Best Pint of Guinness in Houston (Inside the Loop)

Today I stopped at the Front Porch. It was a nice Sunday afternoon, although hot. There was room at the bar for my friend and I, but barely. The Guinness was $4.75. Not poured properly, but still went down easily.

From there we walked around the corner to the Komodo Bar. This place is unique in that it's a house converted into a bar. They are known for their shot menu, but they had Guinness. It wasn't poured right here either, and it was $5.00. I liked this place. The crowd was sparse.

From there we went down West Gray to Shepherd, turned left (south) and stopped at the Red Lion. Nice place, but the bar feels more like a restaurant than a bar. It reminded me of the old Steak and Ale bars in the 80s. Nonetheless, a nice place and a properly poured Guinness. The food is just a tad higher than typical bar food, and of course options that are unique. Since we got food and split the bill I forgot got to get the price of the beer. But, I tell you what, in the fairness of good journalism I'll make my way back there very soon to get a price.

I swung by Harp's (on Richmond nearing Montrose) yesterday and tried their $5.75 Guinness. Interesting pub, it's in no way a classy place. It's well worn you might say.

But there was some life in there on a Monday evening, but most people congregated to the large front porch.

Update:

I don't know how I missed it, but Komodo doesn't have draft Guinness. Theirs is from a can. I returned last night and it was $5 at night. Last time I was there on a Sunday afternoon.

The Saturday night crowd was very young. I would guess a median age of 26.

I have been a busy little Guinness Seeker since my last mini-pub crawl. I decided to create an adventure out of it and use the city bus last week.

A little background on me, I'm about as suburban white as you can be. When it comes to riding a METRO bus or train, I am clueless. But, I'm a quick study.

Another thing I learned is MidTown may be mostly white, but they don't seem to ride the bus as much as the neighboring 3rd Ward (4th Ward on the NW corner of MT). What this means is, just like the Monkee's theme song, "I get funniest looks from everyone I meet."

I say all this a little tongue in cheek. Everyone on the bus may have have been curious enough to stare at me because of all my tattoos, or my dashing good looks. The real truth is most people ignored me. I did get a stare down from one thug looking guy as he came on the bus, but I just smiled and got off.

But enough about my tales of public transportation, this thread is about Guinness.

I tried a restaurant called Hefly's in Midtown (138 W. Gray). I read somewhere it's the old Luling BBQ place. Nice Texas interior, and a nice selection of beers. They also serve hard liquor. I was there at lunch and was told they do BBQ for lunch but switch to a more "burgery" (my word) menu at night.

Hefly's Guinness was draft and was $4.00

Now here is where my Bus Adventure takes off and goes to three locations, with some interesting finds.

First up, Molly's downtown Houston, on Main Street. When I got off the bus (no transfers) I walked over two blocks to Main, and there were two Irish Pubs across the tracks from each other. It was as though God wanted me to drink Guinness.

Molly's is what you could call well-worn and probably looks just fine at night. But during the day it is a place you are likely to see a cock roach run down the bar. However, who cares about the occasional State Bug of Texas when you happen into a place on a Thursday and it is BIG ASS BEER DAY. 23 ounce domestic drafts are $2.50, and Imports are $3.50.

Now the young lady behind the bar was sweet, but admitted she thought Guinness, although technically an import, may get special pricing. Since she wasn't sure, I got a 23 oz glass of Black Goodness for $3.50. God Bless Molly's on a Thursday.

Being a wise man, and afraid of Zombies on a bus, I knew I should leave after one Big Ass Beer, and continue my quest before night settled in.

I crossed Main Street and went to McElroys. I'm no detective and I didn't ask questions, but this has to be a sister location to my other favorite place, the McElroys over off Shepherd, across from Stag's Head.

The Downtown McElroys is the polar opposite of Molly's. DT McElroys is very nice. It looks recently remodeled and has a very classy behind-the-bar storage set up for the liquors. It also has $5.00 regular size glasses of Guinness. Bummer! But, sometimes you don't need to be able to buy your beer in cheap giant glasses.

With plenty of daylight left, I headed south on Main, and there was the Mecca of Poured Beer, The Flying Saucer. There's no need to detail the Saucer for you local beer drinkers. But the good news (if riding a bus) or bad news (if fearful of DUIs) is I returned to a place with 23 ounce glasses of Guinness at $5.50.

