# Guiness drinkers - do you consume the head? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 25, 2003, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-drinkers-do-you-consume-the-head/150923 "2003-01-25T22:58:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Frank\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Frank\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank_2)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-drinkers-do-you-consume-the-head/150923/21 "2003-01-27T14:21:23Z")
I like to leave the head in the glass, just because I can. 😉 Slightly related, I once floated a bottlecap on top of the head. Twas very impressive to me and my mates. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-drinkers-do-you-consume-the-head/150923/22 "2003-01-27T16:17:06Z")
According to an Irish barman I knew once a pint of Guinness shall be swallowed in exactly four swigs, each one leaving a ring of froth in the glass. After the third it is time to order a new pint. ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-drinkers-do-you-consume-the-head/150923/23 "2003-01-27T16:32:15Z")
My Guinness-drinking days are for the most part over, since deciding 8-9 pints in an evening plus shots of Southern Comfort was a little too challenging a habit to maintain. And extremely caloric, to boot. I still enjoy the occasional pint, and consume every last bit of it. I’ve also seen people light matches and stick them in the head to watch them burn down. ---
**Author:** ![My\_Darn\_Snake\_Legs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f14d63/32.png) [@My\_Darn\_Snake\_Legs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/My_Darn_Snake_Legs)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-drinkers-do-you-consume-the-head/150923/24 "2003-01-27T16:43:10Z")
A match huh? Sounds like a fun trick. Thing is though…ashes in the beer are not a good thing. I was drinking a pint at a pub and my cigar rudely ashed in the pint ☹ Being a Guinness I had to drink the whole thing. The barman saw it and gave me a fresh one on the house for that trick though. Dilligence is rewarded! ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-drinkers-do-you-consume-the-head/150923/25 "2003-01-27T16:59:54Z")
> [@](#): > > According to an Irish barman I knew once a pint of Guinness shall be swallowed in exactly four swigs, each one leaving a ring of froth in the glass. After the third it is time to order a new pint. perhaps if you’re Frank McCourt, but not for the normal Guinness drinker 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![montana\_cricket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@montana\_cricket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/montana_cricket)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-drinkers-do-you-consume-the-head/150923/26 "2003-01-27T17:01:49Z")
Echo says he doesn’t drink the head… that’s cause he’s a great SO and leaves it for ME! If I drink the Guinness, I drink it ALL. Hold that glass upside down and get the last drop of foam. 😛 😛 😛 MMMMMM. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-drinkers-do-you-consume-the-head/150923/27 "2003-01-27T17:24:28Z")
Take only pints, leave only glasses. That’s my motto. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-drinkers-do-you-consume-the-head/150923/28 "2003-01-27T17:34:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by irishgirl \* > \*\*i always draw a smiley face in the head with my finger before i drink any of the pint. a habit i’ve inherited from my father. > \*\* 😃 I can’t resist the urge either. That and floating peanuts and receipts folded into boats on the head as well. I’ve had the odd barman draw a shamrock into the head but also a lot of lesser bartenders who leave a bubble sitting where the tap has been pulled out :mad: Watching me burst the bubble one night at the pub several spirits only drinkers thought this was a bizarre Guiness ritual 🙂 Glad to see I’m not the only one to drain the glass of everything! ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-drinkers-do-you-consume-the-head/150923/29 "2003-01-27T17:37:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Olentzero \* > Take only pints, leave only glasses. And it so happens that in Ireland a half pint is called a glass. ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-drinkers-do-you-consume-the-head/150923/30 "2003-01-27T17:43:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Judith Prietht \* > \*\* And extremely caloric, to boot. \*\* Actually, Guinness isn’t that caloric at all. As beers go, it’s pretty light. ---
**Author:** ![montana\_cricket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@montana\_cricket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/montana_cricket)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-drinkers-do-you-consume-the-head/150923/31 "2003-01-27T18:29:52Z")
You’re kidding! I’ve heard it referred to as “pork chop in a glass”. Tell me that it’s pretty light calorically, please, tell me true?! ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-drinkers-do-you-consume-the-head/150923/32 "2003-01-27T18:31:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Floater \* > \*\*And it so happens that in Ireland a half pint is called a glass. \*\* You know _damn_ well that’s not what I meant. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-drinkers-do-you-consume-the-head/150923/33 "2003-01-27T19:00:56Z")
