Have You Heard of Guinnessy?

You can probably guess from the portmanteau what two drinks you combine to make one. Yep, Guinness and Hennessy.

The new serve caught traction on American TikTok before crossing the Atlantic, as lovers of both liquids fiercely protected the purity of their drinks, but some were ready to embrace the heresy. 

As you can see from our Guinness Recipe guide, it’s probably more versatile than you think and after The Three Drinkers in Cognac, we’re all up for trying cognac with everything, but how the two work together in reality?

Well, from the original TikTok it’s hard to say as it’s ‘shotgunned’ – a shotting technique in which the drink makes a whole in the bottom of the can, and in this case, pours the Hennessy in the top. He did seem to enjoy it though!

There are lovely stouts out there aged in cognac barres, and both cognac and Guinness are used in a tonne of different cocktails recipes, but we think that, on this occasion, all that malty sweetness and hoppy bitterness mixing with the fruity richness will only serve to ruin both drinks to be honest.

Still, we’re always up for mixology experimentation so you never know. Everything is down to personal taste so try it yourself! (‘shotgunning’ optional).

Aunt Bessie's New Roast Dinner and Dessert Beers are Here!

Calling all quirky beer lovers! Aunt Bessie's is back with a delightful surprise that will tickle your taste buds and transport you down memory lane!

You may remember that back in 2020, they joined forces with Northern Monk to craft “the UK’s first two-course meal made in beer form,” and now they're at it again, this time with an extra couple of tantalizing puddings in mind.

Picture this: a Roast Dinner Brown Ale, a Jam Roly Poly & Custard Pale Ale, a Sticky Toffee Pudding & Custard Porter, and an Apple Crumble & Custard Pale Ale. Yes, you read that right – they've brewed beers inspired by some of the nation's most cherished comfort foods!

The Roast Dinner Brown Ale is brewed with actual Aunt Bessie's Roast Potatoes and Yorkshire Puddings and the Jam Roly Poly & Custard Pale Ale is infused with plum, apricot, and strawberry, which are the same ingredients found in the original Aunt Bessie's pudding recipe.

This isn't the first time we've seen such unique brews though. Remember when Seabrook crisps teamed up with Northern Monk to create Prawn Cocktail and Cheese & Onion flavored beers? Or when Byron’s Burger released its pickle beer?! It seems like the world of beer and food is always full of surprises!

If you're itching to try Aunt Bessie's latest four-pack of brews (4 x 330ml for just £5.50), you can either click right here or head to your nearest Morrisons.

5 Need To Know Weird Beers

If you’ve got even a passing interest in beer then you’ll have definitely come across some peculiar flavours over the years, and there’s no shortage of them in 2023. We embrace the weirdness, but that doesn’t mean they all taste good. In fact, a lot of them miss the mark.

Below are 5 need to know weird beers that we think are really worth a try, from pale ales that sound appetising off the bat, to ales that need to win you around. Cheers!

Northern Monk + Aunt Bessie’s Apple Crumble & Custard Pale Ale

We can always rely on Northern Monk to collaborate with the unexpected and concoct an unusual beer. In the past there’s been Seabrook’s Prawn Cocktail and Cheese & Onion cans, and in fact this isn’t the first time they’ve teamed up with Aunt Bessie’s, releasing a Sunday Dinner Brown Ale previously. These past creations are no longer available, but their newer release, ‘Apple Crumble & Custard’ is and it’s one that is far easier to immediately get on board with. The custard is more forward, with the apple bringing a subtle, candy style flavour. Overall, it isn’t too overwhelming as you might expect and does provide a nice nostalgic sweetness!

Size: 330ml
ABV: 4.5%
Price: £2.50

Fungtn Lion’s Mane IPA

We’ve mentioned these low-alcohol gems before because of their innovative use of medicinal mushrooms. The natural starchy quality of mushrooms complements brewed beer, for example, Lion’s Mane IPA uses Lion’s Mane mushroom. This gives earthy depth, building on the subtle caramel, hay notes among the bitterness. This IPA won has won numerous awards but check out their other mushroom projects like Reishi Citra Hop and the new Shiitake Dark.

