I hate the new Guinness bottles.

[indeedproceed]

I am a Guinness addict. I'm a homebrewer, and I've tried 3 dry Irish Stout kits, two of which are supposed "Guinness Clones", and nothing has ever come close.

I think while a lot of it has to do with Guinness being the best widely available stout on the market, a lot also has to do with guinness including the nitrogen pill or whatever in the bottle. Before, when you crack the bottle, the change in pressure released a tiny amount of nitrogen into the beer, creating the storied "waterfall" and giving the beer the amazing texture nitrogen gives, as opposed to CO2. No, it wasn't the same as "On Tap", but it was as close as you could get.

That's all gone. Now they're starting a new 'straight from the bottle' deal (before you had to pour into a glass). Now I'm all for giving everyone the chance to sample the wonder that is Guinness, even if they don't have a pint glass (preferably clear) handy, but the beer is suffering.

I bet one of my clones can pass the "pepsi challenge" right now, and that saddens me.

[Jeff]

sounds like you need a trip to Dublin to try a scoop as it was originally intended

seriously, the factory tour is awesome

[Roy H.]

I haven't seen the new bottles, but hasn't Guinness been "drink straight from the bottle" for about 10 years or so?  Even though the bottle had a widget, it was meant to be drank from the bottle, rather than poured.

What's new with the latest bottle?  Is the widget gone?  I know that I really didn't care for the old style Guinness bottles at all (the ones that had the yellow label back in the day).

Also, the best Irish stout (that is actually brewed in Ireland) is Murphy's.

[indeedproceed]

sounds like you need a trip to Dublin to try a scoop as it was originally intended

seriously, the factory tour is awesome

I've heard that..I don't know how it could be 'that much better', and I've been on many brewery tours to try it straight from the source, once I even got to try it before it even hit the kegs at a prominent Boston brewery..personally, I think it is a placebo thing.

But really, I doubt that's the case with Guinness. I've heard from too many people too many times that it is a whole different and better beer in Ireland.

I haven't seen the new bottles, but hasn't Guinness been "drink straight from the bottle" for about 10 years or so?  Even though the bottle had a widget, it was meant to be drank from the bottle, rather than poured.

What's new with the latest bottle?  Is the widget gone?  I know that I really didn't care for the old style Guinness bottles at all (the ones that had the yellow label back in the day).

Also, the best Irish stout (that is actually brewed in Ireland) is Murphy's.

Yeah, the widget is gone, and it used to say "best if poured" on the side or something.

I've never tried Murphy's but I think I should.

[Jeff]

I don't know, some of it clearly is the atmosphere - you haven't lived till you've sang Irish pub songs in Dublin.  Some tell you they send a different brew overseas but who knows?

Murphy's is reeeeally good too - and it is what everyone outside of Dublin drinks, and Dublin is completely run by Guiness - so that accounts for the brand loyalty there.  So Roy could be on to something.

I love me some Smithwicks as a change of pace too.

[barefacedmonk]

Some tell you they send a different brew overseas but who knows?

This maybe true for other breweries as well...not sure to what extent though...I've found that Fosters and Victoria Bitter sold in Australia are different in taste than the ones I have had here in Canada.