Gigfy.com - Guinness is Good For You!

Guinness is good for you after all

2008-02-08T22:44:00.001-08:00

Feeling OK? Have a 'pint'

The long-running ad campaign is well known
The old advertising slogan "Guinness is good for you", is being taken quite literally in Belfast.

A health group in Short Strand has come up with a tempting new way to talk to men about their health - over a pint of the black stuff.

The scheme is being run by the East Belfast Community Health Information Project which is taking its message right into local hostelries.

Organiser PJ Jones said the idea was to bring health matters to male attention and the only place they could do that was where men gathered - in the the pub.

"Men don't seem to go to the doctors, " he said.

"So, it's giving them an incentive to take a pint and come and get a small health check.

"It will be a social event as well. We didn't want to bring in the professional look - the doctors - because men stand back from that."

Researchers in the USA have said that a pint of the black stuff a day may work as well as an aspirin to prevent heart clots that raise the risk of heart attacks.

Last November, a team from Wisconsin University tested the health-giving properties of stout against lager by giving it to dogs who had narrowed arteries.

They found that those given the Guinness had reduced clotting activity in their blood and believe that "antioxidant compounds" in the Guinness, similar to those found in certain fruits and vegetables, are responsible for the benefits.

Health checks and a pint go hand in hand in BelfastThe Belfast scheme, part of a health awareness week, is a one-off idea and has never been tried in the area before.

However, there is a serious message to the fun side of the campaign which organisers are keen to highlight.

"It's usually the women that tell the men to go to the doctors," said Mr Jones.

"The simple message to men is prevention is better than detection. You need detection to get it sorted out. But if you can prevent it, it will save money on the health service."

He added: "If they (men) don't come to the surgery, we'll bring it to them."

Guinness has reportedly given the go-ahead for the east Belfast scheme.

Last year, a spokesperson for Diageo, the company that now owns the Guinness brand, told the BBC: "We never make any medical claims for our drinks."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/3703781.stm

Take a Tour of the Guinness Brewery on YouTube

2008-02-08T22:40:00.000-08:00

Take a Trip through the Guinness Brewery

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1_GTWTN04E

Guinness sales losing their froth

2008-02-08T22:36:00.000-08:00

Guinness sales losing their froth
By Shane Harrison Dublin corrrespondent

Lent is now upon us, a time when many people in Ireland make a sacrifice until Easter Sunday.

Guinness sales are in decline in the Irish Republic

Quite a few forsake their visits to their local pub and give up drinnking alcohol for several weeks, though some do make an exception for St Patrick's Day on 17 March.

And that's not good news for Diageo, the owners of Guinness, Ireland's world-famous stout that was first exported in 1796.

In 1914 the Guinness brewery in Dublin was the largest in the world and the company was the biggest single employer in Ireland.

But times have changed.

Recent figures show that sales of Guinness are losing their froth.

The 2006 figures for Ireland and Britain show a drop of 7%, continuing a trend that began years ago.

Some people blame the trend on the Irish Republic's smoking ban in pubs; others say it has to do with a crackdown on drink-driving.

People are drinking more alcohol at home and are mainly choosing wine
But the truth is that even before the ban was introduced people were going to the pub less often and this was having an impact on sales.

People are drinking more alcohol at home and are mainly choosing wine.
Michael Patton, corporate relations director, Diageo Ireland, says company research shows the number of people remaining loyal to Guinness is stable.

"The problem is they are consuming less Guinness than before," he said.

Mr Patton puts the decline in sales primarily down to life-style changes. Six years ago, he says, 70% of all Guinness was consumed in pubs but now it has dipped below 50%.

He said: "The main issue for us and the beer market, in general, is changing life-style and the continuing shift from on-trade to off-trade consumption."

The continuing decline in Guinness sales has led to speculation that Diageo might be prepared to sell the brand but Michael Patton says that's not the case.

"We won't be getting out of beer. Diageo has a total beverage alcohol strategy and that means it will stay in beer."

Why Guinness tastes better in Ireland

2008-02-08T22:33:00.000-08:00

Why Guinness tastes better in Ireland

According to the tour guide at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, the belief that Guinness tastes better in Ireland is not just an urban myth. He offered two explanations for the phenomenon.

