Whatever you might feel about Guinness, I’m sure you’ve heard it said that it doesn’t “travel well”. (There’s a joke floating around the intarwebz about this being said in a pub across the street from the St. James Gate brewery.)

Well, some researchers set out to see if this is actually true. Their conclusion?

Guinness tastes best close to home.

Their research is in the Journal of Food Science. From the Abstract:

This study aimed to test the much-pronounced but poorly supported theory that “Guinness does not travel well.” A total of 4 researchers from 4 different countries of origin traveled around the world for 12 mo to collect data on the enjoyment of Guinness and related factors. The main outcome was measured on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) from 0 (enjoyed it not at all) to 100 (enjoyed it very much). A total of 103 tastings were recorded (42 in Ireland, 61 elsewhere) in 71 different pubs spread over 33 cities and 14 countries. The enjoyment of Guinness consumed in Ireland was rated higher (74 mm VAS) than outside Ireland (57 mm; P < 0.001). This difference remained statistically significant after adjusting for researcher, pub ambience, Guinness appearance, and the sensory measures mouthfeel, flavor, and aftertaste. This study is the first to provide scientific evidence that Guinness does not travel well and that the enjoyment of Guinness (for our group of nonexpert tasters) was higher when in Ireland. Results, however, are subject to further verification because of limitations in the study design.

You’ll need to pay to get the whole study (or be a researcher that subscribes to the Wiley Online Library).

I’d like to volunteer to help them with that “further verification”.

(via Ars Technica)