Guinness Mid-Strength

AzcuzCoz

Is this still around anymore? I saw it advertised in the paper a few years ago. Where can I get it?

odyssey06

Last place I saw it was Mulligans Poolbeg street in early part of this year... dunno if still on the taps though.

Let us know if spot it.

AzcuzCoz

What exactly is it? I've only just turned 18 so I prefer to drink something a bit less strong than the normal black stuff, and I remember seeing it in the paper a few years ago.

odyssey06

Lots of opinions on it here... some of it might be useful:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056688725

It's supposed to be a 2.8% version of Guinness, brewed "in the same way" as the regular stuff.

I had it a few times watching a footie game in the pub on a sunday afternoon or monday evening, other options would be smithwicks red ale which is 3.8% - less if you shandy it.

AzcuzCoz

This may sound very stupid, but are you able to drive after drinking it? (Probably not).

FanadMan

AzcuzCoz wrote:

This may sound very stupid, but are you able to drive after drinking it? (Probably not).

Think that's how they originally advertised it.

odyssey06

AzcuzCoz wrote: »

This may sound very stupid, but are you able to drive after drinking it? (Probably not).

After one, yes.

But I wouldn't risk drinking it all night and then driving, it's mid strength beer not non-alcoholic.

I'm afraid for that it'd have to be a totally non-alcoholic beer like the 0% versions available of Erdinger, Becks etc, or a soft drink... I find ginger ale with a lime wedge goes further than a coke or 7up. Or maybe cranberyy juice. Basically something you wouldn't drink super quick.

cardshark

AzcuzCoz wrote: »

This may sound very stupid, but are you able to drive after drinking it? (Probably not).

It all depends how much of it you drink!

AzcuzCoz

Personally I only drink Coca Cola and a pint of Guinness when I'm at the local. The odd time I might have a Smithwicks or Heineken but that's about it.

I haven't done my research, but after a pint of the regular Guinness are you allowed drive? I don't now the regulations too well and have only been driving and drinking for a couple of months, though not at the same time!

FanadMan

When it was released, the drink/driving limits were higher. The Gardai recommended no more that two pints. With mid strength you could drink 4 pints. If I remember rightly, it was shown on the RTE news.

odyssey06

AzcuzCoz wrote: »

I haven't done my research, but after a pint of the regular Guinness are you allowed drive? I don't now the regulations too well and have only been driving and drinking for a couple of months, though not at the same time!

That's the safest course of action, once you start mixing and matching you are putting yourself at risk because there are so many factors involved - body size, drinking on empty stomach, how tired you are, your unique metabolism.

I personally wouldn't have a full pint of any regular beer and then drive straightaway.

Some people find that 1 glass or pint of the real deal followed by soft drinks all night works for them.
Some people find that all that 1 drink does is generate a thirst for more... so they stick to soft drinks \ non alcoholic beers all night.
Some people go for a pint of non alcoholic beer shandy (e.g. bottle of non alcoholic beer with dash of lemonade or ginger ale) ... having a pint in their hands of the right colour works psychologically for them.

CeilingFly

The op is taking the p1ss

Check his other threads.

AzcuzCoz

I'm not taking the p1ss, I just had a joke about the animal bones, that's all.

Does the mid-strength taste any different to the normal stuff?

irish_goat

Golf clubs and the odd hotel would tend to stock Guinness mid-strength. The flavour is the same as regular but it's even more watery, from what I remember.

AzcuzCoz

Why isn't it sold everywhere?

Was it not popular or something?

What was different about it compared to the normal stuff?

L1011

AzcuzCoz wrote: »

Why isn't it sold everywhere?

Was it not popular or something?

Its not popular. Pubs have a limited range of taps and can't sell everything. On that note, most pubs here have maybe 2x-3x the number of taps of a normal bar in England - the idea that a beer is 'available everywhere' just doesn't exist there.

AzcuzCoz wrote: »

What was different about it compared to the normal stuff?

