How to Pour the Perfect Guinness (And How We Do It Right at Doherty’s)

If you know us, you know we don’t mess around when it comes to Guinness. It’s not just a beer,

it’s a pint of pride. Pouring it right is part science, part patience, and a little bit of art. And at Doherty’s, we make sure every Guinness we pour lives up to the reputation it deserves.

Why the Two-Part Pour Matters

Guinness is a nitrogenated beer, which is why it has that mesmerizing cascade when it first hits the glass. The two-part pour lets that settle into the deep ruby-red body with the perfect creamy head on top. Skip the wait, and you’ll end up with something flat, foamy, or just plain sad. We don’t do sad pints here.

Step One: The Foundation

We start with a clean, dry glass, always. Tilt it under the tap, open it all the way, and let the beer flow until it’s about three-quarters full. Then comes the hard part: waiting. Watching the surge tumble down and settle is almost hypnotic, but it’s also essential.

Step Two: The Finish

Once the pint has had its moment to settle, we top it off with a straight pour. The foam should rise just proud of the rim, dense and creamy. No rushing, no overflowing, no shortcuts. Just a proper pint that looks like it belongs in your hand.

A Little Extra: The Shamrock

Here’s where our most experienced bartenders like to show off a bit. With a quick wrist and just the right touch, they can draw a shamrock in the foam before sliding your pint across the bar. Does it make the beer taste different? Not at all. Does it make it feel like your pint was poured with a little extra care? Absolutely.

Layered Beers: A Fun Twist on Guinness

If you want to take it up a notch, we also offer layered beers. These drinks combine Guinness with another beer, ale, or cider to create two distinct layers of color and flavor in one glass. The trick is pouring slowly so the liquids don’t mix, which creates that beautiful separation. Here are the layered favorites we serve at Doherty’s:

• Half & Half: Guinness Draught & Harp Lager

• Black & Tan: Guinness & Havoc's Limerick Irish Red

• Blacksmith: Guinness Draught & Smithwicks Ale

• Black & White: Guinness Draught & Wheat Ale

• Snakebite: Guinness Draught & Cider

• European Snakebite: Harp Lager & Cider

Each one offers a different flavor profile, from smooth and balanced to bold and hoppy, and they all start with a properly poured Guinness base.

How We Do It at Doherty’s

We train every bartender here to respect the ritual of the pour. It’s not about rushing a drink across the bar, it’s about giving you the Guinness experience you came in for. From the first cascade to that final sip of creamy foam, your pint is poured the way it’s meant to be. And if you’re lucky, you might just find a shamrock smiling back at you.

So next time you order a Guinness, take a second to watch the process. At Doherty’s, we promise it’ll be worth the wait.

Sláinte! ☘️