Yenne went to Ireland and had long discussions with Guinness Master Brewer Fergal Murry. Yenne also delved into the archives at the Guinness brewery and even into regional brewing records, newspapers, and church libraries, along with interviewing members of the family. Anyone who enjoys Guinness Stout or history or both will love the twenty-five chapters in this book. They cover bottling, distribution, brewing methods, the introduction of nitrogenation, current Guinness standards, and more.

Despite providing all this information, this book reads more like a travelogue than a dry history. Yenne is able to enliven even the dullest genealogy. He digs up unusual historical anecdotes and offers quite unknown brewing tidbits. These are the types of conversational gems that will make your cocktail party conversation sparkle.

Guinness: The 250 Year Quest for the Perfect Pint also tells how to pour the perfect draft into a glass. That alone is worth the price of the book. You can take that info to your local barman and see if he passes muster.