Guinness Reduction - The Recipe Wench (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Bridget · This post may contain affiliate links · 19 Comments

It's my birthday month and the month of Saint Patrick's Day.

I don't know why I get so excited about Saint Patrick's Day -- I think I just have fond memories of Saint Paddy's Day from my childhood.

Guinness Reduction - The Recipe Wench (1)

Spring is in the air -- the days are getting longer, the birds are chirping, the plans for summer are starting to take shape.

My parents used to make a big deal out of Saint Patrick's Day so it must have rubbed off on me a little bit. Mom would always make sure I had a nice, new item of green clothing to wear to school.

So I wanted to test out something that screamed, "Irish," while satisfying my affinity for appetizers. (One year, "eating more appetizers" was actually one of my New Years Resolutions . . .)

Naturally, Guinness came to mind.

This Guinness reduction has exactly two ingredients: equal amounts Guinness Stout and brown sugar.

I tested a version with granulated sugar. It was very good, but the brown sugar batch has the flavor I prefer.

We combined the sweet, syrupy Guinness reduction with delicious Italian olive oil and served it along with a selection of cheeses, olives and prosciutto from our local grocery store.

Dinner!

Guinness Reduction - The Recipe Wench (2)

Guinness Reduction

Print recipe

Serves1-½ cups
Prep time 2 minutes
Cook time 45 minutes
Total time 47 minutes
Meal typeAppetizer

Guinness reduction sauce reminds me of balsamic vinegar without the "tang." It's a very simple recipe but takes some patience while the sauce heats and becomes deliciously syrupy. Drizzle some into olive oil and then dip baguettes and enjoy!

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup Guinness
  • 1 Cup brown sugar, lightly packed

Note

When you store this Guinness reduction sauce in the fridge, it thickens up. This is a good thing.

Enjoy! - The Recipe Wench

Directions

Step 1
This is so simple you barely need a "recipe" --

Heat the Guinness and brown sugar in a sauce pan over medium heat.

Stir continuously until sugar has dissolved and mixture has started to bubble.

Reduce heat to low and allow mixture to simmer for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Be patient -- it's so worth it!

I suggest you pay close attention to this mixture as it is simmering. Since there is so much sugar, there is the likelihood of it burning.

Also, I found that at times the mixture would start to rise to the top of the sauce pan (maybe my saucepan should have been larger). If that happens to you, just remove the pan from the heat until the mixture backs down. Lowering the heat will help too.

More Recipes

  • Watermelon Salad with Cucumbers and Feta
  • Greek Chicken Skewers - "Souvlaki"
  • Tzatziki: A delicious souvenir from Greece
  • Luscious Lemon Poke Cake - From Scratch

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Larry Miller says

    Bridget,My wife had an Smashed Irishman drink and liked it, can this recipe used in that drink?

    Reply

  2. Hugh says

    For some reason, mine had a metallic taste that sort of spoiled it. Have you ever had the experience?I’m wondering if it’s because I used Guinness from a can.

    Reply

    • Bridget says

      Hugh -- I haven't had this experience. I used Guinness from a can as well. Tastebuds can be affected by so many things.

      Reply

  3. Janet says

    What did I do wrong. It looked great in the pan but hardened up into a block when I took it out of the pan.

    Reply

    • Bridget says

      Janet -- I'm sorry to hear that. My guess is that it cooked too long or the temperature went too high. After the sugar dissolves, the heat needs to be reduced to low and allowed to simmer until it thickens. By any chance, are you at a high elevation? If that's the case, you'll need to be very careful and I believe the sauce will reach the syrupy consistency sooner than it would at sea level.

      Reply

  4. Geoff says

    Do you keep the pot covered when simmering?

    Reply

  5. Connor says

    I do something similar when I make brats, First I poach the brats in beer with thinly sliced onions and butter and then remove them, then I add a tablespoon of brown sugar and reduce until syrupy and serve the onion beer reduction as a condiment for the brats along with sauerkraut and mustard.

    Reply

    • Bridget says

      That sounds really good! I'll have to try brats your way!!!

      Reply

  6. Christian says

    I'm trying to replicate the Irish Soda Bread i ate in Dublin at Queen Of Tarts, and I'm thinking instead of molasses, i could maybe try a guinness reduction. What do you think?

    Reply

    • Bridget says

      I'm thinking that sounds like it would work! Let us know how it goes!

      Reply

  7. Jessica Whenham says

    I work at a brewery and used our house made stout. It turned out perfectly! Made it a second time and reduced it less to match the consistency of pure maple syrup and then used both to make maple/stout fudge! Turned out great. Thanks! Ive also pitched this as a sauce to be served with our charcuterie! Everybody here loves it. So easy and delicious. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Bridget says

      I'm glad to hear it worked out for you! And thanks for taking the time to get back to me. Maple/stout fudge sounds tempting! Take care!

      Reply

  8. Jessica Whenham says

    Im going to use it as a substitute for some of the maple syrup in a maple fudge recipe! Wish me luck. Will report back (if I remember)

    Reply

    • Bridget says

      That sounds great. I definitely want to hear back from you!

      Reply

  9. laurenmcelwain (1cookingchick) says

    Whoa! Yum! I want to try this! I get excited about St. Paddy's Day too!

    Reply

    • Bridget says

      One of these days I'll spend it in Ireland -- should be quite the spectacle! (Ireland, not me!)

      Reply

  10. Caroline M says

    What else can you do with this reduction? What about using it as a glaze for a tenderloin? I wonder if adding a little balsamic (the good stuff) would work? So many questions!! ;)

    Reply

    • Bridget says

      Hmmmm. I'm going to have to enjoy a few more bites of baguette dipped in the sauce while I ponder your question! It's a pretty sweet sauce. I think it could be added to baked goods (like brownies and cookies) to give them a little twist. I would like to try grilling chicken and basting with the sauce towards the end. I have a good amount of sauce in the fridge now -- plenty to experiment with. I'll report back!

