House of Guinness ‘It’s A Matter of Taste’ @ Pavilion Bukit Jalil
International Stout Day falls on the first Thursday of November, and in 2022 Guinness Malaysia celebrated it by bringing back House of Guinness at the Piazza, Pavilion Bukit Jalil. Running over two weekends in November, the theme was “It’s A Matter of Taste”: a hands-on look at what gives Guinness its flavour.
The Four Sensory Zones
The festival was split into zones, each explaining one part of the Guinness story:
- Roasted barley: the source of Guinness’s dark colour and its coffee and chocolate notes.
- Hops: which add the gentle bitterness that balances the roastiness.
- Nitrogen: the gas behind the tiny bubbles and creamy, velvety head.
- The widget: the small ball inside a can of Guinness Draught that releases nitrogen when opened, giving a pub-style pour at home.
Each zone had photo spots and hidden QR codes to unlock merchandise, and completing the stations earned tokens for free drinks at the bar.
Three Guinness Styles
It was also a good chance to compare the three versions available in Malaysia. Guinness Foreign Extra Stout is the bold, punchy one most Malaysians grew up with. Guinness Draught is smoother and creamier thanks to nitrogen. And Guinness Draught in a Can, launched in 2022 and which I wrote about in my St. Patrick’s 2022 post, brings that creamy draught texture home.
Food and Music
Live bands and local DJs kept the atmosphere going, and there were Guinness-infused dishes to sample from Arthur Storehouse, Guinness’s flagship outlet at Pavilion KL. Stout and rich, savoury food is always a winning pair, as I learned at the Guinness Flavour by Fire BBQ festival.
Final Thoughts
If you have ever wondered why Guinness tastes the way it does, this was a fun, easy way to learn. Sláinte!