I just couldn’t resist the temptation. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-drinkers-do-you-consume-the-head/150923/34 "2003-01-27T19:31:05Z")
I looked up some calorie counts for Guinness, and they seem to hover in the 200-220 range, so technically it’s not that terrible (my ignorance is vanquished), but even at 220 calories 9 pints will do a waistline no favors. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-drinkers-do-you-consume-the-head/150923/35 "2003-01-27T23:21:28Z")
sorry, hoping any irish dopers will pop back in. so, will any of you admit to preferring Murphy’s? Beamish? Mssr’s Maguires’ own porter? because you’ll have to be excommunicated if you do. (unless you’re a Corkman, in which case you may be granted a reprieve on the Murphy’s) ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-drinkers-do-you-consume-the-head/150923/36 "2003-01-28T01:04:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by montana cricket \* > \*\*You’re kidding! I’ve heard it referred to as “pork chop in a glass”. Tell me that it’s pretty light calorically, please, tell me true?! \*\* Well, you’re certainly better off drinking water. But Guinness Draught that you get in the US (bottle, can, or tap) is 210 calories in a pint, whereas 12 Oz of Bud has 144, so they’re very comparable. Your average microbrew will have a lot more than 210 calories in a pint. In fact, Guinness Draft has less calories per oz than Sam Adams Light. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-drinkers-do-you-consume-the-head/150923/37 "2003-01-28T01:21:41Z")
A cow-orker once told me that the NHS used to (in the 50’s) give a half of Guinness to hospital patients the day before surgery because of its high iron content. Is this a UL? And of course, no Guinness thread would be complete without the following joke: > [@](#): > > A Texan walks into a pub in Dublin and bellows out, “Howdy y’all!!! I hear that you Irish are heavy drinkers. Well I’m willing to offer 500 American dollars to anyone that can drink ten pints of Guinness in a row!!!” > > Suddenly the pub becomes completely silent and one person even leaves. No one takes up the Texan’s bet, so he just sits down and enjoys his beer. > > ``` > About a half hour later the Irishman who left comes back into the pub and asks the Texan, "Is your your offer still available?" > > ``` > > The Texan replies, “Sure is, $500 if you can drink ten pints of Guinness in a row.” > > ``` > So the bartender pours ten pints of Guinness and the Irishman pounds back each and every one without even breaking a sweat. The Texan, in awe of the feat that was just performed, says, "Well I guess what I heard was true about you Irish, so here's your $500 sir, but can I ask you just one question?" > > The Irishman says "Sure...I don't see why not" > > The Texan asks, "Where did you go for that half hour that you were gone???" > > "Oh that's easy", says the Irishman, "I went to the pub down the road to make sure I could do it first." > > ``` ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-drinkers-do-you-consume-the-head/150923/38 "2003-01-28T01:40:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by irishgirl \* > \*\*sorry, hoping any irish dopers will pop back in. > > so, will any of you admit to preferring Murphy’s? > Beamish? > Mssr’s Maguires’ own porter? > > because you’ll have to be excommunicated if you do. > > (unless you’re a Corkman, in which case you may be granted a reprieve on the Murphy’s) \*\* Well I’ve certainly been in pubs this side of the water where the Murphy’s and Beamish both knocked spots off the Guinness. I put it down to them feeling the need to try harder. I wouldn’t bother looking past Guinness outside of Cork over there though. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jr8 \* > \*\*A cow-orker once told me that the NHS used to (in the 50’s) give a half of Guinness to hospital patients the day before surgery because of its high iron content. Is this a UL? \*\* I believe they prefer you to have an empty stomach when they operate so drinking even a half _before_ surgery might not be true. _After_ surgery is another matter though – I know my mum insisted on a bottle of Guinness the day after I was born (ditto for both my brothers). I’m talking '60s not '50s. ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-drinkers-do-you-consume-the-head/150923/39 "2003-01-28T02:54:40Z")
Nah, Guinness isn’t that high in iron at all. [http://www.vhihealthe.com/experts/diet/diet\_q242.html](http://www.vhihealthe.com/experts/diet/diet_q242.html) People seem to think that Guinness is a crazy super beer, when, really, in the world of high class beer, it’s pretty pedestrian. It’s the Irish Budweiser, not their tiny microbrew. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-drinkers-do-you-consume-the-head/150923/40 "2003-01-28T14:38:47Z")
Count me as one of the infidels, **irishgirl** , because I prefer Beamish over Guiness. Precicely because the head on a properly tapped Beamish is creamier. So, naturally I drink the whole pint, whether it’s Guiness or Beamish. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-drinkers-do-you-consume-the-head/150923.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-drinkers-do-you-consume-the-head/150923.md?page=3)