Dublin and its surrounding areas offer an amazing range of choices for those hoping to experience the best Irish pub culture of their lives. It’s a Guinness-lover’s paradise, fo’ sho’! Let’s not forget the crucial point that not every pint of Guinness is created equal. The quality of the beer varies wildly based on operator. A talented bartender can beautify its express pretty significantly.
As anyone who’s poured a Guinness will tell you, there’s an art to it—to serve the best pint possible starts by pouring it correctly. And of course, that signature two-part pour is integral to creating the perfect Guinness. This special step lets the beer rest before finishing it with its signature top – a sly way to create that creamy head we all adore. According to Padraig Fox, known as Foxy, a Guinness global brand ambassador, this meticulous preparation contributes to an overall experience.
“Each town and city has their own brilliant spots,” – Padraig Fox
Irish pubs have a reputation for their hospitality, where everyone feels at home in a pub — no matter where they come from. Foxy draws attention to the way that this warmth endears people. In return, it goads them to have an extra pint of Guinness in said establishments.
Guinness goes to extraordinary lengths to make sure that its beer gets to pubs “as fresh as possible.” Yet, once new beer is distributed in these places, upholding quality quickly turns into a tremendous battle. Weather or other conditions outside of Guinness’ control can impact the beer’s taste when it is served. Colm Quilligan, the founder of the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl, has a few pointers. He cautions against ordering Guinness in many of the pubs, especially ones heavy on the tourist trade.
“When Americans come to town, all roads lead to Temple Bar,” – Colm Quilligan
Temple Bar during a popular tourist time. As Quilligan points out, although drinking Guinness in the daytime is wonderful, once the sun goes down, the neighborhood turns into a busy slaughterhouse. He encourages visitors to go off the beaten path to find unexpected treasures all around Dublin and the rest of Ireland.
Cities such as Galway, Belfast, and Cork have dozens of pubs that serve outstanding pints of Guinness. Some favorites include Taaffes Bar in Galway, the Duke of York in Belfast, Matt Molloy’s in Westport, Dick Mack’s Pub & Brewery in Dingle, Sin É in Cork, Tynan’s Bridge House Bar in Kilkenny, and Mother Macs in Limerick. While the festival’s overall vibe is decidedly art-centric, each location has its own distinct flair and ambiance.
The atmospheric Sean’s Bar in the midlands town of Athlone lays claim to an astonishing pedigree, supposedly trading since 900AD. James Wright enlightens us that this claim could be highly exaggerated.
“In reality, it’s a building of circa 1700 with no evidence of prior use on the site.” – James Wright
Typically, the haint-blue magic of Irish pubs comes from such Victorian features. The Palace Bar and The Stag’s Head in Temple Bar all have incredible skylights and colorful stained glass windows. All of these features contribute to the character and atmosphere of a quintessential pub environment.
For consumers, especially the beer-minded, the discovery of a great new pub becomes priority number one. Even though touristy bars exist on the island, a few still possess an authenticity to them, serving as a meeting point for in-the-know locals. Quilligan hopes travelers will go off the beaten path to discover these hidden gems.
“I recommend traveling off the beaten path,” – Colm Quilligan
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