Size: 330ml
ABV: 0.5%
Price: 12 for £33.60

Eagle Brewery Banana Bread Beer

You might have had enough of banana bread when everyone started making it during the pandemic, but now you’ve had a rest, how about experiencing it in a whole new form? This Eagle brew uses their own natural mineral water and Fairtrade bananas, bringing inviting banoffee aroma with the silky, rich malt blend and touch of peppery spice. Unlike so many flavoured beers, it does really taste of banana, and it’s delicious.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 5.2%
Price: 8 for £12.50

Hammerton Crunch Peanut Butter Milk Stout

Smooth and silky texture, this is like drinking liquid peanut butter… albeit the stout version. It took tonnes of experimentation, but the balance of roasted peanuts and biscuit is spot on. It’s surprisingly light, with malty, chocolatey, coffee notes in the background. Delicious.

Size: 330ml
ABV: 5.4%
Price: £3.70

Marmite Love Hate Ale Camden Town Brewery

This one completely lives up to the saying, so we just had to include it. Not everyone loves it, but those who do really do. Now, it is very yeasty, and the profile of Camden Hells unsurprisingly comes through, so if you’re drawn to that already then definitely give this a go. Real marmite, Pilsner and Munich malt combine for a smoky, bready for an unforgettable experience.

Size: 330ml
ABV: 4.8%
Price: 12 for £24.99

Take a look at our Beer Cocktails guide and experiment with these odd flavours in one of the recipes! You never know what you’ll create!

A New Twist on Tradition: Exploring the World of Beer Cocktails

When it comes to cocktails, beer definitely isn’t the first ingredient that comes to mind. However, the world of mixology has embraced the idea of blending beer with other spirits and flavours to create unique and refreshing concoctions, so don’t write it off just yet! It’s probably the most beloved drink of them all, so let’s dive into the delightful realm of beer cocktails, where traditional brews meet exciting twists.

Marbeerita

The Beer Margarita, the Beerita, the Beergarita, whatever you call it, it really works. The beer brings a refreshing twist to this classic putting a bubbly spin on the traditional mix of tequila, lime and aromatic orange... which marries with hops deliciously. Barbeques, laid-back afternoons, the Marbeerita is well worth a go.

Ingredients
50ml tequila (blanco or reposado)
30ml lime juice
25ml Cointreau
15ml triple sec
120ml chilled beer (go for lager, ideally Mexican)
Lime wedge (garnish)

Method
Add everything except the beer, stir to combine, add a little ice, and pour beer over the top. How’s that for simple?

Shandy

Cocktails do not get simpler than this. If you order a Shandy, you’ll almost always get beer and lemonade, usually in a 50:50 split. It’s ideal if you want something thirst quenching but not too boozy, and also adds some bright and juicy sweetness to the crisp beer. If you don’t fancy lemonade, then try fruit juice or ginger ale. A Radler is basically the same thing too, but uses lemon soda instead.

Ingredients
120ml beer
120ml lemonade

Method
To avoid chaotic fizz levels, pour the beer first and top up with lemonade. Shandy complete.

Michelada

Becoming more and more popular stateside is the Michelada, a brunch style cocktail like the Bloody Mary but usually without the tomato. Traditionally it’s simply light Mexican beer with a dash of hot sauce and a salted rim and lime, but Worcestershire sauce also makes a nice addition. To make a Chelada, just ditch the hot sauce and pepper and up the lime.

Ingredients
250ml beer (light lager)
Dash of Mexican hot sauce
Salt and pepper rim
Lime for juice and garnish

Method
Mix salt and pepper on a plate (chilli powder too if you want more heat). Rub the rim with the lime and roll in the seasoning. Then, squeeze the lime and add to the rim before adding hot sauce, and topping up with lager. Unless your beer is ice-cold, add ice because the Michelada really is best served super chilled.

Beermosa

The Beermosa is a delightfully simple twist on the classic Mimosa. By replacing the sparkling wine with beer, you get a malty bitterness that tames the sweet citrus nicely. This beer cocktail is perfect for any time you want a little citrusy goodness with a beer kick.