1. Freshness
Because Guinness is so much more popular in Ireland than elsewhere, kegs don’t last long. So your pint is more likely to be fresh.

2. Cleanliness
If you’re a pub owner in Ireland, you are affiliated with Guinness. One of the terms of that relationship is that every three weeks you’ll receive a visit from a Guinness representative who will flush the lines to your Guinness taps. Pub owners are supposed to do that on their own, but some are lazy about it and Guinness doesn’t want to take any chances. If the lines aren’t flushed, the brew will be compromised.

http://blog.jonudell.net/2007/11/22/why-guiness-tastes-better-in-ireland/
What a savvy business practice!

Guinness Barbecue Sauce Recipe

2008-02-08T22:17:00.000-08:00

Guinness Barbecue Sauce

1¼ hours 10 min prep

4 ounces sweet onions, finely minced
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
8 ounces Guinness Extra Stout (bottle)
6 ounces ketchup
2 tablespoons treacle (ok to substitute molasses)
2 tablespoons prepared pub mustard (or other spicey mustard)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 dash hot pepper sauce (I use Pickapeppa, but Tabasco or similar is OK)

Pub Mustard Ingredients
2 cups dry mustard
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
12 ounces Guinness, flat

To Prepare Pub Mustard:

Combine mustard, brown sugar, salt and turmeric in blender or food processor and mix well.
With the machine running, add beer in a slow, steady stream and blend until mixture is smooth and creamy, stopping frequently to scrape down the sides of the work bowl.
Transfer to jars with tight-fitting lids.
Store in cool, dark place.
Combine barbecue sauce ingredients, cover and simmer for 45 to 60 minutes.
Allow to cool slightly, taste and adjust spices to taste.
Store refrigerated in tightly covered container.

http://www.recipezaar.com/21280

Guinness and Filet Mignon Chili

2008-02-08T22:13:00.000-08:00

Guinness and Filet Mignon Chili

1½ hours 30 min prep

1 cup unsalted butter
5 lbs ground sirloin
1 lb filet mignon, cut into ¼ inch dice
2 cups onions, cut into ¼ inch dice
1 chili pepper, seeds and veins removed,cut into 1/8 inch dice
4 fluid ounces Guinness Extra Stout
1/4 cup flour
2 cups crushed tomatoes
1/4 cup no-salt added tomato paste
4 cups low sodium beef broth
1 cup cooked black beans
1 cup cooked kidney beans
1/2 cup chili powder
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons white pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Heat up ½ cup of the butter in a large sauce pot over medium high heat until very hot.
Add diced filet and cook until seared and browned around the edges.
Add ground beef and cook until all of the beef is browned thoroughly.
Remove the meat and set aside, draining off ¾ of the fat (leave the rest of the fat in the pot).
Add the diced onions and chile pepper to the pot and cook until soft, about 3 minutes.
Add the meat back to the pot.
Add the Guinness and let boil for 1 minute.
Add the flour and stir constantly for 1 minute.
Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste and the beef stock and stir thoroughly.
Reduce the heat to a low simmer and add both of the beans, the chili powder, cumin, salt, white pepper and brown sugar.
Let the chili simmer for 30 minutes, uncovered, stirring occasionally.
Finish by stirring in ½ cup more of the butter and the shredded cheddar cheese.
Garnish or serve with any of the following: sour cream, diced red onions and pepper, shredded cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, fresh chopped cilantro.

Serves 15 people!

http://www.recipezaar.com/26772

Guinness Drink Recipe: Trojan Horse

2008-02-08T18:00:00.000-08:00

Guinness Drink Recipe: Trojan Horse

The Trojan Horse is a simple mixed drink of Guinness Stout and cola. This a popular summertime drink in the UK and Northern Ireland and is a great way to add some "refreshment" to your Guinness.

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 pint Guinness Stout
1/2 pint cola (Pepsi or Coke)

PREPARATION:
Pour the Guinness into a pint glass or beer mug.
Top with the cola.

For great Guinness gear and FREE shipping visit...

2008-01-24T16:36:00.001-08:00

www.Gigfy.com!

I've parlayed my love of Guinness into an online venture, Gigfy.com. I specialize in offering hard-to-find genuine Guinness merchandise.

