Few beers are more synonymous with the Emerald Isle than Guinness — one reason that an estimated 500 bars around town feature the stout on draft. But Guinness isn’t the only game in town.
Beamish Stout, brewed in Cork, Ireland, since 1792, is making a fast gain in Chicago. The number of local bars with the stout on tap has grown to 95 — roughly a 300 percent growth from two years ago when it switched distributors. Slightly sweeter than Guinness, Beamish is gaining a foothold by billing itself a “working man’s” Irish stout.
With a rivalry between the beers dating back to a time when Chicago itself was founded, it’s about time these two beers went head to head.
Get your stout on Find deals on Guinness and Beamish at metromix.com!
BREWING SINCE
Guinness: 1759.
Beamish: 1792.
Advantage: Guinness, by 33 years.
WHERE IT’S BREWED
Guinness: All Guinness Draught (that includes draft, bottles and cans) sold in the U.S. is brewed in St. James’s Gate in Dublin, says Guinness brewmaster Fergal Murray, so you’re drinking the same stuff here as across the pond. But Guinness also operates breweries in 50 different countries that produce variations such as Guinness Extra Stout, a Canadian-brewed version that’s more alcoholic and uses more roast barley (grown in Canada, not Ireland) for a sharper, more pungent flavor.
Beamish: “Every drop of Beamish comes from the core brewery in County Cork, Ireland,” says Niall Little, district manager for Beverage Alliance, which distributes Beamish throughout Illinois.
Advantage: Beamish. All Ireland, all the time.
CHICAGO-AREA BAR PRESENCE
Guinness: About 500 taps.
Beamish: About 95 taps.
Advantage: Guinness. More is more.
IDEAL TEMPERATURE
Guinness: 36 to 45 degrees.
Beamish: 34 to 36 degrees.
Advantage: Tie. A cold beer is a refreshing beer — whether it’s 34 or 45 degrees.
ALCOHOL CONTENT
Guinness: 4.2 percent
Beamish: 4.1 percent
Advantage: Tie. You should have no trouble standing after downing a couple pints of either. Unless you already have trouble standing.
CALORIES PER 12-OUNCE SERVING
Guinness: 125
Beamish: 130
Advantage: Guinness. Fewer calories — even 5 — means you can justify drinking more.
VARIANTS AVAILABLE IN CHICAGO
Guinness: Two, Guinness Draught (kegs, bottles and cans featuring a widget, a plastic device that helps form a proper, creamy head to the beer) and Guinness Extra Stout (bottles only).
Beamish: One, available in kegs and 16-ounce cans.
Advantage: Guinness. More options means you can get exactly what you want.
IRISH CAR BOMB SUITABILITY
Guinness: Excellent. Like peanut butter and jelly, some combinations, like Jameson, Baileys and Guinness, just work.
Beamish: Fair. Like New Coke, sweeter isn’t necessarily better.
Advantage: Guinness. You can’t mess with the original.
CAPACITY FOR HEAD ART
Guinness: The gloriously thick head is the perfect canvas for drawing shamrocks, potatoes or just about any other Irish cliche you can imagine.
Beamish: Ditto. You can draw almost anything in Beamish’s thick and creamy head.
Advantage: Tie.
BREWERY’S FORMER USE
Guinness: Before St. James’s Gate Brewery was leased by Arthur Guinness, the four-acre site (which now encompasses 64 acres) was, well, a rundown brewery.
Beamish: Beamish & Crawford’s brewery facility used to be a prison.
Advantage: Beamish. Former prison beats out former brewery any day — but not for long. Beamish’s production will soon be moved to Lady Well brewery, where Heineken, Murphy’s Irish Stout and other Heineken products are produced for the Irish market.
THE WINNER
Guinness. Few beers are more iconic, which makes it hard to dethrone. But Beamish is gaining fast — and given its smooth, sweet taste, we won’t be turning down a pint of it anytime soon.
———-
metromix@tribune.com