Its weaker, and somewhat watery. Guinness drinkers are also hugely resistant to change - at least when they're told, as the Guinness recipe has changed numerous times over the decades.

AzcuzCoz

I've only been drinking Guinness for 5 months, and am looking for something a bit less alcoholic, so to speak. Is Mid-Strength the least alcoholic Guinness out there? Or is there another alternative that is still Guinness?

ianob7

AzcuzCoz wrote:

I've only been drinking Guinness for 5 months, and am looking for something a bit less alcoholic, so to speak. Is Mid-Strength the least alcoholic Guinness out there? Or is there another alternative that is still Guinness?

No. Anything else would not be Guinness it would be stout of some description.

Zaph

AzcuzCoz wrote: »

I've only been drinking Guinness for 5 months, and am looking for something a bit less alcoholic, so to speak. Is Mid-Strength the least alcoholic Guinness out there? Or is there another alternative that is still Guinness?

You've already been told it is on your other thread. Are you expecting a different answer on this one?

AzcuzCoz

A bit off topic, but you know the new Guinness glasses with the curve and harp engraved on it? Like the ones in my above picture? Where do you get them? Can I just go into the local and ask for one? Will they allow me or is there a strict policy against getting glasses from the bar?

ianob7

You're asking very non specific questions that Google will answer for you. What's the deal? I googled Guinness glasses and got numerous options instantly

AzcuzCoz

Can you just go into the local and ask for one from the bar or take it home when finished! That's all I'm asking.

ianob7

How about asking the local instead of asking on an Internet forum where any response won't be guaranteed one way or another anyways....

NIMAN

Bars have to pay for glasses afaik, so I don't think they are keen for patrons to help themselves to glasses when leaving.

me_irl

The Carroll's Irish tat shops should sell them.

EDIT: No "o'"!

And: https://www.carrollsirishgifts.com/guinness-logo-2-pack-pint-glass-set-with-embossed-harp.html

AzcuzCoz

So let me just get this straight:

With mid strength you can drive after drinking a few pints and a child could drink it? Does anyone know anywhere that does sell it in any of these places: Swords, Dublin, Monaghan and Waterford City. I live between these three places. Thanks.

aido79

AzcuzCoz wrote: »

Can you just go into the local and ask for one from the bar or take it home when finished! That's all I'm asking.

Would you go to a restaurant and ask them if you could bring one of their plates home when you finish your meal?

Zaph

AzcuzCoz wrote: »

So let me just get this straight:

With mid strength you can drive after drinking a few pints and a child could drink it? Does anyone know anywhere that does sell it in any of these places: Swords, Dublin, Monaghan and Waterford City. I live between these three places. Thanks.

It seems to me from your two threads that you want people to tell you that it's OK for you to have a couple of pints of Guinness Mid-Strength and then for you to drive. Nobody will, and more importantly nobody can tell you that, there are too many variables such as whether you've eaten recently, your physical size, your metabolism, etc. I'll give you the only advice I can give you, and that's not to touch a drop when you have the car with you. I've done that from the moment I started driving, and I've never had to worry about whether I've had half a pint too many, or if I can chance another drink as long as it only has x amount of alcohol in it. And no, a child can't drink it, not legally anyway.

ianob7

Sure why not. Be grand.. Bit of a drive to monaghan for a few pints

No to the kids drinking it though.. Are you sure you're really studying in Trinity??

L1011

AzcuzCoz wrote: »

With mid strength you can drive after drinking a few pints

You can't.

If you are 18 you are going to be on a permit or probationary licence so your alcohol limit is so low I'd advise not even sniffing a beer mat. Unless you're the size of a house you would probably be over your limit directly after a single pint of this.

AzcuzCoz wrote: »

and a child could drink it?

They can't.

There is a damn good reason this isn't popular - you aren't going to be impressed when you do find it.

