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Pool via EPA
Prince Philip eyeballs a pint of Guinness during a tour of the famous brewery with his wife, Britain's Queen Elizabeth, on Wednesday. He resisted the temptation to take a sip of the black stuff. Click on the photo to see a slideshow of the queen's visit to Ireland.
By Chris Hampson, Director of NBC News’ International News
LONDON – There are many things to admire about Her Majesty the Queen.
Her regal stiff upper lip is one of them.
But her resoluteness in smiling at a perfectly-poured pint of Guinness during a tour of the famous brewery Wednesday – and not even taking a sip of it – is one of those regal mysteries that leaves me gasping for a glass of the black stuff.
There is something particularly beguiling about a glass of Irish stout – deep black with a creamy head and a flavor of burnt malt and chocolate.
It is, as they say, an “acquired” taste.
I remember a wonderful advertising campaign some years back that read simply: “I don’t like Guinness. So I’ve never tried it.”
I suspect that was in the back of the queen’s mind today.
When it’s poured well – and in Ireland they know no other way – it is indeed a thing of beauty. In any Irish bar you will see it in various stages of readiness, the bartender taking loving care of each one, slowly filling the glass and waiting for the “surge” to subside, and gently topping up the glass to ensure the cream is in exact proportion to the black below.
Then, with a gentle flourish, the shamrock is sometimes etched into the foam with the final drops.
According to Guinness, it takes 119.53 seconds to make the perfect “double pour” pint. Even at two minutes, it would be worth the wait.
On busy days I have been known to phone ahead to my favorite Irish bar in London and order a round of stout, so that my friends and I could walk in to a warm greeting and a cold glass of beautifully poured ale.
Of course, there is more to stout than alcohol. Every pint contains a large dollop of Ireland.
If the Blarney Stone had a sense of smell, it would no doubt detect the stuff on most of the puckered-up lips planted on it.
I remember the Northern Ireland firebrand preacher and politician, the Rev Ian Paisley, rounding on a well-known parliamentary reporter after smelling stout (the reporter’s favorite lunch) on his breath. "Sir," he bellowed. "You have been partaking of the devil’s buttermilk."
Another famous son, author James Joyce, called it the “wine of Ireland” – and he certainly had a fondness for wine. The drinking scenes he wrote in “Ulysses” capture well the convivial, boozy atmosphere of Dublin.
SLIDESHOW: A royal visit to Ireland
I remember, though not very well, a long night of drinking stout and Irish whiskey in a posh hotel in Dublin with a group of journalist friends some years ago.
As the Irish say, the “craic” was very good and we lost ourselves in the fun and banter.
It was the manager himself who approached us to ask if we could keep the noise down.
“Why?” we asked.
“Because,” he said patiently, “you’re disturbing the breakfast guests.”
So drinking the black stuff is not without its perils. But I don’t think alcohol was why the queen – and her husband – both abstained.
I think it’s because royal dignity was at stake.
Her Majesty the Queen simply knew by instinct that a stiff upper lip – topped with an unavoidable creamy froth moustache – would have brought a smile to everyone’s face but hers.
So allow me, ma’am. Cheers. Slainte. And down the hatch.
You don’t know what you’re missing.
Related link: Queen's visit closes bloody chapter in Ireland
Leave a Comment:
Who admires this broad anyway? If you admire this lady you have no self-respect at all, no question about it, especially if you are one of the taxpayers who allow her to live off welfare, your tax dollars. Yes, welfare. Talk about a society living in the bronze age.
Yeah, you forget that they add $1 billion net profit (after all vendors have made there annual take) annually to the British economy. Without them you have no tourist and of course no money. Those castles and manors would fall into ruin and the tax payers would have bear the burden of restoration without the income stream to do it.
Kinda like if you were to take Hollywood out of the US economy. Movies is the US #1 export and there are a hell of a lot more movie stars than royals and the movie stars make a lot more money. Some are making $30 million a movie or more.
You are an idiot. You are comparing apples and oranges and you are totally clueless about economics.
Sorry, my reply is to kpokeefe
Tax dollar would be nearer the mark. It costs about $1 per person to maintain the royal family, or a little less than half of what it takes to run the Smithsonian each year. In return it's estimated that the Royal family bring in almost $1 Billion in revenue. Also they all pay income tax on their earnings.
