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Guinness Tests Out Mid-Strength Beer

YumSugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:00:13 -0700

After more than 200 years, it appears Guinness is trying to make a splash with its new products. First, it unveiled its 250th Anniversary Stout, a limited-edition carbonated beer, and now it's begun testing out a version of the world's best-selling stout that contains less alcohol. In comparison to at least 4.1 percent in standard Guinness, Guinness Mid-Strength, as it's called, contains only 2.8 percent alcohol.

While the weaker brew, which was created partly as a result of the Scottish government's initiative to tackle irresponsible drinking, is currently only in select Scotland pubs, it could be offered widely if the trial proves to be successful in the next three months. Unlike the failed Guinness Light of the 1970s, the beer's producers claim Mid-Strength possesses the same taste and texture as Guinness with only a fraction of the alcohol.

Although many of you said you'd try out reduced-alcohol wine, I'm not sure how I feel about the Guinness. Guinness already has a built-in pacing mechanism - its richness and density. Moreover, people who dislike regular Guinness aren't likely to reach for the less potent version, and hard-core Guinness drinkers definitely won't. Guinness lovers: Would you?

Source: Flickr User [puamelia]

Guinness Unveils New 250th Anniversary Stout Beer

YumSugar — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 09:00:11 -0700

Stout lovers get excited: for the first time since it began exporting to the US, Guinness is introducing a new stout beer to select markets.

On April 24, to celebrate its quarter-of-a-century draught legacy, Guinness is launching a limited-edition beer, 250th Anniversary Stout, which will be available in bars and stores in the US, Australia, and Singapore. The anniversary brew honors Arthur Guinness's signing of a 9,000-year lease in 1759 at St. James's Gate Brewery in Dublin, where the company's flagship brewery is located.

Less creamy than its original counterpart, the special-release brew will have a heavy malt flavor and more effervescence, along with a slightly higher alcohol content. Instead of nitrogen and carbon dioxide (used in original Guinness draught), the new stout will use carbonation, as well as two types of malt, and triple hops. The resulting beer is intended to have a more refreshing taste and a simpler pouring process.

Unlike Guinness's famous two-part pouring process (which involves filling the glass 75 percent of the way at an angle, letting the surge of foam settle, and then topping it off with the rest), the anniversary stout can be poured at once.

Since I love a bold, zippy beer, this stout sounds like something I can get behind - possibly even more so than traditional Guinness. When April 24 arrives, stock up while you can, since the commemorative brew is only slated to be around for six months. Do you have plans to seek out the special-release stout?

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How to Taste Fine Whiskey

partysugar — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:00:47 -0700

While downing green drinks or beer cocktails is a fun way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, sipping a fine, Irish whiskey is a low-key way to mark the occasion. Like wine, there is a special technique to enjoy the potent caramel-colored spirit.

Here's how:

Make sure the whiskey is at room temperature. Pour into a clear glass with a narrow mouth and wide bottom.
Examine the color of the liquid. The darker the whiskey, the longer it has been aged.
Warm the glass with your hands and smell the whiskey's aroma. Note any fruit, spice, or other flavors, like butterscotch.
Before tasting, add a tiny bit of water to dilute the concentrated spirit. You will be able to better taste the whiskey without a harsh burn from the strong alcohol.
Finally, sip the whiskey like you would a wine, and be aware of its body and flavor.

Do you enjoy whiskey? Have you ever been to a whiskey tasting?

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Come Party With Me: St. Patrick's Day - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:50:14 -0700

To get in the mood for St. Patrick's Day, set up a "Make Your Drink Green" bar and let the girls help themselves. Fill one ice bucket with bottles of a light Irish beer (such as Harp) and another with bottles of white wine. Arrange beer and wine glasses and green food coloring nearby. Have everyone tint their drinks green.

Also set out the ingredients for a specialty cocktail and write the recipe for the drink, so your guests can play bartender. This interesting cocktail features Irish whiskey making it wonderfully appropriate for the holiday. It combines the whiskey with fresh ginger, lemon juice, apricot jam, and orange liquor.

To look at the recipe, read more.

Tommy Gun
From Food and Wine

Ingredients

2 thin fresh ginger slices
1 teaspoon apricot jam
1/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
Ice
2 ounces Irish whiskey
1/2 ounce Grand Marnier
1 lemon twist

Directions

In a cocktail shaker, muddle the ginger with the jam and lemon juice.
Add ice and the whiskey and Grand Marnier; shake well. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish with the lemon twist.

Makes 1 drink.

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Say Cheese! Cheddar and Guinness Welsh Rarebit

partysugar — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 10:15:41 -0700

Cheddar is a widely known, popular variety of cheese that originated in the Somerset region of England. However, the firm cow's milk cheese is now made in many places around the world. It can range in flavor from mild to sharp and in color from white to orange. Orange cheddar gets its color from a natural dye called annatto. An incredibly versatile cheese, cheddar is delicious alone, on a sandwich, or mixed in a sauce - as is the case in this recipe.

