With Irish sports, actors and music rising in popularity, many in Boston and beyond are running to get their hands on the perfect pint of Guinness.
Arthur Guinness began brewing Guinness in Dublin during the late 1750s. Mike Reardon, Guinness brewery ambassador for New England, said the beer’s authenticity to Ireland is part of its legacy, with nearly every part of what goes into the stout coming from the Dublin area, including the water, barley and 100-year-old yeast.
“The only non-Irish ingredient in a pint of Guinness is actually the hops,” Reardon told GBH’s Under the Radar. “You can’t grow hops in Ireland; the climate’s too moist. So I always say when you’re having a pint of Guinness, you’re actually drinking Dublin.”
Kevin Koczwara, a freelance journalist based in Worcester whose beer and cider writing has appeared in Men’s Journal, The Globe Magazine and Gear Patrol, thinks part of the popularity of Guinness is fueled by a change in drinking habits and a pull toward connection.
“Nonalcoholic beers are surging,” Koczwara said. “I think, at this point, those 8-percent alcohol IPAs that were really popular — you know, how many of those can you drink in a night before you absolutely need to call an Uber, right? You can’t hang out with your friends and just drive home after. We missed that for many years, and we still are trying to get it back.”
Another reason Guinness is seeing an upswing in young beer lovers? Celebrities and TikTokers “splitting the G” — a trend started on social media, not by the brewery.
“This organically happened,” Reardon said. “It’s a big thing at the pubs and bars right now. I think, with Guinness having been around for 265-plus years, there’s always been different traditions around how you consume Guinness and how you celebrate with Guinness. And I guess this is just the latest iteration.”
Guests
- Mike Reardon , Guinness expert and brewery ambassador for New England
- Kevin Koczwara , Worcester-based freelance journalist
Interested in the beer-cheese dip Callie, Mike and Kevin spoke about during their conversation? Here’s a recipe!
Guinness beer-cheese dip
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all purpose flour
¾ cup whole milk
2/3 cup Guinness draught
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon spicy brown mustard
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
¼ teaspoon salt
1 ¼ cup of sharp cheddar cheese
1 ¼ cup of Monterey jack cheese
Grate cheese and set it aside. Melt butter, add flour and whisk in milk. Slowly add cheese and whisk. Whisk in all other ingredients. Enjoy!
