Has anyone ever heard this story before?

When Guiness was first making their beer, of course, it was a success. One day, the health inspector came around and asked them to drain their vats to do an inspection. At the bottom of the vats, they found many dead rats. Guiness removed the rats and continued production. All of a sudden, the beer tasted horrible. Guiness came to the conclusion that it was the rats that gave the beer such a desireable taste, but the health inspector wouldn’t allow it, so they bought pieces of meat and threw those into the vats, and that is what makes Guiness what it is today.

Guiness isn’t my favorite beer, but I do have a pint of it once in a while.  You can find this story posted in several places on the web, but I’ve been unsuccessful in substantiating it…

They drained the beer vats?  I suppose it wasn’t really wasted, the albino alligators in the sewer system drank it.

That is truly alcohol abuse!

To answer your query, this story sounds totally made-up, like the one where Moose-Head beer was made from water so filthy (supposedly from some polluted river in Canada) the workers could not drink from the water fountains at the brewery, it made them sick.

Dan the Alcoholic

My husband always says he prefers “Chewy” beers such as those European darks.  Now I know what chewy means.  I’ll relate the story to him.

For anyone worried about enjoying a pint of the black stuff after reading that - dont worry, no rats are involved in its production.

Quite right, Dee; it’s a myth folks!

Guinness is a type of beer called ‘porter’. No meat is used in its production, but isinglass is used to ‘fine’ the beer (remove cloudiness) hence it is not acceptible to some vegetarians.

David B. - 16 May 2006 12:01 PM

Quite right, Dee; it’s a myth folks!

Guinness is a type of beer called ‘porter’.

In Ireland, especially Dublin, the drink [porter] was known as “plain porter” or just “plain”. This is the drink referred to in the famous refrain of Flann O’Brien’s poem “The Workman’s Friend”: “A pint of plain is your only man.” By contrast, extra-strong porter was called Stout Porter and eventually became what is today stout.

Stout grew into its own recognized style but there is still much debate today on whether this division is appropriate. Usually the deciding factor in whether a particular ale is a porter or a stout is strength. After the invention of malted barley roasted until black, also known as patent malt, in 1817, to impart dark color, which also gives a distinct burnt taste to the beer, Irish brewers dropped the use of brown malt, using patent malt and pale malt only, while English brewers continued using some brown malt, giving a difference in style between English and irish porters and stouts.. Stouts sometimes also use roast barley, unmalted barley roasted black, that can impart a flavor of coffee.

During the First World War in Britain, shortages of grain led to restrictions on the production of strong beer. This allowed Irish brewers such as Guinness to fill the market need and gain market dominance, a position that they continue to enjoy to this day.

buba - 16 May 2006 12:51 PM

David B. - 16 May 2006 12:01 PM

Quite right, Dee; it’s a myth folks!

Guinness is a type of beer called ‘porter’.

In Ireland, especially Dublin, the drink [porter] was known as “plain porter” or just “plain”[...]

Wow, you know how to follow a hyperlink!

yeah i followed your link and i guess there is still much debate today on whether this [stout] division is appropriate but your link seemed to me to imply guinness is a stout.

Thanks, it did seem a little far-fetched. 

The use of fish parts for clarification is interesting, I was not aware of this.  Something to relate to my vegetarian friends. 

As long as it tastes good don’t tell me what is in it.
I don’t think any beer tastes good by the way.

Found this in my favorites - I must have been drunk to bookmark it.  I think I was just amazed at the obsession of this guy.  He (it just must be a he) has made a list of beers suitable for vegans and regularly emails the producers to find out if they use finings (fish).  http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geraint.bevan/Vegetarian_beers.html

I didn’t know there was fish in beer.  It really is the perfect food/drink.  It has grain, meat, carbs, give me some pickled sausages and I am set.