Guinness Irish stew is the perfect meal for a chilly night.iStock

What could be better than an Irish Guinness beef stew?

This hearty Irish meal is sure to remind any Irish person of their home and childhoods. A hug-in-a-bowl Irish Guinness beef stew is just one example of the wonderful things you can cook up using the world-famous Irish stout. 

Guinness, Ireland's famous black stout, has been brewed in Dublin since 1759. It has a very special place in Irish life.

In "Dublin Tenement Life: An Oral History", publican John O'Dwyer recalls the importance of stout in the lives of the poorest tenement dwellers in Dublin: "They had nothing. They lived for pints. Drink was the main diet. It was food... they used to call the pint the 'liquid food'."

Irish Guinness beef stew recipe

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 pounds of beef stew meat, cubed
  • 3 cups Guinness
  • 2 potatoes, peeled and sliced
  • 2 potatoes, peeled and quartered
  • salt and ground black pepper to taste.

Method:

  • Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in the onion, garlic, salt, and pepper.
  • Cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent. This should take about five minutes.
  • Stir in the beef, beer, sliced potatoes, and quartered potatoes. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the beef is tender about 2 hours.
  • Season to taste with salt and pepper before serving.

Source: allrecipes.com

What's your favorite Irish recipe? Let us know in the comments!

* Originally published in 2016. Updated Jan 2024.