Reasons to Drink Guinness

The Irish are best known for two things: drinking alcohol, and making alcohol. It's no surprise that the alcohol masters are one of the first to make a perfect drink, namely Guinness. With its fourteen varieties and bold flavor, it's one of the most-loved stouts in the world. The stout is made from barley, brewer's yeast, hops and water. Some of the barley is rolled, steamed, and roasted. This is what gives the drink its signature look and taste.

But many people ask, what does Guinness have over other alcoholic drinks? Here are a few reasons why you should start drinking some stout:

1. Guinness only contains 198 calories per pint. Most other beers (even light varieties) have more calories than that. In fact, Guinness has fewer calories than both orange juice and milk. Although it has a reputation for being a meal in a glass, there is no truth to the saying.
2. Smooth taste has always been a signature of this drink. Draught Guinness is canned using a combination of carbon dioxide and nitrogen. It has lower levels of carbon dioxide, making it smoother and gives it that creamy head.

3. A distinctive flavor is what separates Guinness from beer. Its many varieties give you enough choices while still enjoying the distinct characteristics of stout. If you're looking for something smooth with creamy overtones, Draught Guinness is your choice. If you want something a bit more acidic, Original Extra Stout is your choice. There are many other varieties, and the only way to learn your preference is to try each one once. Needless to say, all Guinness stouts have a burnt flavor, which is a result from roasting a part of the barley.

4. Beer has an alcohol content of anywhere around four to six percent. The same can be said for most Guinness varieties. However, if you're looking to find something with a little more kick, you can try either the Special Export Stout or the Foreign Extra Stout. Both of these contain more than seven percent of alcohol per serving. So far, these varieties are the only two that have stuck very close to the original recipe.

5. Guinness is cheap. It doesn't cost much if you really want to drink. It costs just about the same as a can of beer - a little under three dollars. You can buy four cans at about twelve dollars, and twenty-four cans at less than sixty dollars, depending on where you're buying.