Right now, I'm offering FREE shipping on nearly all orders within the US and Canada.
From Guinness posters and Guinness signs to Guinness pint glasses and Guinness dartboards, I've got you covered.

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Remember, Guinness is Good For You!

STOP THIEF!

2007-12-05T15:43:00.000-08:00

Guinness brewery plundered of 450 kegs

DUBLIN, Ireland -- Irish police were hunting for a beer bandit who stole 450 full kegs from the Guinness brewery -- the largest heist ever at Ireland's largest brewer.

National police said a lone man drove into the brewery -- a Dublin landmark and top tourist attraction -- on Wednesday and hitched his truck to a fully loaded trailer awaiting delivery to city pubs.

Diageo PLC, the beverage company that owns Guinness, said the brewery had never suffered such a large-scale theft before in its 248-year history.

Police said the raider took 180 kegs of Guinness stout, 180 kegs of U.S. lager Budweiser and 90 kegs of Danish beer Carlsberg. Guinness brews both of those foreign brands for sale in Ireland.

Police declined to say whether the theft had been captured by closed-circuit surveillance cameras. No description of the suspect was issued, suggesting that nobody got a good look at him.

Each keg holds about 88 British-sized pints, the most common serving size in Ireland, equivalent to 20 ounces each. The total theft involves 39,600 pints with a retail value exceeding $235,000.

Police said it would be difficult for the thief to sell the stolen beer without attracting attention, unless he has criminal associates who own a network of pubs.

But customs agents say it is common for pubs to sell stolen or smuggled cigarettes and alcohol, particularly counterfeit-labeled supplies of vodka, to avoid paying hefty taxes.

The Republic of Ireland, a country of 4.2 million, has more than 10,000 pubs and bars. The Guinness brewery in Dublin is the biggest supplier.

Most Expensive Guinness Commercial Ever!

2007-11-17T11:03:00.000-08:00

Most Expensive Guinness Commercial Ever

This is touted as being Guinness's most expensive tv commercial ever. It cost Diageo, Guinness's parent company, a whopping $20 million to make. It just may be their most cleverest, too. Brilliant!

The advertisement’s director, Nicolai Fugslig, told The Daily Telegraph newspaper that it was the “biggest challenge of my career to date”.

“It was a really tough job… from the remote high altitude location to having to frequently reset thousands of props as well as working with hundreds of villagers who had absolutely no understanding of acting or film making,” Fugslig said to the newspaper.

Enjoy!

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1137883380/bctid1297325635

Gigfy.com Continues to offer FREE shipping on almost everything!

2007-11-17T10:53:00.000-08:00

Free Shipping Offer Continues til Christmas

Gigfy.com is extending it's Free Shipping offer from now until Dec 19th on all orders shipped within the US (including FPO/APOs) and most to Canada.

Gigfy.com offers genuine Guinness posters, pint glasses and much more at great prices. Gigfy.com is a family owned and run business that offers fast and friendly service.

Visit www.gigfy.com now and find out why Gigfy is good for you!

Merry Guinness To All and To All a Perfect Pint!

Nigeria is good for Guinness

2007-11-17T10:39:00.000-08:00

Nigeria moves up for Guinness

Nigeria has overtaken Ireland as the number two market for Guinness, behind the UK.
Brand owner Diageo said fresh distribution for the beer brand in Korea and India this year showed how the global footprint for Guinness was moving from its traditional English speaking territories. Sales across Africa were up by 17 per cent in the financial year to June 30, driven by a new TV ad campaign.

Stuart Fletcher, president of Diageo International said Nigeria had surpassed Ireland in the last three months of the year. He added: "I'd love Ireland to be growing and for it to be a bigger challenge for Nigeria to be chasing.

"We had a tremendous performance not just in Nigeria but in every single market across the sub-Saharan continent, from Kenya to Ghana to Cameroon. The campaign is having a huge effect on consumer attitudes towards Guinness." He added that the increase d growth had been accompanied by price increases to give the brand a more premium position.

Diageo chief executive Paul Walsh added that non-core markets were "the future of the brand".

http://www.drinksint.com/articles/51694/Nigeria-moves-up-for-Guinness.aspx?categoryid=243

It's Official -- Guinness is Good For You!

