Free pints with the toucan

I was reading Guinness for Strength's blog, I love the name, and I was inspired. Guinness, as most know, is a most ubiquitous drink in Ireland. You can't pass 10 yards without seeing a pub with a Guinness sign outside of it, a Guinness ad, an empty Guinness can, something. They are a huge corporate sponsor over here and they do have some of the most clever advertising campaigns going. Touring St. James Gate (the Guinness Brewery) is the highlight of the sightseeing tour around Dublin. Probably because they give it away after the tour is done.

The problem that Guinness has, however, is that people who normally would drink it, tend not to during the summer. Why? Because it is perceived as heavy (I disagree) and it is filling (this is true) and does not have the refreshing appeal of lager or cider. (Girls put cheap beer over ice here in the summertime. I balked at it at first but I am a convert now!) So, anyway, Guinness comes out with these new "formulas" to Guinness to get some of the drinking public back to Guinness drinking during the summer. What better way to do this than a promotion? On Thursday, I was in a pub - well outside in the beer garden - when one such a promotion was going on. This is what happened:

I joined my friends at an outside table which was full of Guinness Toucan - one of these new formulas which is on the sweeter side. It is nice! There were 10 poured pints just sitting there, waiting for be quaffed. I found this strange but I don't look gift horses in the mouth. My friends told me they were giving them away for free and that was good enough. I grabbed one didn't think about it again. Then some guy came around with a clip board and said, "so how are you enjoying those?" and Leighton, one of the guys I work with says, "I probably need another one to decide" The guy rolls his eyes but soon after the table is filled with another round. Free Guinness! Heaven had opened up and delivered its bounty!

So, time passes and the pints are drained and the guy with the clipboard comes around again to conclude his market research. This is what he gathered for the cost of his time, effort and 20 odd pints of free stout:

Guinness Rep: "So, are you all enjoying yourselves?"
Us: "Yes"
GR: "Are you enjoying the Guinness?"
Us: "Yes"
GR: "Are you all regular Guinness drinkers?"
Us: "Yes"
GR: "Would you drink Guinness in the summer time?"
Us: "Um, yes."
GR: "Would you drink Guinness toucan in the summer over regular Guinness?"
Us (except me): "Nah, probably not. Maybe. Yeah, ok. Hold on - no. Can't really tell."
Me: "Wait, we aren't drinking regular Guinness?"


I hope they keep Toucan. It is good. It is very new, it isn't even on their web site yet but I have it on good authority that it gives you strength.