A Bitter Swig of Irish Tradition

In bars across America, stout is a bitter brew that Irish wannabes coax down their throats, their nostrils strategically pinched to kill the taste.

“There’s an art to pulling a pint which most bar people in the States, with all due respect, never got around to learning,” said one Irish pub owner.

Stout is said to account for no more than 0.10% of American beer sales--except on St. Patrick’s Day, when sales of Guinness-brand stout are expected to hit 11 million glasses.