2007-11-17T10:37:00.000-08:00

Guinness good for you - official

The long-running ad campaign is well-knownThe old advertising slogan "Guinness is Good for You" may be true after all, according to researchers.

A pint of the black stuff a day may work as well as an aspirin to prevent heart clots that raise the risk of heart attacks.

Drinking lager does not yield the same benefits, experts from University of Wisconsin told a conference in the US.

Guinness were told to stop using the slogan decades ago - and the firm still makes no health claims for the drink.

The Wisconsin team tested the health-giving properties of stout against lager by giving it to dogs who had narrowed arteries similar to those in heart disease.

They found that those given the Guinness had reduced clotting activity in their blood, but not those given lager.

Heart trigger
Clotting is important for patients who are at risk of a heart attack because they have hardened arteries.

A heart attack is triggered when a clot lodges in one of these arteries supplying the heart.
Many patients are prescribed low-dose aspirin as this cuts the ability of the blood to form these dangerous clots.

The researchers told a meeting of the American Heart Association in Orlando, Florida, that the most benefit they saw was from 24 fluid ounces of Guinness - just over a pint - taken at mealtimes.

We already know that most of the clotting effects are due to the alcohol itself, rather than any other ingredients

Spokesman, Brewing Research InternationalThey believe that "antioxidant compounds" in the Guinness, similar to those found in certain fruits and vegetables, are responsible for the health benefits because they slow down the deposit of harmful cholesterol on the artery walls.
However, Diageo, the company that now manufactures Guinness, said: "We never make any medical claims for our drinks."

The company now runs advertisements that call for "responsible drinking".

A spokesman for Brewing Research International, which conducts research for the industry, said she would be "wary" of placing the health benefits of any alcohol brand above another.
She said: "We already know that most of the clotting effects are due to the alcohol itself, rather than any other ingredients.

"It is possible that there is an extra effect due to the antioxidants in Guinness - but I would like to see this research repeated."

She said that reviving the old adverts for Guinness might be problematic - at least in the EU.
Draft legislation could outlaw any health claims in adverts for alcohol in Europe, she said.

Feelgood factor
The original campaign in the 1920s stemmed from market research - when people told the company that they felt good after their pint, the slogan was born.

In England, post-operative patients used to be given Guinness, as were blood donors, because of its high iron content.

Pregnant women and nursing mothers were at one stage advised to drink Guinness - the present advice is against this.

The UK is still the largest market in the world for Guinness, although the drink does not feature in the UK's top ten beer brands according to the latest research.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3266819.stm

New Guinness Ad Campaign is Spectacular!

2007-10-08T18:55:00.000-07:00

It could never replace the "Brilliant" aka "Brewmasters" ad campaign that Diageo just ended, but the brand new "Alive Inside" commercial that I caught the other day is exciting to watch!

See it on YouTube... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXVL8eNC3Dc

Press Release Source: Guinness

It's Alive: Guinness Launches New Ad Campaign Showing the Vitality that Lives Within Every PintWednesday October 3, 10:36 am ET

Called "Alive Inside," the campaign celebrates what beer drinkers love most about Guinness: its distinctive "surge," a cascading effect that occurs shortly after being poured.

The exciting new communications platform for the brand speaks of the dynamism, vitality and possibility that exists within the Guinness surge and within Guinness drinkers. Beyond the surge phenomenon, the "Alive Inside" tag also refers to the bold, vibrant taste profile for which is Guinness is known.

The campaign centers on a series of television spots. The first, "Music Machine," is a thirty-second advertisement depicting the magic that occurs within a pint of Guinness, as the iconic surge of Guinness is created by a magical musical machine, alive inside the pint.

The campaign is the brand's first since its famed "Brewmasters" ads launched in 2004. The wildly popular campaign, which earned a Gold Effie award for Advertising Effectiveness in 2005, featured a pair of goofy but endearing Guinness Brewmasters, whose exclamations of "Brilliant!" have since become a global catchphrase.

"'Alive Inside' captures the excitement of enjoying Guinness, from the incredible 'surge' effect to the robust taste that has been perfected since 1759," said Dan Kleinman, Guinness Director of Marketing, Diageo. "The Brewmasters campaign was highly effective in furthering brand loyalty and the next evolution in our efforts is to educate consumers about the beer in an engaging way."

