A PINT OF GUINNESS IN THE UNITED STATES? FORGET IT! UNLESS YOU'RE VERY LUCKY...

A Pint of Guinness in the United States?
A SIN Against All Those Who Drink Real Guinness

Dear all ye who read this. First, a very Happy Saint Patrick's Day. In only two days as I write this on 15 March, 2025, it will be time to 'Drown the Shamrock' by taking a Pint of Fine Irish Black in both hands and sipping slowly on it. 

Second, a big shout out to a very fine man,  CLIFF, the editor of the Irish American News based near Chicago, Illinois, USA. You can find their website here:  https://www.irishamericannews.com/. This great online and physical newspaper gives our local Diaspora the very latest news from Ireland and all of those organizations having Irish connections - and their are many full-blooded Irish People in the Chicago area, and I'm one of them at least for now!

But back to the above headline. I've had the wonderful opportunity to travel to many places in this big huge world of ours: Ireland of course (and I've driven all over the country, to all counties both North and South). There, I've had some of the best Pints of Guinness available anywhere in the world.

But other countries that I've traveled to also have great Pints of Black. England, as one example, has a wonderful brewery near London City (or perhaps two?)  The way they pour Guinness in many local pubs is frankly amazing! They'll fill a Pint Glass with Guinness as publicans do in Ireland. But to create the perfect pint with a thick Bishop's Head, they put the tall Pint Glass on a small metal 'platform' and, pressing a button, vibrate the Pint until it's perfect. 

Or how about other countries across the world? I've had great Pints in Mumbai, of all places, as well as Tinned Guinness. This is the REAL STUFF, let me tell you. Lip-smacking in its Indian Glory. A pint that cools the mouth in the face of the Heat that often rises to well above 35 degrees Celsius. It also is a great way to cool down a Western person's mouth if they're having Real Indian Korma at a Real Indian Restaurant. And let me tell ya', friends, if you're eating real Indian, steam vents from both ears. You'll yell for a jug of ice water like I did, and a big bowl of creamy Indian Yogurt. And a Pint or Three of Guinness at least!

But how about other countries that serve a perfect pint? I've had a great Pint of Black all over the Med. In Mykanos, Sardinia, Turkey, on board Cruise Ships, in Rhodes, other Adriatic islands, and of course in Athens Greece sitting at the counter of many Greek Sports Bars. 

But As to the United States...

I've not had the pleasure as yet of sampling a Pint in all 50 US States (soon to become 52 if Trump gets his way? All we can do is laugh! LOL! Greenland and Canada as US States? Or perhaps Panama too? Anyway...). But I have had a chance of having Pints in many States in the Northeast of the Good Ol' US. Boston and New York City, for instance, have REAL Irish pubs that serve astounding Guinness and other Irish drinks. Carmel Murray and I, my partner now diagnosed with Dementia and now in a Nursing Home in County Meath, walked around Times Square and visited not one but a few true Irish Pubs that poured a Perfect Pint. Boston is the same way. So many Irish people live across the Northeast of American - as well as in many US States - that you'd think they'd have real Irish Pubs serving Perfect Pints almost everywhere! Well, friends, NOT SO!!!

I've tried many US bars both in the Chicago area and in Florida. The taste of a poured pint in most bars simply is NOT RIGHT! It tastes like sludge or slop and smells a bit like tar. I'm told that many US bars who serve Guinness do NOT clean their beer lines as often as they should which is the fault of local Guinness Distributors! Staff at US bars need to be trained in the exact way to store barrels of Guinness as well as cleaning the lines. And as to Tins of Guinness? It's the same problem. The taste is like TIN which is truly a pity. I've bought a number of 8 packs of Guinness Tins just as we do in Ireland. But this is not James Gate Guinness. It's something else altogether. As a confirmed Guinness Drinker, I almost cry when having paid the terrible price of a LOCAL US GUINNESS IN TINS OR POURED, I have to turn my back on them or pour out an entire tin.

So what do you do if you're visiting the Chicago area and want a perfect Pint? Go to Arlington Heights, Illinois, about an Hour North of Chicago. I very much recommend the following REAL IRISH PUB: https://peggykinnanes.com/. Peggy's is run by a number of people who are from Ireland or have ancestors in Ireland. Their Pints of Black are as true and as good as any I've had in Ireland. The price is right and the staff are WONDERFUL And they serve food at a great price and sometimes serve Irish food. Real GAA and Irish Rugby is usually on their many TV's. And honestly, readers, The Craic is Mighty at Peggy Kinnanes.

Finally, I want to thank Colm Dalton, a man from County Kerry. He's traveled all over the world drinking pints of Guinness. I don't think he's been in the Chicago area yet to review local Pints but I hope he comes soon. You can find Colm's Blog at PUBLICAN ENEMY. 

That's it for now. And to all of you everywhere across the world, Irish or not, a very, very

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY   

From Tom, Carm, Frank, Harsh, Larry, Toqueer, Sami and many other staff of STORYLINES ENTERTAINMENT.