Ahead of St Patrick’s Day, some Lancashire-based influencers have revealed where they think serves the best pint of Guinness in Preston.

Scouting for Harps, who have over 10,000 followers on Instagram, describe themselves as Guinness fanatics: “Obsessed, devoted, borderline unhealthily in love with the Black Stuff.”

They’ve been rating pints in and around the North West since 2022, taking in everything from “god tier pints in unbelievable pubs” to “some absolute stinkers – pints with no head, pints with too much head, pints that looked like they’d been poured by someone who actively hates Guinness.”

The Scouting for Harps rating system is made up of three parts. First is the pour, which has to be the traditional two-part pour with timings close to the 119.5 seconds recommended by Guinness.

The second part is the aesthetics of the pint, including the domeage (when the head is just starting to come over the glass), the size of the head (needs to be between 12-20mm), and the shtick (the white foam should hug and cover the inside of the glass).

The final part involves judging the balance of bitterness and sweetness, along with the temperature. The flavour should be bold, with coffee and chocolate notes coming through at the end, while the temperature should be around four to five degrees. The pint also needs to be thick and have a creamy texture.

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When asked why Guinness can range from heavenly to offensive, Scouting for Harps said: “Ah, the age-old mystery.

“One of the reasons would be the the lines; they need to be cleaned regularly and the distance between the barrel and the pump needs to be a short as possible. We’ve also read that the lines need to be different to the ones used for lager.

“Making sure the glassware is clean can contribute to the quality. Finally, everyone knows that the old-fashioned red pumps always produce creamy, bold pints. Nobody knows why, it’s just a fact!”

So where can Prestonians find the best pint of Guinness this St Patrick’s Day (Monday 17 March)? According to Scouting for Harps, it’s at Hopwoods Tap House in Church Street.

“Hopwoods is a very good pint, fairly sweet and a pint you could drink all day.”

However, it seems a new kid on the block could be about to take Hopwoods’ crown.

Read more: Former Roper Hall on Friargate becomes new Irish pub Molly O’Malleys

“We were super excited to try the new Irish pub in Preston, Molly O’Malleys, this St Patrick’s Day weekend. It was great with live music.

“They poured a perfectly chilled pint with a smooth, well-balanced flavour, leaning just enough to the sweet side to keep you coming back for more.

“Will this be Preston’s best pint of Guinness?”

All will be revealed via @ScoutingForHarps on Instagram in the coming days.

Where do you think serves the best Guinness in Preston? Let us know in the comments.

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