Guinness Grin
Guinness Grin is a popular term describing the smile a person wears after taking their first sip of Guinness Irish stout, when traces of the beer’s creamy head remain visible on the upper lip and the tip of the nose.
The term was originally coined as part of a marketing campaign connected with the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, which take place on and around 17th March each year. During this period, the Guinness Grin is worn with pride by Guinness drinkers the world over.
History
Although Guinness has been brewed in St. James' Gate (the Guinness Brewery) in Dublin for more than 250 years, the concept of the ‘Guinness Grin’ is relatively new. In fact, the familiar creamy moustache formed from drinking the beer has only been in existence since 1959. This was the year Guinness first introduced the draught version of Guinness beer with its signature creamy head – ideal for creating and maintaining the Guinness Grin.
While it is possible to achieve some semblance of a Guinness Grin with the foam from a bottle of Guinness Original, most people agree that draught Guinness produces better results. This is because draught Guinness is nitrogenated, rather than carbonated. The use of nitrogen produces significantly smaller, finer bubbles, resulting in a thicker, creamier head.
Social cachet
Just as a football scarf or rugby shirt enables fans of a sports team to easily identify fellow supporters, so the Guinness Grin provides an instantly recognisable ‘badge’ or symbol for Guinness drinkers the world over. In pubs and bars, Guinness drinkers will often raise their glass or nod their head to fellow Grin wearers, acknowledging their mutual appreciation of “the black stuff”.
Misconceptions
The term Guinness Grin is not to be confused with the iconic ‘smiling head in the glass’, which appeared in Guinness advertising during the 1930’s. Designed by John Gilroy, the posters have achieved enduring popularity, with original vintage prints now highly sought after by collectors.