23, 2020
I scream, you scream, we all scream for Guinness. Well, I wouldn’t scream that in a real Irish pub—those bartenders are some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet, and that would be rude. But if you’re in your own home, and you’re craving a pint of the Emerald Isle’s creamy stout, scream away.
But if you’ve ever popped in and out of the quaint and eccentric pubs of Dublin or Galway, you know that there’s a science to serving up the perfect pint. Sit back, crack open a cold one, and follow these steps to master the two-part pour for a perfect Guinness:
Tilt the glass and the bottle toward each other
Angle your bottle toward the inside edge of the
glass and get a gentle pour going.
Stop once the glass is ¾ full
The bubbles in your beer should be forming that
classic foamy head. Let it settle for a little bit
—patience is a virtue!
Hold it level
Keep your glass level as you get ready to top it off.
Aim for the middle
Pour the rest of the beer from the bottle slowly
into the middle of the foamy head.
Wait one more sec
Let your beer settle again, just until
most of the bubbles have risen.
Say “sláinte” and sip
That’s “cheers” in Irish! You’re ready to enjoy.
That’s it! Ready to show off to the real deal Irish locals between bouts of clover frolicking, sheep sighting, cobblestone street strolling, and castle exploring? Check out our Grand Tour of Ireland for the ultimate trip for a Guinness aficionado.
Special shout out to our friends over at Go Ahead Tours for the Guinness inspiration and lesson.
Lauren enjoying the hops of her labor
Cory testing his luck at the tap
Brendon spending quality time with a pint
Katie & Allie embracing the craic
Written by Reid Flynn
Reid is a copywriter at EF Ultimate Break. He loves cheese, playing guitar, and speaking loudly about indie rock to anyone who will listen. His favorite place in the world is Amsterdam.