Ingredients
120ml beer (try and get one with citrus notes)
120ml orange juice
Orange wheel for garnish

Method
Pour equal parts of beer and orange juice into a glass (no ice if they’re both chilled). Stir gently to combine the two and keep the bubbles alive, before a wheel of orange to finish the sunny look. Nom.

Black Velvet

A famous stout cocktail this time, the gorgeous Black Velvet. Created during the national mourning of Prince Albert in Victorian Britain, Guinness is almost always used (or a very dark stout) for its bitter, silky richness to offset the fruity and fizzing lightness of the sparkling wine. Surprisingly moreish so give it a try!

 Ingredients
100ml Champagne (Crémant or Cava is fine)
100ml Guinness

Method
Champagne first, then pour the Guinness over a spoon to layer it up nicely. Enjoy!

Every cocktail we love today was discovered through experimentation so try stuff out! Need inspiration? Check out our recent Daiquiri Twists here!

What Should I Drink With Sushi?

With intense and varied seafood flavours, vinegary rice, and spice all in play, sushi has a reputation for being a nightmare to pair with. There are actually lots of really complimentary options out there, however, so let’s take a look at the possible drinks you could serve to elevate your sushi experience!

SAKE

Choya Sake

Sake is enjoying a surge in popularity in the West, where it’s often served alongside sushi. This isn’t something picked up from Japan, however, where traditionally drinks alongside meals served the purpose of being light, easy-drinking and cleansing the palate. Because sake is brewed from rice, serving ‘rice on rice’ in this way isn’t seen as the way forward. Having said that, sake is actually very food friendly, so a delicate, clean, and restrained sake like this might not be the traditional pairing, but the umami of both makes for a lovely marriage all the same.

Size: 720ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £11.25

BEER

Asahi Super Dry

This might not be the most innovative pairing we’ll give you that, but a light and dry Asian lager like this that isn’t too malty, and overpowering is a really solid pairing. Japanese beers used to be thought of as bitter, but Asahi was at the forefront of changing that and their Super Dry is crisp and clean, allowing the sushi to shine.

Size: 620ml
ABV: 5.2%
Find here: £2.40

WHITE WINE

Reichsrat von Buhl - Riesling Trocken 2021

Both wine and sushi provide endless possibilities and hugely varied flavours and styles. One varietal that we always return to for intensely flavoured foods because it is so adaptable is Riesling. Crisp and highly acidic German Riesling like this is great for fighting spice, complementing fattier fish, and offsetting the bold flavours with bone dry refreshment. It’s as close as you can get to adding lemon juice to fish in a bottle of wine which is why it works so deliciously.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £12

SPARKLING WINE

Sainsbury's Cremant d’Alsace, Taste the Difference

A delicious and velvety dry sparkler like this really enhances the zest in seafood, and rather than competing with the flavours of the food, it simply refreshes from the backseat and allows its fizzing texture to open up the raw fish. Champagne loves sushi too, but at a fraction of the price this is the wiser option with little compromise on quality whatsoever.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £12

TEA

Green tea - Konacha

Tea is often traditionally served alongside sushi, and the high heat is surprisingly adept at refreshing the palate between bites, preserving the delicate textures and subtler flavours found in sushi. There are a few different teas you could serve. Genmaicha is a roasted rice tea that’s nutty and served warm, but green tea is probably the best match. Sencha and konacha are both popular types in sushi restaurants, and both wash down the fatty fish to reset the palate perfectly. They’re also a great way to include a non-drinker in the sushi experience with something more exciting than just water.

Size: 100g
Find here: £11

Copenhagen Sparkling Tea GRØN

Sparkling tea is more popular than ever, and if you don’t like the idea of warm tea with your sushi it’s a fantastic way to go. There are 6 Delicious Sparkling Teas here if you’re interested, but the one that we recommend with sushi is Copenhagen’s Green. It’s as fresh as any drink gets with a stunning green tea base, but also ginger to tie in with the dishes and fizz for resetting the palate.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 5%
Find here: £16.95

The right drinks accompaniment can truly make or break a meal, so check out other guides including Indian, Thai and Mexican!

The New Trio of Pub Snack Flavoured Beers

We all know that pub snacks and beer are a legendary combination, but one brewery is taking that marriage further than ever before.

