St. Patty's Day secret: a new way to sip GUINNESS®

Hello tall, dark, and handsome! The icon of Ireland is celebrating its 250th anniversary: GUINNESS® stout was established in 1759 in Dublin. And there's no better time to lift a tall glass of the cool, dark beverage than today: St. Patrick's Day.

In the past, the tasty beverage was promoted as (get this) a health food, as shown in the period poster at left. But what is in it? “Our key ingredients - other than inspiration - are roasted, malted barley, hops, yeast and water,” says the website.

It looks black, but if you hold the drink up to the light, you'll see its really a dark ruby red; the malted barley is roasted much like a coffee bean, which is what gives the drink its deep color.

GUINNESS® stout has never been quite as popular with the gals as it is with the guys, in part because "it's so heavy" as my friend Dierdre says. So here's a way to lighten up and still have your stout: blend equal parts GUINNESS® and champagne for a delicious little drink called a Black Velvet. Helloooo handsome!

Poster image: courtesy GUINNESS®