Guinness, It's Good For You!

This is indeed one of the advertising slogans we've seen everywhere, and today we made the trek out to the Guinness homeworld. I had heard that it was a pretty cheesy, touristy place and had skipped it last time I was in Dublin, but I'm glad we went. Touristy - yes. Cheesy - no. In fact, many things about it reminded Lo of the way the folks at Peets Coffee and Tea talk about their product - nothing short of reverential.

Just a few gallons of beer up there...

We started at the bottom floor with a quick primer on the four ingredients of Guinness (little trivia question, anyone?). The entrance comes with one free pint, which you could enjoy on the top floor Gravity Bar (360 degree view of Dublin, but slammed with people today), or you could learn to pull it yourself at a little lesson area. Lo did the lesson:

The first step - 45 degree angle, then straighten up and fill almost to the top...

Then wait for a bit while it settles before you top it off. Actually, "a bit" is too imprecise. You are to wait 119.5 seconds, then top off, then wait 30 seconds, then enjoy!

The little graduate with her pint and her certificate. She did a pretty good job, just a few bubbles on top indicated her lack of experience. The lady there said that if you get a Guinness that tastes off, the temperature could be wrong or they didn't let it settle properly - send it back!