Initially floated as an April Fool’s Day suggestion, Independent Leeds-based brewery Northern Monk has committed to their trio of beers inspired by iconic pub snacks. Like scampi fries in the pub? How about Scampi & Lemon Pale Ale? Or if that doesn’t take your fancy, perhaps the Pork Scratching Best Bitter, or Dry Roasted Peanut Stout?

The idea was born out of a workplace debate over the ultimate pub snack, co-founder Russel Bisset describes, “The ultimate pub snack is one of our favourite topics around the brewery; we even ran a tournament on our Instagram to see what other people think and try and settle the debate – pretzel pieces won. Brian Dickson, our Technical Director and Co-Founder, decided we should try and replicate some of our favourites in a beer.” I guess pretzel pieces just didn’t work out!

Whilst the beers are available for a short while on Northern Monk’s website, the real spirit of this creation is in supporting the pubs. Be it inflation, the pandemic or a whole host of other issues, the Great British pub has struggled over the last decade, so the 22 pubs stocking these limited-edition beers will keep the profits as part of the Faith in Boozers campaign. Whether your mouth is watering at the thought of one of the concoctions, or you’re just intrigued, check to see if there is a pub near you below:

The World’s First Powdered Beer

We all know instant coffee, but how about instant beer? Well, a 500-year-old German brewery, ‘Neuzeller Klosterbräu’ has made just that. Beer lovers, rejoice.

It really is made in the same way as instant coffee or protein shakes. By simply adding water to 45g of powder, you create the same amount of beer as you would buying a 1kg bottle. Obviously, this could have incredible environmental benefits. Manager Stefan Fritsche says, “We have calculated that, if we now relate this to Germany, we can save about 3 to 5 percent of the CO2 emissions for Germany alone. And if you look at it globally, that would be about half a percent of CO2 emissions worldwide that we could reduce.”

From what we can gather right now, the beer is non-alcoholic but they are confident that they will soon be able to add alcohol and carbon dioxide in powdered form too. It’s worth saying that this isn’t only one type of beer either because Stefan says they can powderize any beer and are looking to share this method with other breweries… so your favourite beer could soon be bought from powder!

Of course, the taste has to be right, especially in Europe where beer is extremely popular and drinkers may be sceptical of its powdered form. But, with greener solutions always being searched out, could this be the future of beer?

To begin with, the brewery will target Asian and African markets where there is less of a traditionalist mindset over beer, and where the environmental transport benefits are even more relevant. It doesn’t look like a European arrival is any day now – the head requires a milk frother at the moment, and the alcohol isn’t ready to be added just yet, but with the taste pretty much there, it might not be far off.

So, what do you think? Would you give powdered beer a try? Or do you think it's sacrilege to mess with the traditional brewing process? Reach out on social media and let us know!

For more beer-illiant content click here!

From Cocktails to Food: 4 Deliciously Different Ways to Enjoy Guinness

With St. Patrick’s’ Day coming up, the sight of ebony nectar-filling glasses will be everywhere we look, but can the same now be said for that on any other day? Towards the end of 2022, Guinness officially became the most popular pint in Britain, overtaking Carling. One in every nine pints in fact!

If you’ve long been loving the black stuff, then we’ve got some fantastic cocktails and recipes for you that place it centre stage. And if you’ve never been drawn to a pint, then perhaps these will hit the spot for you instead? They’re recommended by Guinness themselves and they should know best after all!

GUINNESS COCKTAILS

The Wilde Oscar

In honour of the poet and playwright extraordinaire, the inclusion of Guinness here makes for a darker, creamier twist on an Old Fashioned. A super smooth and creamy mix, the oak of the bourbon and coffee chocolate Guinness notes pair delightfully with a splash of syrup lifting the hoppy bitterness. This is a hearty cocktail with layers and layers of notes in every sip so take your time!

Ingredients
45ml Bourbon (like Bulleit)
30ml Guinness
15ml syrup
Dash of bitters (botanical)
Orange peel and maraschino cherry (garnish)

Method
Stir everything except the garnish together in an ice filled mixing glass and strain over a large ice cube before adding the inviting garnish.

