Does Guinness Beer Taste Better In Ireland? Science Provides An Answer

While an amusing story, the implication is that freshness is a)important to marketers and consumers b) can probably be managed once the factors driving the conclusion are deconstructed. Let the debate begin with this story from Science Daily via Naked Capitalism:

"A new study in the Journal of Food Science provides some limited scientific evidence to support the theory among beer enthusiasts that Guinness tastes much better in Ireland than other parts of the world.

Over a period of one year, four researchers of different nationalities traveled to 14 countries and visited 71 Guinness serving establishments in 33 cities to collect data for 103 tastings.

Tasting scores for pints of Guinness were generally high all around the world, yet tastings in pubs in Ireland scored significantly higher.

This difference remained statistically significant after adjusting for researcher, pub ambience, Guinness appearance, and the sensory measures of mouthfeel, flavor and aftertaste. Please note that results are subject to further verification because of limitations in the study design.