# Alcohol Content of Guinness Head? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 20, 2001, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-content-of-guinness-head/58776 "2001-03-20T21:10:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-content-of-guinness-head/58776/1 "2001-03-20T21:10:47Z")
Well, it’s Tuesday. For better or worse I’ve decided to alter my crappy day with a couple of pints. I’ve only got two left in the fridge now, and I don’t want to drink them now, but I would like to be a wee but more buzzed than I am. The foam from my last pint is sitting in front of me at the bottom of the glass. My question: is there any appreciable amount of alcohol in the foam? I think the stuff is way too bitter for enjoyable consumption, but I’d still like to know . . . just in case. Thanks, Jer ---
**Author:** ![Shiva](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@Shiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shiva)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-content-of-guinness-head/58776/2 "2001-03-20T21:21:26Z")
Not much. Guinness is fairly low in alcohol content to begin with, and that foam is more gas than stout. Time for a beer run! ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-content-of-guinness-head/58776/3 "2001-03-21T01:48:25Z")
Actually Guiness has quite a high alcohol content for a beer. It is a stout, after all. I, unfortunately, don’t have one handy, but it must be at least 6%, which is more than the usual 5% or less of other beers. The foam probably has the same alcoholic content, since it is part of the beer. The other part is gas, CO2 (and possibly some Nitrogen), which will actually make you higher quicker than the body since it will be absorbed by your body quicker. I love Guiness. Nice strong body, mellow to the tongue. Guiness on draft is Heaven on earth. ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-content-of-guinness-head/58776/4 "2001-03-21T04:19:53Z")
Actually, I saw on a website once (that I haven’t found just yet but probably will in a minute) that Guiness was 4.6 or 4.7, I believe…which is actually lower than Budweiser, which is 4.9. Back when I drank (heh, last Friday) I went for Hornsby’s Draft Cider, which was 6.0. ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-content-of-guinness-head/58776/5 "2001-03-21T04:22:07Z")
I should have searched a minute longer before hitting submit post. Here’s the link… [http://www.hbd.org/brewery/library/AlClbinger.html](http://www.hbd.org/brewery/library/AlClbinger.html) I was wrong. Guiness Extra Stout is 4.37% alcohol. Lower than most non-light beers. ---
**Author:** ![Tequila\_Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/41988e/32.png) [@Tequila\_Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tequila_Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-content-of-guinness-head/58776/6 "2001-03-21T04:29:50Z")
If it’s alcohol by volume, then it’s far less alcoholic than the beer. If it’s alcohol by weight, then it’s the same as the beer. ---
**Author:** ![Jeremy\_s\_Evil\_Twin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Jeremy\_s\_Evil\_Twin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeremy_s_Evil_Twin)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-content-of-guinness-head/58776/7 "2001-03-21T04:40:56Z")
I don’t know the answer to the OP, but I do know that [the little ball rolling around inside the can](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=63919) is called a “wicket”. Wheee!! I’m already using knowledge gained here! 🙂 😉 😃 J.E.T. ---
**Author:** ![schief2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@schief2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/schief2)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-content-of-guinness-head/58776/8 "2001-03-21T04:55:27Z")
I hate to burst your bubble, dude, but it’s actually called a wi **dg** et. From Guinness’ web site: > [@](#): > > The new Floating Draught System works on pressure. A small plastic ball called a widget is filled with a mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide gas, placed in the can where it floats and can be heard moving around until the can is opened, releasing the gas and creating the creamy, foamy GUINNESS Draught.