» On 10/01/2025 12:01:00 AM Mountain Standard Time, Alan wrote:
The 119.53-Second Pour. 

During my first visit to a Dublin pub, I couldn't understand why the bartender poured only a partial pint of draft Guinness and didn't hand it over to me right away. 😉 This scene from House Of Guinness ep3 (@46:00) provides an explanation:

EDWARD GUINNESS (played by Louis Partridge, indicating two bottles of Guinness): I'll pour.
ELLEN COCHRANE (Fenian activist, played by Niamh McCormack): I don't drink in the daytime.
EDWARD: These are not for drinking. They are purely for the purpose of illustration.
ELLEN: What illustration?
EDWARD: You see, there is a particular technique when it comes to pouring Guinness. When you start to pour, the beer, quite rightly, is very excited to be free. And it fizzes in the glass. So while the first glass settles and gets used to the situation, you start to pour the next. And then you wait for the Porter to calm down. I call it the Guinness minute.
ELLEN: I was told that you wanted to meet me. Can you get to the point?
EDWARD: This is my point. These two half-poured glasses of Guinness represent the state of Ireland. At this moment, excited by your dream of independence, but in need of a little time... to reflect.
ELLEN: And you reduce our struggles to beer?
EDWARD: It's what I know, Miss Cochrane. I also know... that when you complete the pour, to fill the glass, it is important that you do it slowly, carefully... Evenly. And, as with your political struggle, you will only be successful if you keep... your... head.
ELLEN: I'm still not drinking what you poured me, Mr. Guinness.
EDWARD: Miss Cochrane, what I am offering is that we go on a journey as honorable people. And we go on the journey together.
ELLEN: A long, slow stroll, arm in arm with the capitalists and the unionists? The situation is simple. (ironic) When your brother is elected, he will use all that famous Guinness power and influence to make the English parliament see the wisdom of Irish independence.
EDWARD: We can help him by showing him that the Fenians are not wild bandits. I wanted to meet you here, in a public place, to make a statement that all of Dublin society can understand. Also... my brother is getting married. And we are inviting carefully selected Dubliners who represent different parts of society.
ELLEN: I'm invited to a Guinness wedding?
EDWARD: I know you are not married, but you can bring your brother. I'm keen to meet him as well.
ELLEN: (laughs, then exhales sharply) I have certain rules which I mostly abide by. Sometimes, I break my rules. (she raises her glass and drinks)
[119.53] [music]