The campaign was created by BBDO New York, who also created the "Brewmaster" campaign. Television spots are set to air on such networks as ESPN, ESPN News, FX and Discovery. The Chief Creative Officer was Bill Bruce, Kara Goodrich was Senior Creative Officer, Cesar Finamori was Art Director and Dulcidio Caldeira was Copywriter.

About Diageo
Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O) is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines, and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.

Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 200 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Celebrating life, every day, everywhere, responsibly.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/071003/nyw060.html?.v=101

Not so Brilliant! Guinness retires the "Brilliant" Ad Campaign

2007-10-01T17:51:00.001-07:00

Seems that two Guinness brewmasters will be on the unemployment line very soon. Their much loved "Brilliant!" ad campaign is going the way of Guiness Gold... down the tubes.

The heads-that-be at Diageo, Guinness's conglomerant parent company, have decided to pull the plug on those beloved "Brilliant!" characters.

http://www.suntimes.com/business/lazare/574573,CST-FIN-lew26.article

Guinness - The Mouse on the Barroom Floor

2007-10-01T17:33:00.000-07:00

'Some Guinness was spilled on the barroom floor
when the pub was shut for the night.
Out of his hole crept a wee brown mouse
and stood in the pale moonlight.
He lapped up the frothy brew from the floor,
then back on his haunches he sat.
And all night long you could hear him roar,
'Bring on the goddam cat!'

The Truth About the Guinness Legacy

2007-09-17T13:35:00.000-07:00

This article might be a bit hard to swallow as you're downing a pint or 3. Much of this I had known for years and started a few pub clearing brawls over it. Not everyone can take the truth even if it means missing a few teeth over it.

http://zmagsite.zmag.org/Aug2003/dunne0803.html

Annual River Liffey Swim, 2007

2007-09-15T14:08:00.000-07:00

Taking a bath with Anna Livia Plurabelle

I'm not sure that James Joyce would agree, but poetically, it sounds like sheer delight. Swimming down the river that flows through the heart of Dublin, Ireland. Then again, it be for me like taking a dip in the Delaware River. Maybe in 1807.... but not now in 2007. A few little things like pollution, industrial run-off and sewage would make me cringe, at the very least.

If you've ever crossed over Ha'penny Bridge, could you have imagined a few hundred people swimming below you in the murky muck? I never did. In fact, I've been to Dublin quite a few times and never knew they had such a crazy event.

This is an event that Dubliners take seriously, it seems. They have professional swim teams taking to the banks of the Liffey. In fact, the Guinness sponsored team placed 1st and 2nd place in the men's event last year.

I might muster up the pints for an oceanic polar dip in the middle of January. A few laps down the Liffey is another thing. God bless them and their crazy Irish souls. I just hope they all take long hot showers afterwards. Not together, of course.

http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/old-and-young-turn-out-for-liffey-swim-1080996.html

On top of things here - 4 months later: Justin Timberlake loves Guinness

2007-09-15T13:46:00.000-07:00

Justin Timberlake Is A Big Fan Of Guinness

I have to confess. Like most red-blooded hetero white men in America, I'm not a fan of Justin (or his compadres from the old Mickey Mouse Club circa 1991). But, I got a kick out of this story that I just found... 5 months after the fact.

Singer Justin Timberlake shocked fans by downing shots of tequila on-stage as he kicked off his first show in Northern Ireland last night. Timberlake also admitted to drinking pints of Guinness before the show, but still managed to wow the 10,000 strong crowd at Belfast's Odyssey Arena with his trademark dance moves.

He told fans, "I've had four or five Guinness before I came on - I love that sh*te". I think you all deserve a toast."
http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2007/04/25/justin_timberlake_is_a_big_fan_of_guinne

Not a fan for his music, but certainly can agree with his taste in beer.

Pour the Perfect Guinness Black and Tan

2007-09-13T18:46:00.000-07:00

How to pour a perfect
GUINNESS Black and Tan

These are the directions for pouring from a tap, either at a pub or on a kegerator.

