The Great Guinness Toast?

[Saint Patrick]

Does anyone know what day the Great Guinness Toast is scheduled for?

[beerturtle]

most likely, it will be in February sometime. I will attempt to discern the exact date and report back.

[steveh]

Friday, February 20th!

I stumbled on the date by accident while looking up: http://www.fadoirishpub.com/chicago.html

S.

[Bruno_78]

What is this, they don't offer much of a description.

[steveh]

Guinness arranges to get as many people together as they can, around the world, to raise a glass of Guinness Stout in a simultaneous toast. They've been doing it for about 8 years now and they try to break records with the amount of people toasting - 'bout all I can tell.

S.

[skahtboi]

Am I just supposed to toast with a Guinness at some point during the day???

[studentofbeer]

i think you are supposed to go to a bar somewhere and do it... i vaguely remember a local bar having some little shindig for it last year, gave away guinness glasses or something (which my roommate stole when we moved i think :mad: )

[hopjack13]

i didn't know guinness made toast???:p

[steveh]

You head over to a pub that is holding an "official" toasting party (most bars that sell Guinness have the Toast going on). They'll have give-aways and such - as Student said, one year they had a nice imperial pint glass. Then at the pre-arranged hour, synchronized around the world, everyone raises his Guinness, the appointed toast-master recites, everyone drinks around the world.

My problem with the toast is that it attracts amateurs and band-wagoneers - i.e. those that would never look at a Guinness except that they're getting freebies. I once watched a table full of swillers go through pitchers of Miller Lite until it was time for the toast, got the glass, sipped, then emptied the pints into an empty pitcher and resumed swilling - and this was at an Irish-style pub!

Not to be elitist, but I think the Toast officiators should know the loyal Guinness drinkers and provide preferential treatment...not to get off on a rant...

S.

[kgaugler]

Originally posted by hopjack13
i didn't know guinness made toast???:p

Dark brown, malty, delicious toast to be exact.

[steveh]

You head over to a pub that is holding an "official" toasting party (most bars that sell Guinness have the Toast going on).

Oh yeh, the number of toasters is recorded and tabulated for the record books - yes, that record book.

S.

[Beaver]

Originally posted by steveh

My problem with the toast is that it attracts amateurs and band-wagoneers - i.e. those that would never look at a Guinness except that they're getting freebies. I once watched a table full of swillers go through pitchers of Miller Lite until it was time for the toast, got the glass, sipped, then emptied the pints into an empty pitcher and resumed swilling - and this was at an Irish-style pub!

Maybe it helps to convert a few of the unwashed masses, so some good can come of it. ;)

[chazwicke]

Guinness is good for you!

[steveh]

Originally posted by Beaver
Maybe it helps to convert a few of the unwashed masses, so some good can come of it. ;)

I'd agree, if I'd seen any converts. They all converted back to their swill once they had their free glass - which I wonder what was actually used for, eBay?

S.

[Beaver]

These things take time! :)

But some people will never learn.

[mdblu1]

Don't eat yellow snow, Don't drink yellow beer!

[BluesHarp]

Originally posted by steveh

My problem with the toast is that it attracts amateurs and band-wagoneers - i.e. those that would never look at a Guinness except that they're getting freebies. I once watched a table full of swillers go through pitchers of Miller Lite until it was time for the toast, got the glass, sipped, then emptied the pints into an empty pitcher and resumed swilling - and this was at an Irish-style pub!

Not to be elitist, but I think the Toast officiators should know the loyal Guinness drinkers and provide preferential treatment...not to get off on a rant...

S.

tragic story...I'm almost too upset to finish my Old Crustacean...not really!! :D

Perhaps each customer should be required to finish one Guiness from an unmarked glass prior to getting the commemorative one?

[barley ben]

My problem with the toast is that it attracts amateurs and band-wagoneers - i.e. those that would never look at a Guinness except that they're getting freebies. I once watched a table full of swillers go through pitchers of Miller Lite until it was time for the toast, got the glass, sipped, then emptied the pints into an empty pitcher and resumed swilling - and this was at an Irish-style pub!

That is the exact reason I skip my local Guinness bar that night. It is the only pub in my immediate area that has Guinness. I go there for two reasons, Guinness and there is never more than 10 people. For some reason everyone comes out to drink swill, toast with Guinness and be A%@holes. No thanks, I'll come back tomorrow!!!

[brewman63]

Does anyone know where you can find the "official" info on the toast? Like what time it will be, what the actual toast is?

Thanks.

[barley ben]

Any Guinness bar should be able to tell ya. My bar I go to to drink Guinness is a tiny little place in the middle of nowhere and they even participate.

[OnOnRu]

Originally posted by brewman63
Does anyone know where you can find the "official" info on the toast? Like what time it will be, what the actual toast is?

Thanks.

I'd love to know if there is an official site as well. Did some searching and can't find anything. Seems like it will be tonight - Friday, February 20th on everything I found.
But my local guinness hangout is doing it tomorrow night. Was just there last night having a few - and the owner even has posters, flyers, etc. all given to him from his guinness rep. and all with tomorrow's date. Very odd.

I did find this as a toast:

The Guinness is flowing and oh, what a night!
We’re here to thank you, and thought that we might
Take a minute to praise the folks we love the most,
So here’s to us all, another Great Guinness Toast!
We toast to the parties that spread block to block,
To each of you here, who make this place rock!
To the spirit of giving, the fun and the cheer,
To all Guinness drinkers, and the world’s finest beer!

[steveh]

Originally posted by OnOnRu
I'd love to know if there is an official site as well. Did some searching and can't find anything. Seems like it will be tonight - Friday, February 20th on everything I found.
But my local guinness hangout is doing it tomorrow night. Was just there last night having a few - and the owner even has posters, flyers, etc. all given to him from his guinness rep. and all with tomorrow's date. Very odd.

In years past it's been on a Friday night.

I haven't been able to find anything on the web about the event, not even at the Guinness USA site. And the manager of my local, which serves Guinness now, hadn't heard anything about it from his distributor as of Tuesday. Hmm.

S.

[steveh]

Weird, it's not even part of this site any more. ???

http://www.fadoirishpub.com/chicago.html

S.

[OnOnRu]

All very odd indeed. Well tomorrow night is just as good as any night to drink a Guinness - so I guess I'll use it as a good excuse to check it out.

Owner of my local smokehouse and pub, says he's got shirts and trinkets, etc. from the distributer, and the signs. hmmm


and I thought it odd that this article mentions it started in 1993 but this is only it's 10th year - odd math.

http://www.spotlitemag.net/index.phtml?context=story&story_id=1290