To paraphrase a old saying, reading about beer is like dancing about architecture. But Bill Yenne’s Guinness: The 250 Year Quest For The Perfect Pint makes a fun read, especially when you’re sitting at a bar on a Sunday afternoon and the Falcons are playing like a Pop Warner team.
From the beginnings of Arthur Guinness, an Irish brewer in the mid-1700’s, through the present day, Yenne talks about how Guinness has become a global phenomenon. Before refrigeration, before mass distribution, and before modern agriculture, brewing Guinness wasn’t easy. But Yenne explains how it was all possible. And he traces the origins of Guinness advertising–which began in 1929 with the slogan “Guinness is Good For You,” and continued to include iconic posters proclaiming “Guinness For Strength.”
Beer, of course, is big business, and Guinness has survived and thrived in the face of competition at every turn. Yenne covers it all, even giving you 6 Steps to Get the Perfect Pint. And did you know that after Ireland and the U.K., Nigeria is the 3rd largest market for Guinness?
Brands, in the classic P&G sense, are a fairly new phenomenon in the history of the world. They’re looked at as a implied promise of quality, something a consumer can trust in in an age of mass consumption. For 250 years, Guinness has been a revered, steadfast brand. Anyone with a interest in brands, or beer, should check out Yenne’s book.
Special thanks to Anna at FSB Associates who sent me a copy for review.