1. Hold your pint glass at an angle, and fill just over halfway with Bass Ale*.

2. Slow the flow control of the Draught Guinness tap down to a trickle.

3. Fill to the top, letting the Draught Guinness hit the side of the glass...
~OR~
Pour Draught Guinness over an upside-down spoon to dispense the flow.

4. Let surge and settle. Enjoy!

* You can substitute Bass Ale with Smithwick's, Harp Lager, cider, etc.

For GUINNESS based drink recipes check out The Great Guinness Recipe Collection!

Guinness Pumpkin Pie Recipe

2007-09-12T20:16:00.000-07:00

GUINNESS Pumpkin Pie

1 9 inch unbaked pie shell
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups canned pumpkin
6 ounces Guinness Stout *Extra Stout bottle, not Draught can/bottle*

Combine sugar, salt, cinnamon, and ginger in a bowl. Lightly beat in two eggs. Stir in canned pumpkin and Guinness beer until well combined. Pour mixture into pie shell; preheat oven to 425F and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350F, and bake an additional 45-50 minutes, or until fork placed in center of the pie comes out clean. Cool, and serve.

Check out The Great Guinness GUINNESS Recipe Collection!

Guinness Pumpkin Black & Tan Recipe

2007-09-12T13:39:00.000-07:00

There's a whole sort of person who loves a Black & Tan (Guinness either mixed with or floating atop Bass, Smithwick's or some other English style Mild Ale). I prefer a Guinness & Cider, myself.

I just came upon this recipe. It's perfect for the Autumn and especially Halloween. The original recipe called for Jack's Pumpkin Spice Ale which is made by Budweiser I figured (since I can't stand any A-B product) to try a quality microbrewed pumpkin ale like Dogfish Head's Punkin Ale.

WOW! The outcome was delish! Try it for yourself. The better the quality of pumpkin ale you use the better the drink will be... more like real pumpkin pie!

Guinness Pumpkin Black & Tan

Ingredients
1 Bottle of quality pumpkin ale
1 Bottle/Can of Guinness Draught

Tools
16 or 20 oz pint glass
Black & Tan pouring spoon or Tablespoon

Directions
1. Fill half to 2/3 of a pint glass with pumpkin ale.
2. Place Black and Tan pouring spoon (or normal table spoon)
upside down over the rim of the glass.
3. Slowly and carefully pour Guinness over the center of the spoon.
4. Top off.
5. Enjoy!

Check out more Guinness recipes at my website.

ATTENTION ALL GUINNESS FANS IN PHILLY/WILMINGTON

2007-09-07T14:39:00.000-07:00

CALLING ALL GUINNESS FANS IN PHILLY
South Jersey and Wilmington, too!
~ 1759 Society Philly ~

Interested in meeting up for a pint or 2? Perhaps start our own 1759 Society and put the Austin outfit to shame.

I believe that there are enough of us Guinness heads in the Delaware Valley to open up a couple chapters. I know of a few Irish pubs where we can meet up, one in Center City and another out in Havertown.

Email me if you're interested.

Guinness Marinade

2007-09-07T14:14:00.000-07:00

Guinness Stout Marinade

Ingredients:

1 tbsp dijon mustard
1 tsp worchestershire sauce
1 tsp tabasco
1 shallot, diced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tsp cracked black pepper
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried crushed jalapeno
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp brown sugar
1 12oz bottle of Guinness Extra Stout

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil. Allow to cool, pour over meat and allow to sit over night.

Guinness Posters, T-Shirts, Signs and more

GUINNESS Stout Burger Recipe --- Delish!

2007-09-07T13:56:00.000-07:00

Guinness Burgers

Ingredients:
Oil to saute
2 1/2 pounds of ground beef
1 onion, diced
3 jalapeno peppers, seeded and diced
6 cloves of garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons thyme, dried (30ml)
1 tablespoon oregano, dried (15ml)
1 egg
1 bottle of Guinness Extra Stout
1/4 cup parsley, chopped (60ml)
1 teaspoon of salt (5ml)
1 teaspoon of black pepper (5ml)

Directions:
In a small saucepan over medium heat, sauté onion, jalapeno peppers, garlic, thyme and oregano until onions are translucent (about 3 minutes).

