8 hours Ago By Brian Dillon
As a 20-something living in London - and as an Irishman - Guinness is my go-to when I am ordering at the bar. The drink has become beloved by many people in the UK over the last few years with demand for ther drink actually soaring . But there are other stouts that I think you should try, and St Patrick's Day might be the best time to do it.
I set myself a fun little challenge this past weekend as I attended St Patrick's Day celebrations. When I could find a stout other than Guinness on tap, I would give it a try and see how it compared to the iconic Irish drink . I found three alternatives to Guinness and I have to say, my mind has been opened to new possibilities when it comes to a creamy pint of stout.
Here are the three alternatives to Guinness that I tried this past weekend and what I thought. Murphy's is perhaps the easiest stout to find in the UK other than Guinness , and that was certainly the case for me as it was the first one I came across. I have had a pint of Murphy's before but I never really stopped to savour it and come up with a proper conclusion, so that's what I did this weekend.
For me, Murphy's isn't as full-bodied as Guinness, feeling slightly lighter when I take a gulp. However, it still has that rich Irish stout taste and I appreciate that it is a bit of a lighter alternative to Guinness, something I might actually find myself in the mood for during a future pub visit. Is it similar to Guinness? It is, but it also has its own distinct flavour and texture, something that can be appreciated without being compared to Guinness.
Brewdog Black Heart is definitely a stout that you drink slowly, given its hints of chocolate, coffee and caramel. With Guinness on my mind, those notes were a welcome surprise when I took my first sip. While Guinness might be a gulper's pint, this one is definitely for the sippers.
Was it my favourite? Probably not. But I didn't hate it and it is something I would consider ordering again. Personal preference comes into play here, and I definitely preferred my pint of Murphy's to my pint of Black Heart.
Like the name suggests, this one was creamy and milky. Being the last stout I tried over the weekend, I was taken aback by how rich the flavours were. This definitely isn't yoiur standard stout with its strong coffee-like notes.
I would go back to order this one again but like the Brewdog stout, it is one that I would sip slowly. If you are particularly full after a big meal, then this one might be a bit too heavy for you. So, which beer was the best alternative to Guinness.
My first reaction is to say Murphy's. Out of the three stouts I tried, it was the one that most closely resembled Guinness. Also, it was the easiest one to drink, as the other two were much heavier.
But the stand-out from the experience was the Bristol Beer Factory Milk Stout. It has such a unique flavour that it is hard to forget, and it was quite an adventurous tasting experience. Although it didn't resemble Guinness, it is a fantastic drink in its own right and for that reason I'll definitely stick to taking a chance when it comes to alternatives.
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