      Reply

We want to hear from you!

Guinness Reduction - The Recipe Wench (2024)

FAQs

How long does Guinness reduction last? ›

Once it begins to bubble, reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half, 45-60 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. It will thicken further as it cools. Once room temperature, store refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

How do you make Guinness taste better? ›

Add some bubbles. If you want to pretend to be upper-class as well as Irish this Paddy's Day, get adding some champagne to the black stuff. This brilliant mix is known as a Black Velvet!

What is the IBU of Guinness Stout? ›

Guinness Draught, Guinness & Co, Dublin, Ireland, ABV:4.2%, IBU:50.

What hops are used in Guinness? ›

Production. The Irish version of FES is brewed with pale malt, 25 per cent flaked barley (for head retention and body) and 10 per cent roasted barley, the latter being what gives the beer its dark hue. It uses the bitter Galena, Nugget and Target hop varieties which have undergone an isomerized kettle extract process.

Why does Guinness make you less drunk? ›

Alcohol. Surprisingly, Guinness actually contains less alcohol than many of its beer colleagues. A pint of Guinness hits the charts at 4.2% alcohol by volume while Bud Light hovers in the 5% range as do most hard seltzers.

Can you drink Guinness 6 months out of date? ›

If enjoying Guinness at home the liquid stays fresh for up to 10 months after the production date printed on the base of the can.

What do Irish eat with Guinness? ›

Guinness is a hearty beer with notes of coffee and dark chocolate. It pairs well with soda bread, a staple in Ireland. Clavin said a classic cheese board is a good snack pairing, with strawberry preserves and sharp Irish cheddar, Gouda, Asiago or Pecorino Romano cheeses to contrast the sweetness of the beer.

What is the secret to drinking Guinness? ›

At the bar, Guinness should be poured into a glass tilted at 45 degrees until it's three-quarters full. Then your barkeep should let it sit for two minutes to settle before topping it off with the quintessential creamy white head. At home, let the can chill for at least three hours.

What is Guinness and cider called? ›

The Snakebite Drink made with equal parts Guinness and hard cider may just be your new favorite beverage! Crisp, refreshing cider is accented perfectly with a layer of dark, creamy beer in this tasty beer co*cktail.

Is Guinness a light or heavy beer? ›

3) It's considered a “light” beer Don't let the color fool ya. A Guinness only has 15 more calories than a Bud Light and 5 more calories than the same amount of skim milk.

Is Guinness a bitter or lager? ›

Guinness is actually a stout, which is a beer style that was developed in the 18th century in Ireland. It's brewed using roasted malt or barley, hops, yeast, and water. Unlike lagers and ales, stouts have a more full-bodied flavour with notes of chocolate and coffee.

What is the strongest Guinness stout? ›

This approach dates back to the practices used to make London porter, which was the staple of the brewery for many years. If you want to taste a beer that has a connection to the way Guinness was once made, you'll need to climb the ladder to the strongest stout in the Guinness family, the Foreign Extra Stout.

Why is Guinness so expensive? ›

UK Debt Expert personal finance expert Maxine McCreadie said: “Inflation has significantly pushed up the price of Guinness, just like it has other beverages.

What does Guinness have a ball in it? ›

It's essentially a small, white nitrogen filled ball that sits inside the can, and the second the can is opened, the widget does what it has so patiently been waiting to do. It releases the magic surge of bubbles, replicating the draught experience in a can.

Why is Nigerian Guinness so strong? ›

This is partly because it is descended from the original Dublin-brewed Foreign Extra stout, made extra-alcoholic and extra-thick to keep during long sea voyages, and partly because, well, that's how Nigerians like it.

How long does a half keg of Guinness last? ›

A good rule of thumb is that the shelf life for a keg of pasteurized beer is about 90-120 days (or 3-4 months), and unpasteurized draft beer will last about 45-60 days (or 6-8 weeks) when stored at the proper temperature. Many imported and domestic beers are pasteurized.

How long should a Guinness sit before drinking? ›

Step 1: Place beer glass under the faucet spout. Step 2: Pull the spout toward you and until the glass is ¾ full. Step 3: Wait approximately 1.5 minutes for the beer surge or cascade (we used the Guinness standard of 1 minute and 32.5 seconds). Step 4: Top off the pint by pushing the tap handle away from you.

How long does it take for 4 pints of Guinness to leave your system? ›

One pint of beer remains in your system for 2 hours. Four pints of beer remains in your system for 8 hours. Eight pints of beer remains in your system for 16 hours.

How long does it take for 6 pints of Guinness to leave your system? ›

As a general rule of thumb, it takes about one hour for your body to break down one 'unit' (10ml of pure alcohol). A pint of low strength lager contains about two units, while a higher strength one has three. So it could take 18 hours or longer for the alcohol from six pints of strong lager to leave your system.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Pres. Lawanda Wiegand

Last Updated:

Views: 5872

Rating: 4 / 5 (51 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Pres. Lawanda Wiegand

Birthday: 1993-01-10

Address: Suite 391 6963 Ullrich Shore, Bellefort, WI 01350-7893

Phone: +6806610432415

Job: Dynamic Manufacturing Assistant

Hobby: amateur radio, Taekwondo, Wood carving, Parkour, Skateboarding, Running, Rafting

Introduction: My name is Pres. Lawanda Wiegand, I am a inquisitive, helpful, glamorous, cheerful, open, clever, innocent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.