In a large bowl, stir together ground beef, onion mixture and egg, blend thoroughly. Slowly stir in stout beer. Add parsley, celery salt and black pepper and mix well.

Preheat grill to 375 degrees or frying pan on Medium High.

Form meat into 6 patties. Place on grill or frying pan and cook, turning until well-done throughout (about 8-10 minutes per side).

Yield: 6 servings

For more Guinness Recipes visit Gigfy.com!

Guinness Drink recipes

2007-09-03T10:05:00.000-07:00

Backfire On The Freeway recipe

2 oz Bacardi® 151 rum
6 oz Guinness® stout

Drop a double shot of 151 into a beer mug of guinness and chug immediately.

21% (42 proof)
Serve in: Beer Mug

More Guinness based drink recipes...
http://www.drinksmixer.com/cat/227/

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2007-09-03T09:23:00.001-07:00

2007-09-03T09:16:00.000-07:00

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Gingerbread Guinness Cupcake

2007-09-02T07:16:00.000-07:00

Gingerbread Guinness Cupcakes with Orange Marmalade Buttercream (adapted from Epicurious.com)

1 cup Guinness extra stout
1 cup mild-flavored (light) molasses
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups (plain) all purpose flour
2 tbs ground ginger
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground cardamom
3 large eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger

1. Preheat oven to 180C (350°F). Line 2 muffin trays with 18 cupcake liners.
2. Bring Guiness and molasses to boil in heavy medium saucepan over high heat.
3. Remove from heat; stir in baking soda.
4. Let stand 1 hour to cool completely.
5. Whisk flour and next 6 ingredients in large bowl to blend.
6. Whisk eggs and both sugars in medium bowl to blend.
7. Whisk in oil, then stout mixture.
8. Gradually whisk stout-egg mixture into flour mixture. Stir in fresh ginger if adding it in cake.
9. Divide batter among prepared cupcake liners.
10. Bake until tester inserted into centers of cakes comes out clean, about 25 minutes.
11. Cool cupcakes on racks. Allow to cool completely before icing.

Can be made 1 day ahead.

For more Guinness food and drink recipes check out... The Great Guinness Stout Recipe Collection!

Just a Reminder of Sorts

2007-09-01T20:46:00.001-07:00

St Patrick's Day is coming. Ok, it's 6 months away as I write this. But, it's coming like a mother-in-law.

For me it's not a day to drink green (Old Milwaukee) beer, wear green shamrocks, wigs and down copious amounts of Guinness. I'd like to think I'm Irish everyday of the year. It's in my blood. It's part of my everyday understanding and identity.

Just a few suggestions to go against the "Green Tide" on St Patrick's Day:

1. Don't go to a pub or bar
2. Stay home and read a book about Irish history
3. Plan your first or next trip to Ireland
4. If you don't have a library of Pogues cd's go out buy a few and blare them all day long! :0)
5. Sign up for Irish language or step dancing lessons
6. Visit my website and treat yourself to some Guinness merchandise!

Sacrilege! Flying Guinness Drink Recipe

2007-08-31T14:26:00.000-07:00

FLYING GUINNESS

1/2 pint Guinness Stout (can or draught)
8 oz can Red Bull® energy drink

Pour half pint of Guinness into a tulip-shaped pint glass.
Place a spoon over the top of the glass upside down.
Slowly pour the Red Bull (or any nasty tasting energy drink) over the top of the spoon.

Serve. Upchucking is optional.

** The drink should look much like a traditional Guiness/Bass Black & Tan, just with Red Bull instead of Bass Ale.

For more Guinness drink and food recipes, sacrilege or not, check out The Great Guinness Stout Recipe Collection at Gigfy.com.

Love Guinness? Love Chocolate? Guinness Chocolate Cake Recipe

2007-08-31T14:15:00.000-07:00

Guinness Chocolate Cake
— Adapted from Feast, by Nigella Lawson

Makes one 9-inch cake (12 servings)

For the cake:
Butter for pan
1 cup Guinness stout
10 Tbs. unsalted butter
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 cups superfine sugar
3/4 cup sour cream
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2-1/2 tsp. baking soda

For the topping:
1-1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup heavy cream.