TruthSeeker:
What is this "no question about it?" I admire the Queen. This is her "family business." How many folks do you know have run the family business as head, for 60 years??
She hasn't be married 8 times and can be a great role-model for many other monarchs and heads of state. Her family is like all families - good ones and bad ones. I suspect they all love her.
I only would tell her, shame, she really should have taken ONE SIP!!!
The revenue from the Crown Estates is turned over to the government every year by the Queen. This revenue is far more money than she recieves from the Civil List. This man obviously does not know what he is talking about. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip certainly put Michelle and Barry Obama in the shade.
Guys, the Queen would be stupid if she ate or drank random things. I do not trust anything poured for me at a bar 100% and I am far from a queen!
Pettutle: come out of the closet and you could be !!! :)
Did someone save that pint?!? Tell me someone buried it with honor down the hatch. I hate the thought that it potentially went undrunk. Poor poor pint...
Naw. Look at that picture again. Prince Phillip has his eye trained on that pint. I think I know where it went. :)
Thats true. Look at him...looks like he's breathing in the aroma of it from a distance.
It's a sin if any "pint" in an Irish pub is left to go to waste; that ain't going to happen
StMiller,
After I looked at the photo, I think he has already had a few pints. He is sort of listing forward and his eyes are rolling up into his head. I would bet my middle testicle that he had a case of cold Guinness brought around to his room sometime after dark. I suppose she could have had the Royal Guard take it away from him but I also bet he is sneakier than she will ever give him credit for.
They did, it was a priest I think.
Grump - He is listing like the Titanic.
um they are in Ireland.... I doubt it went to waste!
One of the best articles I've read in a long time and I don't even like Guinness.
What I can say is that the author is accurate with saying the way the beer is poured at a bar, it is a work of art.
Cheers Mr. Hampson, this round is on me.
There is help for people who don't like Guinness. Come to Troy, MI and I'll buy you a pint.
When I was in Ireland, I at least drank a pint of it; i didn't like it either, but I finished it off just the same. Also observed that Miller and Budweiser are advertized EVERYWHERE in that country - I wonder what % of that stuff is consumed there.
The Irish are drinking more Budweiser in an attempt to thank the company for sponsoring youth soccer leagues and paying for ball fields. I asked about it in several pubs because I could not believe they really LIKE the swill.
Liking Budweiser? What, are they living in trailers in Ireland too?
Truth.... there are MILLIONS of people who admire Queen Elizabeth who dont necessarily agree with the monarchy, british policy etc etc. They just admire her grace, style and dignity! And I am one.
One of the best articles I've read in a long time and I don't even like Guinness.
What I can say is that the author is accurate with the description of the way Guinness is poured. Viewing a REAL bartender pouring this beer is a work of art.
Cheers Mr. Hampson, this round is on me.
I have self respect. I admire this woman. She's classy. She's classic and timeless. We in America allow plenty of folks to live off of others...our President is one of the worst offenders!
This lady is a member of a noble line of rulers and she should be proud of it...as should her people. She rarely makes a mis-step, always proper, admirable, I say!
The biggest "freeloaders" were Ronnie and Nancy. They paid nothing for their home in Brentwood and their ranch in Santa Barbara. Their rich pals took care of them and they were trested like royals. They were just "B' actors. nacy spent millions on white house goodies inlcuding multi0ple sets of china and crystals.
mike430.....you're a total moron.
mike430 is correct. It is the same multiple sets of china and crystals that the Clinton's stole when they left the White House.
I never liked beer, maybe because everyone used to give me a light beer. Then I went to England and had my first Guiness (and yes, I know it isn't beer, but it is pretty close.) One sip and I've been in love ever since.
A woman after my own heart!!!!!
How is Guinness not beer?
Guinness is a stout
I love Guiness too, but it just doesn't seem to taste the same here in the States as it did in England.
Stout is a kind of beer, as are ale and lager. (And I don't blame the Queen for not drinking it; it's bloody awful!)
I make beer and like AG999 said, stout is a kind of beer.
Wow! I like to chew my beer, and Guiness is one of my faves. It's sacriledge to say you don't like it. It's probably never been poured correctly for you. There is an aerator tip that needs to be changed, and it also has to be drawn from a fresh keg. I'd love to go to the factory and drink it fresh, I probably never got one that was perfect either and I love it.
