Huckleberries Online

Wanted: A Well-Poured Guinness — Me

Posted by DFO

March 18, 2009 8:15 a.m. • 19 comments

I never liked dark beer before either. When we went to Ireland, I had to dive in. We went to the Guinness Storehouse where they give you a free pint up top with this beautiful view of Dublin. The company, the view - the Guinness tasted GREAT. I ended up drinking a lot of it that night and the nights after that. I have to say that it doesn’t taste here, like it did there. Over there you have to wait wait wait to get your beer because they pour it in two steps. They don’t seem to do that here and I think that’s why it doesn’t taste right/Me.

Question: Is there a pub in the Inland Northwest that knows how to pour a Guinness properly?

19 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

Arpie on March 18 at 9:44 a.m.
My brother, who is a world traveler and a man who takes beer seriously claims that the only way to get a well poured Guinness is to go to Ireland. He plans all his European trips to have a stop in Dublin for this purpose. He says that a good bartender will put his initials in the foam when he serves the beer to you, and they’ll still be there when the beer is gone.

Eichardts in Sandpoint and Moon Time in Cda both pour their Guinness well. When Eichardts has it on their hand poured “Cask conditioned” keg, it seems it is the way I imagine my brother likes it.
nnlove on March 18 at 9:50 a.m.
I just experienced Guinness, poured correctly, from the Guinness Storehouse less than two weeks ago. It definitely does taste better over there, though I’m not sure the pour is the only reason. I think it may have something to do with the Irish water. ;) One of the few places in the Northwest I recall seeing it poured at least partially right is the George and Dragon Pub in Seattle. They at least got the “it takes time” factor right. Go figure that it’s an English pub. I learned just recently that a proper pour should take approximately 119.5 seconds. I found a YouTube video that gives the instructions on pouring the beloved beverage correctly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d15lJn1r0Mk
JBelle on March 18 at 10:05 a.m.
uh…….O’Doherty’s?!
Me on March 18 at 10:28 a.m.
nnlove - yes I too think it may have something to do with the water from the Liffey, but did you SEE that water? Best to not think about what it looks like in the middle of Dublin.

I tend to think that the major reason it tastes better there is that you are THERE…. sigh.
mia on March 18 at 10:48 a.m.
I’m with JBelle, O’Doherty’s!
Me on March 18 at 12:51 p.m.
Jbelle and Mia - where is O’Doherty’s? Is it in Spokane? I will try it out for sure.
JBelle on March 18 at 1:00 p.m.
On Spokane Falls, across the street from the park, next door to Boo Radley’s? roughly, Howard and Spokane Falls Boulevard. You tell Tim and Sam O’Doherty that you are a pal of JBelle’s and you will drink for free. ;)
mia on March 18 at 2:59 p.m.
Me, There is also an O’Doherty’s in the Spokane Valley, on Sprague, just West of Pines Rd. I don’t have the same clout as JBelle with Terry and the gang at the Valley location, so you’re better off to go to the the one downtown, and enjoy a free drink!
Me on March 18 at 4:29 p.m.
Thanks JBelle and Mia. I’ll report back as soon as I try them (yes I will more than likely try both!)
Cindy_H on March 18 at 7:22 p.m.
Um. JBelle? Any other venues where I can mention your name and get free beer? I’m compiling a list :-)

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D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.