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch springform pan and line with parchment paper. In a large saucepan, combine Guinness and butter. Place over medium-low heat until butter melts, then remove from heat. Add cocoa and superfine sugar, and whisk to blend.

In a small bowl, combine sour cream, eggs, and vanilla; mix well. Add to Guinness mixture. Add flour and baking soda, and whisk again until smooth. Pour into buttered pan, and bake until risen and firm, 45 minutes to one hour. Place pan on a wire rack and cool completely in pan.

For the topping:
Using a food processor or by hand, mix sugar to break up lumps. Add cream cheese and blend until smooth. Add heavy cream, and mix until smooth and spreadable.

Remove cake from pan and place on a platter or cake stand. Ice top of cake only, so that it resembles a frothy pint of Guinness. Serve room temp or cold.

For more Guinness food and drink recipes check out...
The Great Guinness Stout Recipe Collection!

Irish in Philly

2007-08-31T12:32:00.000-07:00

Having been born and raised in Philly (not in the 'burbs, mind you) I've come to know my city through the history of my mother's parents. They had emigrated from Ireland, Co's Mayo and Derry, respectively, back in the mid to late 1920s. They met here in Philly in the early days of the Great Depression.

My grandfather, a widower, left behind his three sons with his sister and brother for Amerikay. During Prohibition, it has been rumored he brewed beer in the bathtub. Forget bathtub gin. Imagine the taste of homebrew from your tub!?!

Other stories consist of my grandfather running numbers for the Irish mob in Germantown. At that time, Germantown had a very large Irish population before white flight and urban cancer took it down. It is said he worked two jobs throughout the Depression. Keep in mind, some 20 to 30 percent of the US population couldn't land but one job.

My grandmother was an indentured servant. Indentured servitude is as close to slavery without being so. It was the only way she could 'pay' her way to the States. She had an aunt already living here who set up the arrangements prior to her leaving the port town of Cobh via steamship. She traveled from her 'bend on a dirt road' village in Co. Mayo to Cork by horse drawn jitney cart and train.

My grandparents met at an Irish social dance at a local parish. My grandfather, or as my mother might say, the debonair one arrived at the dance with another woman. He fell in love with my grandmother at first sight.

He approached her to dance leaving his date to her own devices. My grandmother declined. She wouldn't dance with a man who was already involved with another woman. After that night he ditched his original dance date and made plans to visit again the following Saturday night. Ths time stag. He tried all he could to convince my grandmother to dance with him. She finally gave in.

They married. Had 4 kids. Owned their own home. They achieved their American Dream.

Whether you're of Irish descent, Polish, Italian, German or Dutch, our families stories all have the same basis. The details may be different. Perhaps you're Grandpa Joe made wine in his bathtub. What it comes down to is, we are the products of their American Dream; to work hard, to make better one's lot in this life for themselves and their posterity.

We should take a moment and tip our pints to their memory and their dreams. If not for their blood, sweat and bathtub beer where would we be now?

PS. An ironic story, my grandfather had finally established himself with a decent job. He saved up just enough to buy a used car, his dream come true. He practically emptied out his small bank account to purchase that car. It was on Monday, October 28th, 1929. The next day was Black Tuesday, and the banks were closed. All hell broke loose.

Welcome To Where You Are

2007-08-30T20:53:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my little foray into blogging. I think this beats MySpace by a mile.

The purpose of this little blog is to document and share my love of The Bishop's Collar, the Black One, The Irish Elixir, The Blonde in a Black Dress... that's right, GUINNESS Stout.

I've been fortunate to have experienced my first pint of Guinness at bar in my cousin's old hotel, Tullyglass House Hotel, in B'mena, Co. Antrim at the age of 17. I won't tell you what I thought of it then. I love it now.

Over the years, and a lot of help from the Internet and my own, I've experienced bottled Guinness Foreign Extra Stout from Australia, pints o' Guinness atop the Gravity Bar @ St James's Gate, pints o' Guinness in Canada which is brewed in Canada, pints o' Guiness in the most diviest dives and most Disney-esque "Irish" pubs to the most enchanted thatched roofed pub in all Ireland.

What it all comes down to is my never ending pursuit of that Perfect Pint. One might say it's like a junkie's search for that next hit. Ok, maybe not that bad. But you get the point. :0)