BBC- “If I can’t get it in it will probably cripple me.”
That’s what Steven Crosbie says about the current issues affecting Guinness supplies.
As the landlord of the Liffey, an Irish pub in Liverpool, Guinness is his top seller.
Steven usually gets 12 50-litre barrels a week from his main distributor.
Pub managers say they’ve been scrambling to secure supplies at reasonable prices.
“It’s been hard work,” says Shaun Jenkinson, operations manager at Katie O’Brien’s.
Some landlords say that pubs have been “panic buying” Guinness.
Im talking about something far more urgent: a Guinness shortage.
This story out of Liverpool is absolutely bananas.
(An absurd amount of beer to go through period.
Nevermind just one brand/style)
Now?
Hes being rationed to one barrel.
Thats not hyperbole; thats a death knell for an Irish pub.
And its not just Liverpool.
That sounds like a bunch of bullshit to me.
Guiness didn’t just all of a sudden blow up out of nowhere.
Seems like they’ve had a steady fanbase and rock solid marketshare forever.
So what exactly gives?
Well I’ll tell you.
According to the BBC, Guinness sales have gone up by 20% in kegs compared to last year.
And guess who we have to thank?
But the Guinness influencers (yes, thats a thing now) arent the only problem.
Pubs, in a panic, have been stockpiling Guinness like its toilet paper in March 2020.
That, in turn, has dried up the market even further.
Its chaos, people.
Camden Stout or Murphys.
And look, Im sure theyre fine for the casual stout drinker.
Meanwhile, Guinness 0.0the non-alcoholic version- is quietly thriving, making up 3% of the global Guinness volume.
I dont know what to do with that information other than assume the world has completely lost its mind.
You mean to tell me people drink this stuff just for the flavor, and not to get buzzed/tipsy/hammered?
This would be like Italy running low on olive oil.
Or America not having any high fructose corn syrup to supply all our fat diabetics.
And most importantly, we need pints for our friends in the UK.
Clean it the fuck up Diageo.
Or shut it down.
- I’ve been lucky enough to visit many countries in Europe.
But I still have yet to visit the Emerald Isle- Ireland.
I actually get my EU passport next week so I have the perfect excuse to get over there asap.
I just need to do it right.
How do I get around?
What do I avoid because its a waste of time or overhyped, and what is an absolute must?
I would greatly appreciate any advice or suggestions -dante@barstoolsports.com
