Guinness® Collectors Club

Chris Myers reports from ........The USA!

About 3 years.

Why, the wonderful taste, smell and look of the stout - why else? Oh yeah... I really dig the black and gold designs too!

Fairly popular, however it isn't well very represented. Only two bars in our town offer Guinness on tap... and one seems to think they need your arm and leg in return for a pint. It's popularity is getting better though as more people see others drinking it. I've also noticed most stores carry six packs now for purchase. That wasn't the case even at this time last year.

Rarely.

Quincy, IL was settled by Germans in the early 1800's. At one point before the US Civil War (circa 1860) there were over 150 taverns in town. The population was under 20,000 at the time. Today there are around 75 taverns with a population around 50,000. Some of these bars have remained for years. The tavern I frequent mostly does not serve Guinness (gasp!), but the atmosphere is quite unique. Larry's Tavern has existed in Quincy for over 100 years in the same family. The owner today is the great, great grandson of the Irish immigrant who opened the bar in the early 1900's. I do go to a bar called O'Griff's when thirsty for Guinness... but the place is a bit "corny" in trying to cash in on the "Irish Pub" phenomenon.

At O'Griff's at times... they don't seem to care all that much. I had to tell them about the two-step pour method and it was two years before you could order a half and half and be confident the bartender didn't give you some sort of dairy product.

I collect bottles mostly. However, I do have a few signs and bar mats. My best addition was a flat, glass panel advertising "sign". I've seen it used as 1/4 of a light in the Dubliner pub in Omaha, NE.