A Guinness Glossary

The Purpose of This Guide

Guinness carries its own language. Some of it is technical, shaped by brewers and bartenders. Some belongs to the pub: rituals, habits, small acts that speak louder than words. And some comes from the people who gather around the pint, passing along stories, slang, memories, and the quiet rules that give the drink its weight.

This guide serves as a companion to Pints and Power. It’s not a marketing glossary or a collector’s checklist. It’s a way to understand the world that the pint has shaped, and the ways people speak about it. The terms here reflect history, pouring traditions, varieties of the beer itself, and the culture that forms wherever Guinness is poured. Many appear in the book. Others come from the wider world that sits around it.

Use it as a reference. Use it as a doorway. Or use it as a reminder that Guinness is more than a drink. It is a vocabulary of belonging.

Section 1 — The Pint Itself

Guinness
Ireland’s most recognized stout, defined by its nitrogen pour and cultural weight.

The Pint
1) Shorthand for Guinness in most Irish contexts. 2) The standard serving of Guinness, an imperial pint, not the American measure. It holds 20 imperial ounces (568 ml), making it larger than the 16-ounce U.S. pint.

The Perfect Pint
A well-executed two-part pour in a clean glass with a proper settle and balanced dome.

Two-Part Pour
The standard ritual: pour to the harp, wait, then top up.

Settle
The clearing of the nitrogen cascade from cloudy to dark.

Surge
The falling and rising motion created by nitrogen bubbles.

Dome
The curved head rising above the rim.

Head / Cream
The protective layer of nitrogen foam that seals the pint.

Nitrogen (Nitro)
Gas blended with CO₂ to create Guinness’s texture.

Nitro Surge
At-home device designed to mimic a proper bar pour.

Stout
Dark beer style built on roasted barley.

Black Stuff
Informal name for Guinness.

The Good Stuff
Praise for a well-poured pint.

Guinness 0.0
Nonalcoholic Guinness retaining the flavor profile and ritual.

Guinness Extra Stout
Sharper, bottle-conditioned stout.

Foreign Extra Stout
Stronger export stout designed for durability and distance.

West Indies Porter
Modern interpretation of early Guinness export recipes.

Antwerpen Stout
Belgian-market stout brewed since the 1940s.

Citra IPA
A nitrogen-served Guinness experiment outside the stout category.

Gravity Glass
Modern Guinness glass introduced in 2010 with a contoured shape.

Section 2 — Pouring Ritual and Technique

45° Angle
Proper tilt for the first phase of the pour.

Harp Line
Fill mark for the first stage.

Top-Up
Vertical pour that completes the head.

The Push
Backhand motion used to top up.

The Pause
Essential wait between the two stages.

119.5 Seconds
Guinness’s formal pour timing.

First Sip
Breaking the head and beginning the pint.

The Bite
A deliberate first gulp through the head.

Guinness Mustache
Cream on the upper lip after the first sip.

Lacing / Stick / Schtick
Rings inside the glass marking each sip.

Clean Lines
Properly maintained gas and beer lines.

Virgin Glass
A spotless glass ensuring a stable head.

Presentation
How the pint is placed on the bar.

Section 3 — Glassware and Tools

Tulip Pint Glass
Classic Guinness shape with a mid-bulge.

Guinness Tulip
Common reference to the traditional tulip glass.

Oversized Tulip
Larger version of the classic tulip.

Conical Pint
Straight-sided glass not ideal for Guinness.

Top Shelf Glass
Personal glass for a specific regular.

Vintage Guinness Glassware
Older logoed or mismatched glasses treasured for memory.

Collector’s Glass
Limited-run glasses tied to specific events.

Engraved Glass
Custom or commemorative glass.

Widget
Plastic device used in cans to release nitrogen.

Nitro Can
Guinness can brewed for nitrogen pours at home.

Section 4 — Pub Language and Traditions

The Local
Your chosen pub, based on belonging rather than distance.

Public House (Pub)
Communal social space central to Irish life.

The Snug
Small enclosed area for privacy and quiet conversation.

Session / Seisiún
Gathering for music or shared time.

Craic
Fun, atmosphere, or lively banter.

Lock-In
After-hours gathering inside a pub.

Regulars
Consistent patrons who give a pub its identity.

Publican
Owner or steward of the pub.

House Pint
The specific pour style of that pub.

Quiet Corner
A place in the pub for reflection or small conversation.

Pint of Plain
A traditional Irish phrase meaning a pint of Guinness. Popularized by Flann O’Brien’s poem The Workman’s Friend, which declared that “a pint of plain is your only man.” Still used with affection in pubs across Ireland.

Section 5 — People and Voices

Arthur Guinness
Founder of Guinness and signer of the 9,000-year lease.

Arthur Guinness II
Expanded the brewery in the early 19th century.

Benjamin Lee Guinness
Led major civic improvements in Dublin.

Edward Cecil Guinness
Later the 1st Earl of Iveagh, he modernized the brewery in the late 19th century and became one of Ireland’s most influential philanthropists, using Guinness wealth to fund housing, public works, and social reform efforts across Dublin.

Rupert Guinness
The 2nd Earl of Iveagh, oversaw Guinness’s global expansion in the early 20th century.

Arthur Edward "Ned" Guinness
Modern Guinness family figure tied to philanthropy, 4th Earl of Iveagh.

Rory Guinness
Chair of the Iveagh Trust and contemporary family voice.

Michael Ash
Scientist behind the nitrogen system used in Guinness today.

Fergal Murray
Master Brewer known for modernizing the pour’s global standardization.

Niall Connelly
Folk singer-songwriter whose work carries themes of memory and place.

Danny O’Reilly
Frontman of The Coronas and voice of a modern Irish musical identity.

Section 6 — History and Context

St. James’s Gate
The Dublin home of Guinness since 1759.

9,000-Year Lease
Arthur Guinness’s symbolic act of confidence in the brewery’s future.

Easter Rising
Historical rebellion referenced near the brewery’s grounds.

Marrowbone Lane
District around the brewery tied to 1916 history.

Diageo
Modern corporate parent of Guinness.

Irish Diaspora
Global community carrying Irish ritual and culture abroad.

The Troubles
Northern conflict in which pubs remained central social spaces.

Neutral Pub
Pub known for remaining open to all sides during the conflict.

Section 7 — Advertising, Art, and Memorabilia

Gilroy Ads
20th-century advertisements featuring animals and humor.

The Toucan
Guinness’s most famous advertising mascot.

Guinness Zoo
Group name for the animals in Gilroy’s campaign.

World Traveller Memorabilia
Collectibles from Guinness’s mid-century travel program.

Guinness Mirrors
Decorative pub mirrors used around the world.

Tap Handles
Distinctive Guinness handles tied to different eras.

Ephemera
Smaller branded items collected over time: coasters, matchbooks, and more.