In the truest sense of the word... enough to make you weak in the knees and strong in the heart.
Strong in the heart is right. Guiness actually contains much more healthy stuff, including iron, than many other beers or ales. I've heard that years ago the Irish social welfare system included an allowance of a pint a day for retirees (pensioners they're called over there) on account of it's health benefits. Liquid Geritol!!
Guinness IS an acquired taste..... a taste I acquired years ago.
I have had the good fortune of taking the Guinness Brewery Tour several years back. Had a lot of fun (and a few pints of course)
Just like all the ads say: "Guinness is good for you!"
Ha! I just can't get the SNL skit out my head when I look at her. You know the one where she puts her leg on the chair and talks in a cockney accent to her grandson's fiance....THAT queen would take a deep swill of the beer.
Sorry, she is boring. Perhaps her husband could have had at least a sip.
I wish the indians learnt a thing or two from the Irish. Few years back when this queen visited India, we lined up the streets up and down and she returned the favor by not visiting or apologizing for Jalianwala Bagh massacre.
In ireland, she wore the green, visited the memorial to the irish fallen to british atrocities and waved to the empty streets!
Sorry, but I'll give Her Nibs a pass on this one. Guinness Stout looks (and tastes) like roofing tar to me - always has, always will. I'd rather drink the hot molten tar that seeps off Texas roads in late July.
Her Majesty didn't take a drink because if she did, then she would've been photographed. Photographs of Her Majesty eating or drinking are not allowed and never have been.
ROFL. Her majesty? Sounds like minion talk to me. Guess in that country not everyone is created equal. And to think, you morons eat that crap up like it was being served on a silver platter, wait hold on, it is being served on a silver platter, paid for by your hard earned tax dollars. You people are ridiculously stupid.
The Queen is never photographed consuming food or drink. So...I hope she and the Prince got their taste later (maybe in private at their hotel). Guinness tastes so much better in Ireland than it does elsewhere. The slight bitter aftertaste it has over here in the States seems to be a result of shipping. My friends in Ireland say it just doesn't travel well.
It doesn't like to be away from it's native Irish soil! Shipped Guinness is like a refugee.
The queen's a gin drinker anyway. But Phil looks like he's have a happy flashback. :)
kpokeefe.
I am sorry to corrrect you, on the point of you saying, " without all the money they bring in, Tax Payers would take the burden of the repair to the Castles" (not a quote).
Well I, at that time lived in England, and when Windsor Castle caught fire, she (Queen Liz) said, she thought the people should pay for the damage. Dont be misled. they are the tightest crowd around, and the respect for them every year is dwindling. Around the time of Diane and Fergy came on the scene, No Member of that Royal Family paid Taxis, and she still does'nt, only the immediate familly, Prince Charles etc still dont pay.I was a Royalist up till then, now to Hell with them. Snobs!!
What a waste....and don't get me started on leaving a perfectly pulled pint
Maybe they got some to go, to take with them for later!
Guiness is an acquired taste, but it is unique.
I acquired it fast - it is still the best around. Someone gave me a Coors Light the other day, it was hard to tell I was even drinking beer.
She didn't want to smell like beer or perhaps she was afraid one sip would lead to two would lead to three and she might get tipsy.
The queen has been offered many types of food and drink over the years in many countries.
The response is always a polite no thank you no matter what they are.
The food & drink consumed by the Queen is carefully prepared only by those chosen to do so at official functions(dinners) or in the royal residences.
if you have to ask why.... think security.
He's either a recovering alcoholic or just too uppity to enjoy a good lager. She's just a stiff upper everything. This royalty stuff is way out of date people. God get rid of this ridiculous "tradition".
Too crusty!
Can't let granma get drunk in the pubs. Next thing you know, she'll be singin' "hey jude" on the karaoke machine.
I'm surprised her presence in Ireland didn't reignite the rebellion.
@ajwest
Most of the Irish have moved on from the older days, though a few will always be around. During my stay on the northern side, I spent a lot of time in bars, but I was always pretty quite about any religion or political comments. I love Ireland, but it does rain a lot there, and they have some very long days in the summer.
Mmmm Guinness. They could have just taken a picture of that by itself.