Guinness sales froth over the top as WA pubs pour more than 2.5 million pints in the past 12 months

More and more West Australians are drinking Guinness, sparking a black gold rush on one of the world’s biggest beer brands. In the three months to June 30, consumption of Guinness at WA pubs surged an incredible 32 per cent compared to the same quarter in 2023, while the past 12 months has seen sales of Irish champagne rise more than 25 per cent, according to brewer Lion. In the past year, WA pubs have served more than 2.5 million pints of one of Ireland’s most famous exports alongside U2, Father Ted and tradies. More draught Guinness is being sold from more places, with 406 venues in WA currently featuring the stout on their taps — 54 more than the same time last year. The frothy figures are even more potent considering overall on-premise beer sales have sunk around 4.5 per cent, according to US-based market research firm Information Resources, Inc. Unsurprisingly, Irish-themed bars such as Durty Nelly’s in the Perth CBD, The Galway Hooker in Scarborough, JB O’Reilly’s in West Leederville, Fibber McGee’s in Leederville and Johnny Fox’s in Northbridge have enjoyed double-digit growth in the brand since the previous year. Despite only opening late last year, Molly’s Irish Pub in Highgate has quickly become one of Perth’s biggest sellers of Guinness. Duty manager Declan Farley said the Beaufort Street pub goes through around 20 kegs, or 1760 pints, of Guinness a week — far outstripping sales of other beverages. “Everyone drinks it,” he said. “Irish, Australians, people from all cultures.” Mr Farley added that younger customers were embracing the famous beverage thanks to social media trends such as “split the g”, whereby a drinker attempts to consume enough Guinness in one gulp so the line of the G on the printed pint glass sits where the white of the head meets the black of the stout. Molly’s also has a Ripple machine that uses malt extract to print a photograph on the head of a pint, which also drives engagement with curious clientele. While the staggering growth is reflected nationally, WA accounts for more than 40 per cent of Guinness sales in Australia. First brewed at St. James’ Gate in Dublin more than 260 years ago, draught Guinness is now made for the Australian market by distributor Lion at its Tooheys brewery in Sydney. Multinational alcoholic beverage giant Diageo owns the brand. Lion brand director Albertus Lombard said more drinkers have discovered that Guinness “can be enjoyed in more social occasions than they once would have thought”. “It’s also becoming hugely popular on social media with consumers wanting to know where they can go to get the perfect Guinness pour for the perfect pint,” he added. Facebook group Perth Guinness Hunters 2.0, which reviews the standard of Guinness pints at local pubs, has more than 5000 members. The influx of Irish workers after the pandemic has also spurred sales while, according to the 2021 Census, more than 233,000 people in WA boast Irish heritage. WA has long been a strong bastion for Guinness since Fenian’s, arguably Perth’s first Irish pub, opened on Adelaide Terrace in 1986. The 90s saw a proliferation of Irish pubs across the city as well as bumper sales of black tar during the annual celebrations for St Patrick’s Day in March. More recently, the growth of the craft beer sector has bridged the gap to dark brews, such as Guinness. The black stuff seems firmly entrenched as the drink of choice for many, and industry experts suggest there is still room for further growth. A SIX-PACK OF PERTH PUBS POURING A LOVELY PINT OF GUINNESS Durty Nelly’s, Perth CBD The Galway Hooker, Scarborough Molly’s Irish Pub, Highgate JB O’Reilly’s, West Leederville Fibber McGee’s, Leederville Johnny Fox’s, Northbridge