The people of Ireland are passionate about their Guinness, and no visit there is complete without sampling a pint of the famous black stuff. From the correct two-part pour technique, to the temperature it’s served at, many agree that there are a number of factors that lead to whether a pint is exceptional or just mediocre. But where can the best one be found? One man has made it his duty to find out, and has started a project to sample and rank as many pints of Guinness as possible.
The Guinness Advisor is on a mission to rank every pint he can get his hands on. Image by Kulicki
Dubbing himself the Guinness Advisor on Instagram (favouring anonymity to ensure unbiased reviews) the former bartender and Dublin native is on a mission to find the best pint around. “For years I have gotten teased by friends and family for being so particular over a pint of Guinness, so this was an easy hobby to fall into. I started thinking about it over a year ago, but only in the past four months have I actually been recording and rating. After reading enough poorly written articles about where to find the best pints in Dublin, I decided that someone should put together a trust-worthy ranking that was accurate,” he told Lonely Planet Travel News.
So far the Guinness Advisor has rated and recorded over 70 pints across Dublin, but is spreading his posts out. His mini-reviews are short and sweet, and often include details on the atmosphere of the pub and his interactions with staff, saying things like, “Great trad music in a central location,” and “a few dogs wandering around the bar and a good feeling in general”. With over 750 pubs and bars in Dublin, the Guinness Advisor said that his goal is to try every single one of them, before tackling the rest of Ireland.
When it comes to naming the best pint that he has tried in his quest so far, the Guinness Advisor is sure. “Tom Kennedys on Thomas Street. It was recommended to me by a very good friend of mine local to the area. The first mouthful was honestly the best I’ve ever experienced. It was full bodied and full of flavour…so good I wanted to chew it,” he said. He also said that the response online has been incredible, with followers sending him pictures and their own ratings, and bars inviting him to come try their pints. “I haven’t found the perfect pint yet, and it’s different for everyone. I just know what I like; full bodied, cream hugging the pint glass for the duration, and every sup should leave you wanting more. It’s too hard to put into words how good a great pint tastes!”
Last year, one Vancouver café learned this the hard way, after pictures of a hastily-poured pint went viral online, with Irish people all over the world commenting that it looked wrong.
The Guinness Advisor’s reviews can be found on his Instagram.
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