When Arthur Guinness started brewing ales at the St. James' Gate Brewery in Dublin in the 1700's he knew he was on to a good thing.
In fact, the father of Guinness was so sure of his ale, he signed a 9,000 year lease (for the now-frugal sum of £45 per year). Ten years later, Guinness was exporting to England and 250 years later, Guinness is one of the world's most popular beverages with the brewery reporting an average of 10 million pints a day being consumed worldwide.
Little has changed in the brewing of Guinness over the centuries, but over the years some variations have been introduced including Guinness Black Lager, Guinness Bitter, and Guinness Extra Stout.
Now, Guinness has announced their Red Harvest Stout, a limited release seasonal offering which "provides a change of pace from the array of pumpkin beers often available this time of year while incorporating centuries old Celtic traditions."
According to a release, Guinness wants to introduce Americans to the ancient Celtic tradition of Samhain, a festival held yearly on All Hallow's Eve to celebrate the end of the harvest. It is on that night that "restless spirits are beckoned from the darkness with bonfires and sweet offerings from the bountiful fall harvest." Call it what you will, we're down for any celebration that involves "restless spirits".
The Red Harvest Stout is "crafted with a blend of lightly roasted barley which allows for aromas of caramel and toffee and is supported by a sweet malty taste."
The stout is 4.1 percent ABV and will be sold in four-packs of nitro-cans, starting in September.
And, in case you're wondering about a red-colored Guinness, the classic stout is actually considered a "dark ruby color" by the brewery itself, "It looks black, but hold your glass up to the light, and you'll see there's a ruby in every glass, as the old saying has it."
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