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Guinness ®, Irish Pubs & Irish Beer Gifts At ShopIrish.com
Someone once said, "If you want to understand the dreams of the Irish, visit an Irish pub". No statement could be more true. Irish pubs offer visitors a glimpse into the authentic culture of the Irish, the opportunity to experience the fantastic rhythms of Irish music and traditional dance, and to savor casual Irish cuisine. It's within Irish pubs that the Irish meet friends and family, exchange stories and gossip, conduct a little business or simply have a pint of stout and read over the day's headlines. And why not? When you think of an Irish pub, you picture old barrels, tiled floors, copper jugs, enamel advertising signs covering the brick walls and the old telephone box and messenger boy bicycles just outside. What a charming atmosphere!
But aside from the pubby surroundings, there's no disputing that the main attraction is the Irish beer. One type of Irish beer is the Irish Ale, which is malt-accented with a buttery note, rounded and with a subtle fruitiness. Irish Ale is lighter and paler than Scottish Ale and the hop bitterness is low. Another type of Irish beer (and perhaps the more well-known) is the Dry Stout. Ireland was one of the first countries to brew stout, and it is considered a national beverage of Ireland. Stout is markedly aromatic with rich maltiness and an intense hop flavor. This Irish beer is a black and opaque, with a low to medium body and a creamy brown head. The degree of sweetness or dryness can vary greatly, but Dry Stout has a slightly roasted (coffee-like) flavor produced from the dark roasted barley and chocolate used in the brew.
The most famous Dry Stout in Ireland, and in arguably the world, is Guinness ®. Arthur Guinness started his stout, or "porter" as it was then called, business in 1759 using an inheritance of what would be $150 US by today's standards. More incredibly, he signed a 9,000 year lease on a run down brewery now known as St. James Gate in Dublin. The original rent on the lease was about $70 per year and Arthur Guinness sought such long lease to ensure there was always a supply of of the essential resource for brewing stout - water. By 1930, nearly one out of every ten Dublin men depended on the Guinness ® brewery directly or indirectly to earn their livelihood. In addition, Arthur and his successors set the Guinness ®-employee standard of living well above local expectations at the time. Wages were between 10% and 20% above the average in Dublin, and paid vacations, free medical care, homes and education were all provided. And to top it off, workers received free Guinness ® to drink every day. Guinness ® is a great Irish beer with an intriguing history.
Our Guinness ® items carry that vintage appeal and make great gifts for him. Sport our authentic Guinness ® Rugby on chillier evenings and our classic Guinness ® Polo during a round of golf. And don't forget your friends - they'll appreciate a fine gift of our Guinness Pint Glasses for their rec room or bar. But no matter what you choose, all pay tribute to Ireland's favorite brew.
ShopIrish.com (by Creative Irish Gifts) has the most fitting gifts for those who share the spirit of Ireland and Arthur Guinness. And your gift purchase today will financially support the Irish Children's Fund, Inc., the reason above all others Creative Irish Gifts is here to serve you.So please bookmark ShopIrish.com, and keep us in mind for:
Anniversaries
Baptisms
Birthdays
Christmas
Easter
Graduations
House Warming
Mother's Day & Father's Day
New Baby
Retirements
Thoughtful Just Becauses
Valentine's Day
Weddings
And, of course, St. Patrick's Day!
So, if it's Guinness ®, Irish Pub or Irish Beer gifts you seek, search no longer. You've found the right place - ShopIrish.com by Creative Irish Gifts - the place for great Irish Gifts!
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