Well, you may have come across the guiness book of records, but how many of you have tried the real stuff - good frothing black beer out of a black and golden can. You pull the top out and out froths a black-brown bubbly mass of stuff, with a heady essence that gets the thirst buds moving - and mesmerised u take up the bitter - roll it around the tongue - feel it surfing through the senses, and gently take the first gulp down the throat.
Then feel the nice heady smell all over again. This has been my company for the months and months while watching TV at night in hotel rooms in HK - Singapore - Japan, accompanied with a chicken leg from first-kitchen or pizza hut, or a short dutch cigar.
The other good time to try it out is while walking down Star Ferry - HK or Tsim Sha Tsui down HK.
Well, you also have varieties depending on where and when u want it. So it is the pitcher kinda stuff - stout beers you get in a mug at tandoor joints in HK, or the strong stuff if u really need a kick (somehow I prefer the milder variety as that means u have more of it, slowly and kill an entire evening).
Where-else do I take it. While accompanied with a troupe of magazines on a tokyo-bombay flight.l I am a bad sleeper - so out come The Economist, Financial times and other stuff you get on the flgihts, then I would call for the Guiness (not availabe on AirIndia generally), some peanuts or light stuff to go on, and that is me and the stuff for the next four hours till fatigue knocks me off for a cat-nap, to rest the eyes, listen to music or check out the movie.
Pity Part of it: Indians are not into stout beers. The only venture was London Stout of London Pilsner stables, it came and went after a very short stint.
Other stouts the great alex tried was John Miller, Carlsberg, Kirin.
But Guiness I would rate the Best !!!