Picking the right beer is an important and serious task, and if you are having some doubts about what type of beer to enjoy, you’ll never go wrong with Guinness. From its humble beginnings in Dublin and Ireland to international popularity and fame, this Irish brew has been one of the most enduring beers for well over 240 years. But is Guinness good for you as its ad once said? Now drinkers will be able to ascertain the nutritional information of Guinness, straight from its label. Here is more information for you.

Is Guinness Really Good for You?

The claim, “Guinness is good for you” was presented as a catchy marketing slogan in the late 1920's, and wasn’t based on any scientific proof that drinking Guinness actually had any health benefits. Today however, some experts actually do believe that moderate alcohol, including Guinness, consumption, could be good for you, especially your heart. If you are still wondering is Guinness good for you, consider this:

1. Less Alcohol

As it relates to drinking beer, knowing the alcoholic content is critical. Everyone has different expectations and tolerance levels of their beer, so you’ll want to know how much alcohol you’re consuming before the first glass. Guinness has an alcoholic content of 4.1% to 4.3%. Compared to other popular beers, such as Killian's Irish Red at 5%, or Michelob Dark Lager at 5.1%, Guinness has less alcohol content without sacrificing great taste.

2. Fewer Calories

More than half of the calories in beer come directly from the alcohol. Since Guinness is lower in alcohol content than its competitors, it is also lower in calories as well. Guinness Draught is one of the lowest calorie Irish stout beers around with only 125 calories, which is far less in calories than what is in a Dragon Stout (220 calories), Kilarney's Red Lager (197 calories), or a Beamish Stout (131 calories).

3. Rich in Flavonoids

Flavonoids are well-known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. Like wine, Guinness has antioxidants, but the specific antioxidants in beer are different because the hops and barley used for the production of beer are different from those in grapes used for the production of wine. When taken in moderation, the darker the beer is, the more flavonoids it contains, and the better it will be for your heart. Besides, beer provides more B vitamins and protein than wine.

4. It's Almost Light

Even when compared to popular light beers like Sam Adams Light (119 calories) or Molson Light (113 calories), the difference is negligible because Guinness is just .2% away from being a light beer. However, the intense roasted flavors that you get from the darker grains in Guinness are really bold to a lot of people, which many light beers are lacking.

5. Low Carbs

Guinness has always been known as a delicious brew. And you can indulge in a bottle and just get 9.9 grams of carbohydrates. To get a better idea, Guinness has less carbs than Murphy’s Irish Stout (18 grams), Sam Adams Lager (18 grams), and even a Killian's Irish Red (12 grams).

is Guinness good for you? Look at the chart below to get a better conclusion. This chart is the nutritional info for one glass, can, or bottle of various beers (about 12 ounces), which shows that in terms of calorie, carb and alcohol content, Guinness is still a great choice:

Fun Facts About Guinness

Besides the discussion "is Guinness good for you?" Guinness is so popular and there are many fun facts around this beer. Here are some of them:

1. Its Creator Is Really Foresight

It all began with Arthur Guinness, a man who believed so much in his beer that he put his family name on it. Guinness brewery was founded December 31, 1759 at St James Gate in Dublin with a signed 9,000 year lease where, of course, the brewery still remains this day.

2. Vegans May Have to Avoid It

Guinness stout is brewed from barley (malted and roasted), yeast, hops and water. It is then pasteurised and then filtered. However, it may contain traces of a fining agent (isinglass), made from fish and used in production, and therefore should be avoided by vegans.

3. How to Pour the Perfect Guinness

Angle the glass under the tap at 45 degrees. Pull the draft handle forward until it stops and fill the glass to about ¾ from the top. Never allow the tap spout into the beer. Leave the pour to settle (about 120 secs). Then top off the glass while pushing the tap handle backwards until the head is just at the top of the glass.

4. The classic Guinness Look Is Fascinating

At first glance, Guinness appears to be black in color. However, when you bring it to light, you can see that it’s really a deep ruby red. The color of Guinness is due to the roasted barley. The foams of Guinness are so well because nitrogen gas is used to get those extremely stable foams.

5. It Started the Guinness Book of Records

In 1951, the Guinness Brewery’s managing director, Sir Hugh Beaver and his hosts argued about the fastest game bird in Europe, and failed to find an answer in any reference book. Sir Hugh had the idea for a Guinness promotion based on the idea of arguments, and began to write the book, which will go on to become an all-time best seller in the world.