No other beer in the world has the rich history of mentions going back 180 years like this crew. The most famous recorded instance of Guinness and food was November 21st, 1837..British Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraerli wrote to his wife that he can now die happy having found the perfect pairing of Guinness + Oysters. It was the best day of his whole, entire life!!!! The roasted bitterness, the hop bite, the chocolate and toffee notes, all it was missing is that briny saltiness from the seafood.

It was in this spirit that Celebrity Chef Jeff Mauro presented 5 dishes highlighting his love for both Italian + Irish cultures.

Guinness created the Stout category with their Guinness Extra Stout (a stronger/ stouter porter) back in 1759.

Pairings

Guinness Draught
Guinness Blonde
Guiness Extra Stout
Guinness Foreign Extra Stout
Guinness Barrel Aged Stout (brewed in Dublin. Aged in Baltimore)

Not your typical stew. This Guinness Short Rib Stew is simmered in Guinness stout for a tender and savory texture and taste.

At 4.2% and 126 calories per twelve ounces, Guinness one the lightest beers you can drink. The barley is roasted the way you would roast coffee. So don’t be afraid of dark beer. Black Is Beautiful!

This Guinness Draught was paired with the Irish Mashed Potato Croquettes and served with a beer cheese dipping sauce.

Guinness Draught, the one that everyone considers to be the original, actually wasn’t created until the 1959 Guinness Bicentennial. Up until that point, it was Guinness Extra Stout that was either pulled from the cask engine or poured into bottles by the publican. Guinness didn’t sell its beer in bottles until the 1960s.

A Bucket of Beer always makes a good party

Chef Jeff was born and raised in Chicago… still lives here. A BLT from the Sandwich King on homemade Irish Soda Bread may have been the highlight of his collection.

An unleavened bread (baking soda + baking powder). Great density and chew from thee beautiful little slices of white neutral bread. The buttery, brittle crust was expertly done with a golden brown hue. Smoked turkey, crispy Irish fat bacon, stout mustard sauce, shaved iceberg lettuce, aged Irish cheddar infused with sage completed the stack (holy fuck!)

Guinness Extra Stout paired with Irish Soda Bread Club Sandwhich

Guinness Extra Stout made them the biggest beer in Ireland, but since 1801 it’s Foreign Extra that tops their sales worldwide. 80% of all beer sold in Africa is Foreign Extra Stout. Red wine flavors, higher hop count, more roasted barley. Instead of coffee notes you get espresso, dark chocolate, plum, cherry + raisin flavors that are not present in the Guinness Drought.

A variety of Foreign Extra Stouts are brewed globally to accommodate local preference. Antwerp Stout (Belgium + France) is 7.5% with a higher alcohol content. The bitterness is dialed back, anise, leather, and black licorice undertones are present.A variety of Foreign Extra Stouts are brewed globally to accommodate local preference. Antwerp Stout (Belgium + France) is 7.5% with a higher alcohol content. The bitterness is dialed back, anise, leather, and black licorice undertones are present.

This is the base beer for their 1st ever whiskey barrel aged offering brewed in Dublin, aged in Baltimore.

We were one of the lucky ones, only 300 cases of Stout Aged in Bulleit Bourbon Barrels made it to the United States

8 months is a quick turn around time. One of the world’s most sessionable beers is transformed to 10%. The wood smoked butterscotch sweetness present in Antwerp made it the choice for aging in Bulleit bourbon barrels. The American crew is based at the Open Gate Brewery in Halethorpe, Maryland.

-Other Notes

-Guinness Draft + Guinness Extra Stout are the same except for the gas, Draft has, nitro bubbles. Both are 4.2% in Ireland but brewed to hit 5.6% for the U.S. Market.. With every sip, the beer runs over tiny micro ridges. This friction draws the nitrogen out of the beer.

-Chef Jeff joked that the only ones who can propose a toast better than the Italians are probably the Irish.

-He grew up in a predominately Irish neighborhood. Early Guinness memories include playing darts with 2$ pints in school. A handful of M&Ms and a sip of Guinness Draft was the protocol.

-The proper way to drink this beer is to look out to the horizon with your chest out and bring the beer to your bottom lip.

- Only 300 cases of Barrel Aged Guinness were released nationwide.