FanadMan

OP, in one of my earlier posts I said that when mid strength was released you could drink 4 pints of it without being over the limit. That was (in your timeframe) the last century....when you could drink and drive. Now you CAN'T. You are now only legally allowed to drink in pubs and have probably only just got your driving license.

Maybe by your following comments you shouldn't do either. You seem to think that you can't be affected by alcohol. If you are going out somewhere and you are driving, don't drink. Leave the car at home or collect it at the pub the following day. Otherwise it's just a matter of time before you become a statistic - dead, killed someone or prosecuted for drink driving.

AzcuzCoz

I have only just got my licence and am driving an 05 VW Passat.

I am just curious - is Guinness a less dangerous alcohol for say a 13 year-old boy than a vodka? I think it is. Tell me what harm there is with a 13 year old lad drinking let's say a 1/4 of a Guinness. I'll then explain why I'm asking.

FanadMan

AzcuzCoz wrote: »

I have only just got my licence and am driving an 05 VW Passat.

I am just curious - is Guinness a less dangerous alcohol for say a 13 year-old boy than a vodka? I think it is. Tell me what harm there is with a 13 year old lad drinking let's say a 1/4 of a Guinness. I'll then explain why I'm asking.

I'm out of this - no way I'm going to answer questions about a 13 year old drinking. Go ask a parent or teacher.

L1011

AzcuzCoz wrote: »

I have only just got my licence and am driving an 05 VW Passat.

I am just curious - is Guinness a less dangerous alcohol for say a 13 year-old boy than a vodka? I think it is. Tell me what harm there is with a 13 year old lad drinking let's say a 1/4 of a Guinness. I'll then explain why I'm asking.

The 13 year old can't biologically be your kid so you can't legally supply them alcohol

Gloomtastic!

If it looks like a troll, smells like a troll and behaves like a troll, it probably is a troll!!!

OP cut the nonsense or you will face a full-strength banning!!

rubadub

AzcuzCoz wrote: »

Why isn't it sold everywhere?

Was it not popular or something?

What was different about it compared to the normal stuff?

I think a big factor was since they were charging the same, or around about the same.

http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/excise/duties/excise-duty-rates.html

Exceeding 1.2% volume but not exceeding 2.8% volume 11.27 per hectolitre per cent of alcohol in the beer
Exceeding 2.8% volume 22.55 per hectolitre per cent of alcohol in the beer

The duty on a pint of 4.2% is 53.8cent

The duty on a 2.8% is 17.9cent (presuming they picked 2.8% as it is at the limit, maybe it has to be 2.79% to be definitely in the lower limit).

mikeecho

I've reported this thread..

Obvious troll.

And no action taken. ( yet my post on westy is edited).

Come on.. report this thread

rubadub

rubadub wrote: »

I think a big factor was since they were charging the same, or around about the same.

http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/excise/duties/excise-duty-rates.html



The duty on a pint of 4.2% is 53.8cent

The duty on a 2.8% is 17.9cent (presuming they picked 2.8% as it is at the limit, maybe it has to be 2.79% to be definitely in the lower limit).

doesn't seem to any cheaper in most pubs tho akaik.

Zaph

mikeecho wrote: »

I've reported this thread..

Obvious troll.

And no action taken. ( yet my post on westy is edited).

Come on.. report this thread

The OP has already been sitebanned, what more do you want?

odyssey06

Zaph wrote: »

The OP has already been sitebanned, what more do you want?

I think it would have been apt had he been sentenced to drink four pints of mid-strength Guinness... then walk home?

mikeecho

Zaph wrote: »

The OP has already been sitebanned, what more do you want?

Wasn't aware of that.

I think the thread could be closed now

rubadub

glasso wrote: »

doesn't seem to any cheaper in most pubs tho akaik.

yeah, thats what I was getting at, I think its the reason its not more popular. I would sooner just drink a half pint if I wanted less alcohol, and a glass of tap water if I was thirsty.

I have only seen 2 or 3 people I know getting it, and lots were asking how much it cost, to see what savings are to be had, and then "WTF! its the same?!"

