free beer

DBA – Guinness Tour

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the Giant wooden guinness art sculpture

In the last few weeks, I’ve enrolled in the complete bartending course at the Dublin Bar Academy. It’s a 3 week intensive course, designed to teach us everything about being an expert bartender. This includes 30 + cocktails; cocktail flair; history of all the different spirits and how they’re made; master class including tastings for whiskey, tequila/mescale, over 30 different liquors, coffee barista, as well as tasting all the cocktails that we are making. There are exams every day and then a comprehensive exam and a practical behind the bar (double and triple orders) exam which involves making 10 cocktails in under 10 minutes. There are also visits to Guinness and Jamesons for a behind-the-scenes bit of information. This post is a few pictures from the class trip to Guinness, where we spent time on a VIP tour and getting lessons in pulling a pint.

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The famous backward Irish Harp

After walking through the regular plant, we were taken to the special VIP rooms. We had to smell each of the aeromas of the different ingredients in a Guinness. It was a bit surreal and comical at the same time.

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Can you smell it?

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I think Colm smells something Foul… but not me!

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Domo feeling Zen while sniffing away, and I’m not sure what Mike’s doing here – Is he tasting?

From here, we got served mini baby guinnesses to take into the next room.

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Albano doing the honors.

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Alina and Danisa showing off their mini pints.

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The tour guide explaining – To properly drink a pint of guinness, you must stand with your feet firmly apart, elbow out, and arm held at shoulder length. Place glass to lips and take a big swallow to enjoy the full guinness flavor.

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Yes, that’s right… like that.

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The guys demonstrate the proper way to drink a guinness.

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They’re not so impressed with the taste; but then I don’t like it either.

After the tasting, we went into our own private bar, and learned to pull a perfect pint.

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So, gentlemen, what do you think of the tour?

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They give it a one legged double thumbs up and a smile! After all, Guinness is good for you!

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Sir Arthur Guinness Day = FREE BEER!

To Arthur!

Here in Ireland, less than two weeks in, I have to chuckle. It’s Sir Arthur Guinness Day, the day when everyone going to the pub gets a free pint of Guinness – for the toast at 17:59 PM (Yes, you did hear that right – FREE BEER!). It’s supposed to be a global toast – and there’s a big huge musical celebration at the Guinness factory for the event. Not only is it a huge musical event – it’s also televised live around the nation and shown in nearly every pub you can find. My video is a bit dark (it was in the pub, of course) but it gives you an idea of the happenings…

Why are we toasting at 1759 you ask? The reason is because it was 251 years ago, in 1759, on September 23 (or 24th) that Sir Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000 year lease on the right to make Guinness Brew itself. Ever since, the dark ruby red liquid has been brewed at St. James Gate brewery here in Dublin. Apparently, the brew is known around the world and is synonymous with “Ireland”, and the brilliant marketing people at Guinness started this “tradition” with the 250th birthday. Now, it’s an excuse to go to the pub, get a free brew (and then pay for a few more) and hang out with friends.

So, Here’s to Arthur, on the 251st anniversary of Guinness…

Prost!
Nah!
cheers!

It’s just too bad that I.Don’t.Like.Guinness. No really. I took the beer, drank a couple swallows at the toast, and then gave it away to those who actually enjoy it. Then, I went and ate dinner and had a diet coke. Just don’t tell anyone, ok? 😛

Free Guinness for the Toast!

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