A Girl Gulping Guinness?

Although I have worked as a bartender for five years, I have never really connected to the inky black soul of a pint of Guinness. Baby Guinness? Yes, I'll have ten. The real thing, as I thought, tasted of cigarette ash with a hint of bad coffee. I have always relied on a rum and coke or a vodka, lime and soda to quench my thirst- a typically girly choice. However, whether it be a frontal-lobe development, changing taste buds, or sheer "fomo" on saint Patrick's Day, I have found myself ordering a pint around a few bars and pubs in Newcastle after trying it again and not hating it.

Pint of Guinness outside of The Alchemist in Newcastle

Give us a taste

According to the passionate Guinness drinkers in my life, the taste changes depending on where you buy a pint from and where the keg is stored. Before I embarked on this booze journey, I thought that statement to be bizarre and slightly pretentious since all the kegs are filled with the same drink. As you are about to find out, I was proven to be massively wrong.

The following list I've compiled is completely my own twenty something opinion and not a reflection of the bars themselves.

Here are my findings so far, ranked best to the worst pints I've had in Newcastle:

• Harry's Bar- the smoothest velvet. It was so creamy and so cold that the whole pint melted down my throat in under ten minutes.

• The Old George- A moreish flavour. Contained the same coldness as Harry's, however it wasn't as creamy. It felt light and made me happy- probably because I had three of them.

• The Alchemist- The earthy middle. The cream combined with a warm flavour made a satisfactory taste. However, it was not a cold pint which made it difficult to finish.

• Blue Star- All rock, no roll. I received my pint with an inch and a half missing from the top which wasn't an accident since it had already been "topped up". The taste was similar to the Alchemist, however there was much less creamy texture to make up for the lack of cold.

• The Fourth- Harsh reality. This pint made me question why I'd started drinking Guinness. It possessed a very bitter taste that reminded me of paint. I'll give it credit for being cold but I couldn't finish this pint.

A pint of Guinness and blackcurrant from The Fourth. Even the blackcurrant did not help the taste.

The Verdict

I have to agree that Guinness really does taste different depending on where you buy from. However, the bars will have new kegs delivered each week and maybe their pints will taste different next time I visit. For any Irish readers, I understand that the best place for a Guinness is its homeland, however I am yet to make that journey.

Guinness has proven to be a shot in the dark and although I enjoy a pint from time to time, I think I'll stick to the rum as a go to.

Stay tuned on this blog for some cocktail recipes and recommendations from my very own bar cart!

I'll end this adventure with a poll- what is your adult beverage of choice?

Buy me a coffee! :)

Choose your favourite!

• GUINNESS
• Lager
• Wine
• Spirits

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