I always found it strange how some people wanting to "take it easy", will buy longnecks, paying around the same or even more than pints, but would never EVER dream of buying a half pint.

irish_goat

rubadub wrote: »

I always found it strange how some people wanting to "take it easy", will buy longnecks, paying around the same or even more than pints, but would never EVER dream of buying a half pint.

I would say that might be partly to do with rounds. It's easier to keep on par with pint drinkers with a longneck rather than a half pint. That'd be my thinking anyway.

the beer revolu

rubadub wrote: »

I always found it strange how some people wanting to "take it easy", will buy longnecks, paying around the same or even more than pints, but would never EVER dream of buying a half pint.

Maybe it's because half pints are a scandalous rip off in most pubs compared to pints.

Of course, long necks are also a complete rip off but they might be seen as a "premium" product.

rubadub

irish_goat wrote: »

I would say that might be partly to do with rounds. It's easier to keep on par with pint drinkers with a longneck rather than a half pint.

It is easier to keep a par spending wise, and wonder if that is it, as they are more or less the same price. A 330ml longneck is only 16% more liquid. Many do not cop this.

To get the point across I ask about a pint and a can, most people think/accept they are around about the same, you even hear people using them interchangeabley,
"I had 6 pints last night"
"oh what pub"
"ah no, 6 cans at home"

I remember a mates jaw dropping telling him that
-half pint is 57% of a can,
-a longneck is 58% of a pint.

I have said in other threads I think the real reason is the macho man image. I know many who would not be in rounds but having longnecks at say a wedding or stag do with all day drinking. Half pints are "for wimmin" or "lightweights", while oddly the miserable 16% more and you are grand again. Though more recently some mainstream longnecks in pubs are getting slightly bigger than 330ml.

the beer revolu wrote: »

Maybe it's because half pints are a scandalous rip off in most pubs compared to pints.

Of course, long necks are also a complete rip off but they might be seen as a "premium" product.

As many mainstream longnecks are widely available for ?1 or less I would have thought they would have lost any sort of "premium" notions about them. I only get half pints in pubs like against the grain who charge the same or a little more than half price. I think it should be law that it should be the same per per ml, if the gov are serious at all about curbing binge drinking, I think in some country it might be law.

I am not sure of price differences in "diageo pubs", but I doubt they come near to the price per ml of longnecks.

the beer revolu

rubadub wrote: »

I have said in other threads I think the real reason is the macho man image. I know many who would not be in rounds but having longnecks at say a wedding or stag do with all day drinking. Half pints are "for wimmin" or "lightweights", while oddly the miserable 16% more and you are grand again. Though more recently some mainstream longnecks in pubs are getting slightly bigger than 330ml.



As many mainstream longnecks are widely available for ?1 or less I would have thought they would have lost any sort of "premium" notions about them. I only get half pints in pubs like against the grain who charge the same or a little more than half price. I think it should be law that it should be the same per per ml, if the gov are serious at all about curbing binge drinking, I think in some country it might be law.

I am not sure of price differences in "diageo pubs", but I doubt they come near to the price per ml of longnecks.

I've been banging on about half pint pricing being put in law for years now!

I was recently with someone pouring 2 Heineken bottles into a pint glass in a hotel bar. I asked why not just have a pint of Heineken?
"ugh, I wouldn't drink draught beer - draught beer is awful"

odyssey06

I think it helps that the range of glasses in most establishments has expanded, if I order a glass of beer there's a good chance it'll come in a 'proper' glass for beer. Rather than a re-purposed highball, or worse, those 'baby' pint glasses that looked like a mini Guinness pint glass.
If there's a new beer I want to try, especially in craft beer places, I'll order a glass rather than a pint in case it doesn't impress me... I find it hard to get an impression just from a sample.

BeerNut

One quick Google later.

odyssey06

It's on tap in the Beachcomber on the Howth Road (Dublin 5) if anyone is still looking...

Greg81

And Golden Ball, Stepaside Dublin 18