Since some of you were disappointed by a recent chicken rarebit recipe that called for jarred cheddar cheese sauce, I decided to find a homemade version and share the technique with you. Although a Welsh rarebit is a British dish, my variation uses Irish cheddar and Guinness, making it appropriate for St. Patrick's Day. This cheesy, toasty snack is comforting and simply delicious. To look at the easy recipe, read more.

Beer Cheese on Toast
From Food and Wine

Ingredients

1 pound extra-sharp cheddar, cut into 1-inch cubes
3/4 cup dark beer
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
Salt
Toasted baguette slices from 2 baguettes
Sliced tomatoes

Directions

In a food processor, combine the cheddar with the beer, garlic, mustard and cayenne and blend until smooth. Season the beer cheese with salt.
Preheat the broiler. Spread the toasts with the beer cheese and arrange them on a rimmed baking sheet.
Broil the toasts 6 inches from the heat for about 2 minutes, rotating the pan, until the cheese is bubbling and browned around the edges. Top with tomato slices and serve.

Serves 6.

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All the News That's Fit to Eat - Mar. 11, 2009

YumSugar — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:50:31 -0700

If you've got leftover bread, here are 33 suggestions for making the most of it. - San Francisco Chronicle
Amidst his company's financial woes, Gordon Ramsay has sold his West Hollywood restaurant. - Los Angeles Times
Is it acceptable to ask your waiter to jot down your order? - New York Times
For a St. Patty's Day seafood dish, turn to haddock fillets steeped in Irish cider. - Chicago Tribune
What's on the menu at Nowruz, or Persian New Year. - Boston Globe
10 tips to get the most wine for your buck when dining out. - Wall Street Journal
Move over, mac and cheese: humble hashes are this season's top comfort food. - Washington Post

Feeling Lucky? Irish Food and Drink Facts

YumSugar — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:30:16 -0700

Though St. Patrick's Day may not be a food holiday on the level of Thanksgiving, it's still a great excuse to eat, whether you're making Irish soda bread for breakfast or slow-cooked stew for supper.

Do you know your Irish food and drink facts? Take my quiz to see if you get lucky.

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Sunday Slow Cooker: Irish Lamb Stew

YumSugar — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 06:00:44 -0700

If you're looking to get into the St. Patty's Day spirit with a hearty Irish dinner, you're in luck: There's no easier way than to make this rustic Irish lamb stew. Not only does it require little to no preparation work, but you can also step away from the stew as it cooks low and slow in a crock pot.

Eight hours later, you've got a festive meal that will pair perfectly with a tall glass (or two) of dark Irish stout. To see the recipe - which is beyond basic - read more.

Irish Lamb Stew
From Eating Well

Ingredients

2 pounds boneless leg of lamb, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 3/4 pounds white potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
3 large leeks, white part only, halved, washed (see Tip) and thinly sliced
3 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
3 stalks celery, thinly sliced
1 14-ounce can reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup packed fresh parsley leaves, chopped

Directions

Combine lamb, potatoes, leeks, carrots, celery, broth, thyme, salt and pepper in a 6-quart slow cooker; stir to combine. Put the lid on and cook on low until the lamb is fork-tender, about 8 hours. Stir in parsley before serving.

Serves 8.

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Yum's March Must Haves

partysugar — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:50:04 -0800

Can you believe March is already here? With it comes longer days, the arrival of Spring, and St. Patrick's Day! Oh not to mention all the wonderful fresh produce - asparagus, artichokes, spring onions - that will be popping up in farmers markets very soon. To ensure that you make the most of March, I've rounded up the items I can't live without this month. To find out what they are, start clicking.

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Meet the World's Largest Irish Coffee

partysugar — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:09:10 -0800

Earlier today, at 1 p.m. PST to be exact, history was made at the Buena Vista Cafe in San Francisco. Irish coffee making champion Frank Silletti, in conjecture with the staff of the Buena Vista, made the world's largest Irish coffee. I was there to witness them break the Guinness World Record.

To check out my firsthand account and a bunch of pictures from the event, read more.

It was a cool but clear sunny day in San Francisco, perfect for enjoying a coffee spiked with whiskey and topped with a thick, creamy head. The bar was packed with fans, old and young, waiting to watch as the oversize cup was hoisted onto the bar. The three-foot tall glass - that can hold up to 15 gallons - was blown specifically for the occasion. A case of Tullamore Dew filled the glass one-third full as the scent of whiskey permeated the air. A box of confectioner's sugar and countless pots of fresh-brewed, sustainably grown organic coffee was added to the gigantic glass as the crowd cheered in anticipation. Just-whipped heavy cream topped off the concoction to create the world's largest Irish coffee.

After the drink was made, the staff worked quickly to transfer the concoction to smaller glasses which they then passed out to everyone in attendance. The atmosphere was lively and the people friendly. Since the drink was created 56 years ago, the cafe estimates it has served 37,010,000 Irish coffees; that's roughly 2,000 a day. It's only natural that they hold the record for the world's largest drink.

It was very exciting to be a part of the bar's history.

Have you ever experienced a world record being broken? Do you enjoy Irish coffee?

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