The Flying Saucer was festive and loud at 5:30 in the afternoon. This place will always be near and dear to me, as I rode out Hurricane Ike in the Guest Quarters next door. They fed me and kept a smile on my face all the way up until the shit hit the fan.

Note: I'm just guessing on the actual ounces in these big beers. Molly's had 23 on their sign and the glass at the Saucer looked the same, so I'm making a deductive reasoning leap here (under the influence of beer no less).

A lot of references to the way to pour the Guiness?? Also, is Guiness a NAME brand or a type, i.e. ale,draft,etc.?
I'm always willing to try something new!!
Info please?

RBJ ... This Wikipedia article sums it up nicely. There are variations of Guinness, and this article will put them in perspective.

The two most common are Guinness Draught (around 4% ABV) and Guinness Original/Stout (around 5%). Most of the time you are getting Guinness Draught. I prefer the Draught, because it's a smoother flavor to me.

In the Bahamas the Stout is like cold coffee it's so strong flavored.

Wiki on Guinness

My love for the brew didn't come until later in life back in the 90s when I lived in London. I even made a pilgrimage over to Ireland on Thanksgiving weekend just to drink it in Galway.

I suppose it's no more special than any beer, and more or less someone's opinion. Think what surprises people after looking at the glass of black tar is just how light the flavor is.

The key to a Guinness (much like a Boddingtons) is the technique to pour it. It is just not a beer you open the spigot, fill the glass and sling down the bar to the patron.

Here is an Excerpt:

... the "perfect pint" of Draught Guinness is the product of a lengthy "double pour", which according to the company should take 119.53 seconds.

Typically, the glass is filled 2/3rds and left to settle. Then it is topped off and served.

My point here in this thread has morphed from best tasting, to where can I get it in a nice environment, and how much does it cost?

My thoughts on the cost are not so much to avoid the place if 50 cents higher, because I'm not going to let a couple bucks in extra charges keep me from staying in a place I like. But, it's just a benchmark for comparing.

If I'm in a dump with poor service and they are serving $6 Guinness I might be taking note of it. I say that, but then if six lady flight attendants come in and start partying there it might suddenly make the beer a bargain for the extra entertainment.

It's all relative I suppose.

I do hope you try it.

I've been following this carefully, being a Guinness drinker, although just a visitor to Houston. I'm based in UK. The girl in my avatar, after a liaison in a hotel, would go to the bar and I would have a pint of Guinness and she a glass of pineapple juice. Guinness is the only possible drink after extensive DATY, and even better if the play has has been vigorous enough to produce a thirst.

So there I am, pussy juice with pineapple tang in my nostrils, white beer head on my lips, and the smooth drink pouring down my throat. What could be better?

Be careful to distinguish draft and extra cold. Sometimes bars sell both. If given a choise, I would not have extra cold (unless in Houston and it was hot).

Note also, what is meant to be the same draught Guinness can actually vary a lot between bars depending on how it is kept. I am no expert, but I think this survey should detail the variety. I guess a general rule is to go somewhere when it is served regularly, so the pint is always fresh. But not too fresh.

off the subject, sorta, a pint of Guinness a day for my pregnant wife was the only thing that kept her well and sane. Good Stuff...almost medicinal.

notanewbie - my bartender today told me today that back in Scotland when she was pregnant with her twins sons, her mother and grandmother told her to have a Guinness a day.

That makes it unanimous!

Be careful to distinguish draft and extra cold.

I'm aware of the "Extra Cold" but have yet to see it here in Houston. Can you tell me does it have different Beer Tap Handle?

In other words, can I tell by looking up at the Tap Handle and know if it is different?

It has a sign saying "extra cold"

It has a sign saying "extra cold"

Well I figured that , but what I was asking was if the the Tap Handle was remarkably different from a glance, the way Budweiser and Bud Light are obviously different.

Sometimes the Taps are far enough away that these mid-40s eyes might not see Extra Cold if it is just added in small letters to the original design.

may want to try front porch pub in midtown

I stopped by Coaches Pub in MidTown on Webster yesterday. Nice place to watch sports. They have a lengthy bar and lots of tables for small place.

Guinness was $4 at Happy Hour and rises to $5 in the evening.

The bartender told me it wasn't that long ago they served Guinness for $3.

I made a great find yesterday.

On Wednesdays at The Dog House Tavern (Midtown on McGowen - near Spec's), Guinness is only $3, all night.

Nice bartender Erin: correct pour, but wrong glass.