Here’s How You Pour A Pint Of Guinness

Yesterday, US Speaker of the House Paul Ryan gave a St Patrick’s Day toast with a truly sad-looking pint of Guinness, much to the horror of Irish viewers and Guinness lovers everywhere. The only way he could have made it worse is if he dropped a shot of Bailey’s and Jameson in it. If you’re going to pour a Guinness, here’s how to do it right.

The luncheon was part of Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny’s visit to Washington, where he met with President Trump and other leaders in celebration of St Patrick’s Day and the long-standing friendship between Ireland and the US. That relationship, however, is now in jeopardy thanks to Ryan’s tepid glass of motor oil.

Well fear not, there’s still time to undo this crime against brew-manity. If you want to do it right, here’s what Fergal Murray, The Guinness Master Brewer, suggests:

1. Start with a gravity pint glass; tall session glass; or 600mL, tulip-shaped pint glass.
2. Point the glass at a 45 degree angle under the spout (or can, or bottle) and let the Guinness softly bounce off the side of the glass and flow to the bottom. On a Guinness branded glass, there’s a harp there to guide you.
3. As the Guinness in the glass approaches the point where it first started to bounce in, slowly tilt the glass upright.
4. When the liquid reaches the top of the bounce point, or harp, you stop pouring and let the foam surge to the top of the liquid. Be patient! There should still be space between the head and the top of the glass.
5. Once the foam, settles. Top it off with a little more Guinness so the head creates a nice white dome along the top of the glass.

After the foam settles for the second time, you can take a nice slow sip and enjoy. Do it for improving international relations, do it for celebrating St Paddy’s Day, but most of all, do it for fun.