Madam, – So Guinness, once a one-trick pony, now a lame carthorse, is launching a new product with the cunningly original name of Black Lager.
Although black lager has been around for generations in the guise of schwarzbier, I would surmise that the discerning beer drinkers of Ireland can only sigh with disbelief and despair. According to Diageo’s MD, John Kennedy, (Breaking News, March 23rd) Guinness has “250 years of rich brewing heritage”. So why on earth can’t they knock up a couple of half-decent “normal” products: perhaps a pale ale, a wheat beer, or even a crisply aromatic Pilsner?
For too long Ireland has been subjugated and held in thrall by the Guinness myth. It’s easy to reiterate the usual bleatings that a third of all beer drunk in Ireland is Guinness. It may well be true, but only because there aren’t any other beers available.
One thing that could help is the development of independent and micro breweries. But these are very difficult, if not impossible, to find thriving in Ireland. And yet, in Dorset (a very small English county) there are 14. I dare say it is much more difficult to set up an independent brewing company in Ireland. I imagine there are punitive taxation conditions imposed by the Revenue, as well as limitless regulations and red tape and, of course, a Government very much under the influence of Guinness? – Yours, etc,