Your Comments, Criticisms and Contributions - March 2002
This month in Feedback, we'd like to try something a little different. Rather that printing your questions and our responses, we want to open the floor and hear your opinions on the latest developments concerning one of the world's most fabled beers, Guinness. But first, a little background:
- Originally founded by Arthur Guinness, Ireland's most famous brewing company is now owned by the British drinks giant, Diagio;
- Despite regular denials by the parent company, rumours persist that Diagio intends to close down the St. James's Gate brewery in Dublin and transfer production off the historic but now highly valuable urban land;
- In recent years, the brewery has instituted a policy stating that the proper pouring temperature for a pint of Guinness is between 3-5C., or 37.4-41F. For those desiring an even colder pint, a special 'Guinness Extra Cold' tap has been developed for Ireland which dispenses the beer at close to freezing temperature.
- Diagio upset many American Guinness drinkers last year when the company transferred production of bottled Guinness for the U.S. market to Labatt of Canada. Americans could formerly buy Irish-brewed Guinness in the bottle.
- Recent reports out of Ireland have the company developing a way to speed up the traditional slow pour for a pint of Guinness (see the Bright Beer story "A Faster Pint of Guinness?" for details).
So what about it? Is Guinness simply a beer evolving with the times or is Diagio imperiling the future of a valuable brand? Let us know by sending your comments to beaumont@worldofbeer.com.
Feedback
Feedback?
We're very interested in your news, notes, comments and questions, so please feel free to contact SBWoB by clicking on the link below. Or you can add your comments when you sign up for the World of Beer Update, a mid-month e-mail newsletter that brings even more of the world of beer to your computer.
Send Feedback To: beaumont@worldofbeer.com