Mug Shots: Portland's Beer Scene
D-Day in Dublin
Column by Mark Organ
Issue date: 1/21/10 Section: Student Life
In October 2004, I arrived in Dublin, Ireland to absorb a little Celtic culture after a few months in the Iraqi sandbox. As our bloated 747 taxied to the terminal our commanding officers shouted in vain "Two drink limit!"… Obviously, they were ignored. We had been drinking Non-Alcoholic beer for the better part of a year and no 20 year old Butter Bar Lieutenant was going stop us.
The first wave of the assault, comprised of several hundred thirsty U.S. Marines, ran like an unstoppable force down the terminal. Shamus, the airport barkeep, was clearly heard saying his Hail Mary's as he prepared for the worst onslaught the world had seen since Normandy.
Shamus had plenty to be concerned about since Ireland is known for Guinness Draught and we had been dreaming of our first sip since day one in-country. By the time my turn at the bar arrived; the airport was in full lockdown. I called out my order to Shamus and observed the anarchy that only boozed up jar-heads are capable of.
I suppose it did look a little like Armageddon from an Irish point of view; Marines running through an airport with a glass in each hand, laughing like hyenas and chasing old Irish women around gift shops. It was our first alcohol in nearly a year and it was wonderful.
Guinness Draught is both a dinner and a show. Not only is it a thick and luscious beer, but it also cascades through the glass like a waterfall. Most capable bartenders take particular pride in pouring Guinness and it does truly take skill to correctly fill a glass. The perfect pour takes nearly two minutes and is best dispensed into an ice cold pint glass. The dark roasted malts in Guinness give it a light bitterness with hints of cocoa and a creamy head. Beautifully aromatic while not overpowering, Guinness maintains earthy characteristics that completely satisfy, no matter how parched you are.
The first wave of the assault, comprised of several hundred thirsty U.S. Marines, ran like an unstoppable force down the terminal. Shamus, the airport barkeep, was clearly heard saying his Hail Mary's as he prepared for the worst onslaught the world had seen since Normandy.
Shamus had plenty to be concerned about since Ireland is known for Guinness Draught and we had been dreaming of our first sip since day one in-country. By the time my turn at the bar arrived; the airport was in full lockdown. I called out my order to Shamus and observed the anarchy that only boozed up jar-heads are capable of.
I suppose it did look a little like Armageddon from an Irish point of view; Marines running through an airport with a glass in each hand, laughing like hyenas and chasing old Irish women around gift shops. It was our first alcohol in nearly a year and it was wonderful.
Guinness Draught is both a dinner and a show. Not only is it a thick and luscious beer, but it also cascades through the glass like a waterfall. Most capable bartenders take particular pride in pouring Guinness and it does truly take skill to correctly fill a glass. The perfect pour takes nearly two minutes and is best dispensed into an ice cold pint glass. The dark roasted malts in Guinness give it a light bitterness with hints of cocoa and a creamy head. Beautifully aromatic while not overpowering, Guinness maintains earthy characteristics that completely satisfy, no matter how parched you are.
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