Black Velvet

This cocktail has one of the best backstories around. In 1861, Queen Victoria and the country mourned the death of her husband Prince Albert. So mournful was the mood, that a London steward felt that even the drinks should be black and if you need a black drink, there’s only one place to go. They’re a curious coupling, with the hoppy silk of the Guinness and the effervescent lightness of the bubbly being a surprisingly moreish combo.

Ingredients
90ml Champagne (Crémant works fine too)
90ml Guinness

Method
Unbelievably simple aside from one small bit of bartending magic. First, fill your flute with Champagne and then top up with Guinness by pouring it over the back of a spoon to layer the cocktail nicely. Enjoy!

GUINNESS RECIPES

Guinness Shepherd’s Pie

Ireland claims Shepherd’s Pie as its own, dating back to the 1700s, and by including its most famous drink, this really is the ultimate St. Patrick’s dish. The depth of flavour provided by the Guinness is surprising in just how much of a difference it makes, and the hearty combination of creamy mash, rich meat and malty beer works wonders. The recipe below is seriously amazing. 

Ingredients (for 10)
1lb ground lamb
2 onions, diced small
1 medium carrot, diced small
5 minced garlic cloves
2 tbsp tomato puree
1 cup chicken stock
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
125ml Guinness
2 tsp chopped fresh thyme
1 tsp chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 cup peas
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
For the potato mash: 1lb Yukon Gold potatoes, 120ml cream, 100g butter, 6 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp salt, 1 tbsp fresh chopped parsley

Method
Everyone has their own way of making Shepherd’s Pie so truth be told, simply including the Guinness when you add the stock is all you need to do. However, this recipe is amazing if you want to try it.

On medium heat, add the garlic, onions and carrots to your oil and cook gently for 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Add the tomato puree and cook for another 10 minutes, before adding the lamb and turning up the heat to brown it off. Then simply add everything else in (not the potatoes obviously!), including that all-important gorgeous Guinness, and simmer until the mixture is reduced.

For the potatoes, boil equally sized quarters until tender. Meanwhile, sauté the garlic with butter and add cream – then once the potatoes are drained and the steam is released, mash them and fold them into your mixture.

Spread the lamb evenly in a baking dish and top with potatoes making sure there are no gaps. Bake for around 25 minutes in a oven preheated to 200 °C and once the potatoes have browned to your taste on top, garnish with parsley and voilá, it’s ready to serve. 

Guinness Raspberry Chocolate Torte

You might expect a Guinness in a stew or pie situation, but perhaps not in a Raspberry Chocolate Torte? Now, Guinness recommends their Foreign Extra Stout to drink on the side of this, but we’re going to be ambitious and include it. It’s by no means the dominant flavour, but it gives a special kind of depth and slight tang that plays off the raspberry gorgeously.

Ingredients (for 16)

455g bittersweet chocolate (61% dark)
455g butter
455g Sugar
10 egg whites
200ml Guinness (original or Foreign Extra Stout)
4 heaped tbsp plain flour
Butter Cream: 340g butter, 120g unsweetened cocoa powder, 575g confectioners’ sugar, 160g seedless raspberry jam, 2 tsp vanilla extract

Method
Melt the chocolate and butter and whisk in the sugar until it’s completely mixed. Wait for it to cool down to room temp, meanwhile whisk egg whites to stiff peaks. Fold the egg whites into the chocolate mix, whisk the Guinness into the combined mix slowly and finally add your flour little by little. The mixture should be fairly runny, so make sure to slowly add the flour.

Grease two tins and pour the batter evenly, baking for around 25 minutes at 160°C (a skewer should come out with a few crumbs attached, so ever so slightly undercooked).

Whilst waiting, whisk the butter, cocoa powder and sugar to make the buttercream. Then add the raspberry jam and vanilla, mixing at a higher speed for a good minute. You may need to add a little milk here to help reach your desired consistency of buttercream.

Chill overnight and add the cream to the top of each cake, layering them upon one another! decorate with raspberries and you’re ready to dive in.

If you’re after Irish Whiskey for the big day instead, how about our very own blend?! That’s right, with The Three Drinkers have launched their own wine-finished Irish Whiskey with the amazing Sliabh Liag Distillers – find out more here!