Guinness - extra cold or normal and why?!
Guinness - extra cold or normal and why?
Personally I'm a normal man. I think extra cold just saps the flavour and is meant to appeal to the casual lager market who just might fancy the odd one. They'll be putting fizz in it next!
What do you think, and are you a regular drinker of the black velvet? (It's virtually all I drink). As an Englishman I would particularly be interested in the Irish perspective.
Answers:
I'm Irish and prefer the normal. From I was a child my grandfather used to give me a small bottle of guinness when I came home from school. It was seen to be a good tonic. He would have warmed the bottle infront of the fire first so it was drank lukewarm - lovely. I agree with the extra cold sapping the taste. Normally chilled draught Guinness is lovely and is my favourite beverage.
I prefer the normal as it tastes more creamy and has stronger flavour I think. Tried some Guiness red last week and it was awful - like John Smths but a little watery.
I'm English but I can give you an Irish perspective - it's identical to yours.
Normal all the way!!
Trouble is with guinness there's so many bad pints served by people who don't know how to treat the stuff they have to make it extra cold to disguise the rank taste. You can always tell a pub that serves bad guinness - They've got the extra cold version in there as well.
Personally, I'm a Yank, I prefer mine ice cold. Cultural thing, I guess. When I get to the UK or Europe I'll have it warm like the locals. When in Rome and all that......................
I drink it about cellar temperature just because the coolness is pleasant. I find that Guiness is a rather insipid stout compared to the oatmeals and imperials I prefer, so I don't mind it if the Guiness is served quite cold especially on a summer's day.
I've tried the extra cold for the first time about 4 years ago and i always drink it that way now. but i wouldnt refuse a pint of Guuinness in any shape or form:-)
I'll take Guinness any way I can get it!
I love it all, from the real stuff at St. James' Gate, to the Extra Stout served in bottles in the U.S., to the Foreign Export sold in the Caribbean, to the draft bottles and cans, and of course on tap pulled by a proper Irishman.
Heavenly stuff.
I dont think that any beer tastes good extra cold. I drink some beers at cellar temp. (55 degrees) Every style has a different ideal temp. Check out my link to learn more about beer.
Extra Cold Guinness is heresy! Normal Guinness is pretty much all I drink too. I quite agree with your points. Am Scottish though, not Irish. But I have a friend from Dublin who maintain that Guinness simply isn't Guinness unless it's served on tap.... in Ireland!
I enjoy it room tempature.