Is Guinness good for a first try at beer?

Question

I've never tried beer before, but I think I'd like to.
My family's very, very Irish and English and they all say Guinness is the best, but all of my friends say it tastes like sh*t.. I have no intention of drinking domestic rubbish like Bud, Coors, etc, so don't even have a go at that :P I'm not a frat boy.

I was just wondering people's opinions on Guinness and if it'd be okay for a first time beer drinker. I know any beer tastes awful if you're not used to it, haha. Just opinions.

Answer 1

Contrary to popular belief, Guinness ISN'T a heavy beer, it's simply dark. It only has 125 calories per 12 ounces. As a frame of reference, Budweiser has 145 calories per 12 ounces and Bud Light has 110.



I think Guinness is a great first beer. It's not high in alcohol and has a roasted flavor and a creamy body. Besides that, it's delicious and easy to find. However, outside of Ireland, it's often served too cold. If it's served at the same temp as, say, a soda, let it warm up a bit before drinking. The flavors will really shine.

Answer 2

Guinness may seem heavy to a novice beer drinker but almost every other style of stout that I've had is more 'heavy'. I love Guinness, and I keep hearing that it taste better in Ireland but I don't know if there is much proof to that statement, it is surely more fresh in Ireland which could make it a smidge different tasting but anyway.... Also...Guinness is plenty popular in the US, I know plenty of people who drink it...although my family is very Irish as well...but I have lots of friends who drink it as well.

I don't think it's a problem for a first time beer drinker....although it would help if you like coffee/dark chocolate falvors...that bit of bitterness because that is a prominent flavor in Guinness.





If you don't want to try that (if you don't like coffee or dark chocolate, then I'd suggest not trying Guinness first off), then check out what kind of local beer there is near you....I'd just seek out a popular pale ale if I were you.



EDIT: just saw someone suggest trying an IPA....while this is a very popular style of beer in the summer, especially in America, it's by no means a 'beginner beer'. The main flavoring of an India Pale Ale is a large amount of hops which lends a rather 'bitter' taste to the beer...not bitter like Guinness...a drying/raw bitter taste. I definately think IPAs are an acquired taste even for beer lovers. But who knows..you may love it.

Answer 3

I agree with the first couple answers. Guinness was the first beer I tried and I didn't drink beer again for like 3 years. It's an acquired taste, and now I love the stuff. It took me a while! I would start off with a lighter beer. Don't start with a pale ale or anything else that has a lot of flavor. Lighter is better, then start drinking darker, heavier beers. Boddington's is a pretty solid option too. Harps is great (I think it's owned by Guinness). Has a good flavor and isn't too heavy.

Answer 4

Guiness is a very strong tasting beer (stout) with a deep bitter finish. If you want to ease up on that, try a black and tan first. The Harps will usually add a lighter taste to the Guinness to make it easier to drink. If you really like the B&T, then you can move to the straight Guinness. However, Guinness in Ireland tastes much, much, much better than in the States.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

Guinness isn't like other beers. There really isn't anything else on the market that tastes like it.



In my opinion, it's one of the best beers in the world. The other really great beers are the Oktoberfest beers served only in Munich during the time of Oktoberfest. Those would be a good first beer. Nothing quite like a mug at the Houfbrau House in Munich, German's don't f around with pints, they do liters.



I disagree with Irishlad that American bar tenders can't pour a proper pint. Sure there are some who don't get it, but they are the minority. 90+% of American bars I would order a pint of Guinness in know how to pour it properly.



I grew up many years ago when the only beers in America were domestic, I never really liked any of them until one day I was riding in a truck with my Dad on a hot summer day, no A/C, windows rolled down on a very dusty road in Colorado. I was parched. The only thing we had to drink was some Coors beer that was on ice in a cooler in the back of the truck. I was maybe 12-14 yo. I downed one of those cans in like two pulls. I've loved beer ever since. For the record, I hate Coors, Bud, Miller, PBR etc..



Point being, beer regardless of which one you drink first is an acquired taste. For people who like beer, Guinness is often an acquired taste - but one worth acquiring. I never liked Guinness myself until I went to England and had it there. Been hooked ever since. Guinness in Ireland is only marginally better than what is served in the US bars, Guinness Genuine Draft in a can is about 80% as good as what comes out of tap. In Ireland, the only place I had a noticeably better pint of Guinness was at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, and that was just because I think it tasted fresher. All beer is better when it's fresh. Beer does not age well. So, if you go to a bar that serves Guinness and you don't see other people drinking it - odds are pretty good their supply of Guinness won't be the freshest. Therefore, best not to pick a Guinness. In Ireland, 80% of the people in every pub is drinking Guinness - therefore it's always as fresh as it can be.



No other stout style beer comes close to matching Guinness. All dark beers have strong flavor profiles, but none are as smooth to drink as a Guinness.



My recommendation to a Canadian would be to have a Rickers Red on tap first. That is a pretty tasty beer. Again, the bar needs to be serious about keeping the beer fresh, lines and taps clean, glasses properly cleaned without soap residue. Crappy bar, crappy beer experience.

Answer 7

No its not a great first beer. As smooth a refreshing as a Guinness Stout can be its dry and sans quaffablility in that it satiates the palate. But if you [however] are a person that likes or better loves coffee, especially iced coffee, you will enjoy Guinness as a first beer.



Be sure to avoid domestic rubbish like Molson and Labatts too.





Another thought to consider. Having lighter lagers and ales teaches you about beer. You learn better what the influence of each ingredient is to beer. The hops, malt, and yeast are better detected and appreciated in these lighter styles than in a heavy dark beer that emphasizes the roasted and dark malt character. Once understood a truer appreciation for the stout style can be experienced.

Answer 8

I wouldn't recommend it as a first beer. It is very heavy and has a lot of flavor. Usually people new to drinking need beer that is a little calmer to their taste buds. Drink something like a wheat beer, those are nice tasting and most people enjoy them. Like blue moon, or shock top.

Answer 9

Guinness in the US isn't very good in my opinion, plus most bar workers in North America have no clue how to pour a proper pint.. I like guinness but it is a very heavy flavourful beer. You might like it. I find that it was an acquired taste, its a beer for people that are beer drinkers.



A lighter pilsner, perhaps czech, like Budvar, would be a better choice in my opinion if you aren't a beer. Or a nice german weissbeir, like Paulaner, or Erdinger, or a belgian beer, like Duval. Flavourful, but far lighter on the pallette.

Answer 10

Guinness has a very strong flavor. I would suggest an ipa or something along thoes lines as it is great summer beer. Stay away from anything cheap as it will ruin your experince. Good luck

Answer 11

Guinness is an excellent drink and one that has the benefit of being available in most parts of the world. It is, however, quite an aggressive drink - very bitter from both its hop content and its heavily roasted malt. But persist and you will acquire a taste for it.

Answer 12

Listen to K.K.. Guinness is dark in color, but very light bodied and not all that "heavy" flavored. Young's Stouts are the REAL heavy hitters of the brewing world. I would recommend it.



I couldn't stand beer until I tried Abita Turbodog, a pretty heavy/smoky brew. One was fine for me to start with, but I eventually summoned the courage to try others. I now can appreciate all good beers except for the p!ss beers you mentioned (BARF).

Answer 13

Bad first beer. It's more for the older, more jaded, beer drinker. For a starter beer, you want something with more malt and less hop flavor. For me, it was bock. Other good ones are Scottish ale, London brown ale, or wheat beers.

Answer 14

i wouldnt advise it,ur best to start off on something lighter, guinness is an aquired taste for many people anyway.

Answer 15

No