Serving Guinness samples

Butterface

I'm running an Irish stall at an international fair at my Uni in the UK next week. Apart from displaying the usual stereotypical crap, I also wanted to have some food or drink samples of Irish fare. The other countries will have lots to offer, but I'm not up to cooking anything so was thinking offering small amounts of Guinness to people who come by the stall would be the best.

I know that it's going to be a poor man's Guinness if I'm using small plastic glasses.. and trying to pour a few samples out of the one bottle/can! Just any advice on how best to give people a decent sample of Guinness..

Should I use bottles of stout/foreign extra.. or cans of draught? Bearing in mind that I won't be able to keep the draught cool. Any tips folks?

the beer revolu

Butterface wrote: »

Apart from displaying the usual stereotypical crap, I also wanted to have some food or drink samples of Irish fare.

Stereotypical crap "Irish" drink = Guinness

iambrazil

Butterface wrote: »

Should I use bottles of stout/foreign extra.. or cans of draught? Bearing in mind that I won't be able to keep the draught cool. Any tips folks?

I'd just serve some samples of the different types of bottled Guinness you can get here in the UK. Guinness Original (as it is labelled here), Foreign Extra Stout and maybe some of the imported Foreign Extra (brewed in Nigeria I think) if you wanted to as well. It's usually in most corner shops next to the Foreign Extra that's brewed in Ireland.

These will all taste great at room temperature unlike a can of draught Guinness. No need to chill the bottles at all really.

Unfortunately it's kind of hard to come by other Irish beers over here so you can't showcase something other than Guinness. Marks & Spencers Irish Stout is brewed by the Carlow Brewing Company in Ireland and is excellent but expensive compared to Guinness. Porterhouse Brewery bottles can be sourced online or in some good off licences and are all great examples of Irish beer.

slayerking

You can get Guinness in almost every corner of the globe!
I think it would be more interesting to maybe buy a hand full of irish craft shouts and hand out samples of them. There also much more flavoursome and interesting than guinness.
Or better yet, get a selection of good irish beer.

Butterface

iambrazil wrote: »

I'd just serve some samples of the different types of bottled Guinness you can get here in the UK. Guinness Original (as it is labelled here), Foreign Extra Stout and maybe some of the imported Foreign Extra (brewed in Nigeria I think) if you wanted to as well. It's usually in most corner shops next to the Foreign Extra that's brewed in Ireland.

These will all taste great at room temperature unlike a can of draught Guinness. No need to chill the bottles at all really.

Unfortunately it's kind of hard to come by other Irish beers over here so you can't showcase something other than Guinness. Marks & Spencers Irish Stout is brewed by the Carlow Brewing Company in Ireland and is excellent but expensive compared to Guinness. Porterhouse Brewery bottles can be sourced online or in some good off licences and are all great examples of Irish beer.

Thanks for the replies. I probably should have mentioned that cost is a factor, as I'll only be reimbursed to a max of £40. I think I'll go with Guinness, especially since I can serve the Original and Extra at room temperature! Despite the lack of originality, I'm sure the international students here will be happy for a free sample of any booze!

adamski8

Butterface wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. I probably should have mentioned that cost is a factor, as I'll only be reimbursed to a max of £40. I think I'll go with Guinness, especially since I can serve the Original and Extra at room temperature! Despite the lack of originality, I'm sure the international students here will be happy for a free sample of any booze!

just go with the extra stout bottles then

irish_goat

£40 would get you a decent amount of Carlow's stout in M&S. Otherwise, yeah, go with bottles or cans of extra stout.

Feisar

I know you said no cooking but a pot of stew isn't that hard to throw together. Surely someone would give you a dig out with it.

rubadub

I'd contact them first and make sure you are allowed to distribute free alcohol. I have heard of problems at trade shows.