With much of the country still practicing social distancing and restricting or limiting activities due to COVID-19, Guinness Brewery is preparing consumers for a safe and fun St. Patrick’s Day celebration at home.
Southern California-based Guinness ambassador Eoghain Clavin offered tips from his colleagues in Dublin for pouring the perfect pint, pairing the beer with snacks and cooking with it this St. Patrick’s Day. The hope is, he said, that next year we’ll get back to being shoulder-to-shoulder in pubs, clinking our glasses and raising a grateful toast.
“We feel like we have one of the most communal beers in the world,” Clavin said, adding that this year “we’ve seen the community change from sitting beside each other to Zoom calls and Instagram.”
This year, the company is donating $600,000 to organizations supporting COVID-19 relief efforts. Patrons joining in on the celebration can use the hashtag #AToastTo and tag @GuinnessUS on social media through March 21 and the company will donate an additional $1 per post (up to $100,000).
Clavin recommends putting on an Irish-themed playlist from Radio.com, Spotify, Amazon Music or Apple Music. Irish punk bands Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphys will also be livestreaming concerts to commemorate the holiday as well.
Here are some suggestions for incorporating the beer into your St. Patrick’s Day celebration:
Pouring The Perfect Pint
The key to replicating that pub-poured taste of Guinness at home is the widget (small ball) inside each can that unleashes nitrogen into the beer when you crack open the tab.
Start with a clean, dry glass, Clavin said. Guinness uses tulip-shaped concave pint glasses that are wider at the top which helps give a better head on the pint. In a pinch, a stemless wine glass will do. Contrary to some beliefs, Clavin said that Guinness should not be served lukewarm, but chilled and straight from the fridge.
“The secret is, once you crack it open, we want you to wait for five to 10 seconds after you open the can, then you’re going to hold your glass at a 45-degree angle and pour slowly and steadily,” he said. “Pour it all in and let it settle. Those nitrogen bubbles are going to be cascading down the side of the glass and going back up the center.”
Pairing Snacks With Guinness
Guinness is a hearty beer with notes of coffee and dark chocolate. It pairs well with soda bread, a staple in Ireland. Clavin said a classic cheese board is a good snack pairing, with strawberry preserves and sharp Irish cheddar, Gouda, Asiago or Pecorino Romano cheeses to contrast the sweetness of the beer.
“I think a grilled cheese sandwich is absolute a phenomenal pairing,” he said. “Or a favorite of mine and my fellow bosses: a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It’s incredible. You could also do tortillas with a black bean dip or a good play on fish and chips for the west coast would be fish tacos, which are incredible as well.”
Cooking With Guinness
For those looking for something a bit more filling than finger foods, Clavin said fans have come up with all kinds of recipes. It’s been used as a base for shepherd’s pie and he’s seen it used as a marinade for slow-cooked ribs.
“One funny one that people don’t expect is mixing it with like a Thai coconut milk,” he said to make curries or marinades. “That one is really out of the box, but it’s a really good pairing.”
When it comes to dessert, Clavin suggests using it in a mix to make chocolate or peanut butter brownies.
“When you’re looking at a dessert pairing with Guinness, think about what you would have with your cup of coffee,” he said. “That flavor profile is very similar. So maybe pair it with a little chocolate croissant, a nice pastry with a dollop of cream on top or pour it over ice cream.”