UKC

Which is best? I face this dilemma (trilemma?) every time I work in Cork (as now). I should have posted this in Culture Bunker butvthe mods will probably move it to The Pub

Guinness

Having researched this (ahem) extensively in my youth, I have concluded: Guinness > Murphy's > Beamish. To ensure reproducibility, I did a number of repeats and to ensure repeatability, I have repeated the experiment in various towns in both the UK and Ireland.

This obviously omitted that awful Guinness cold that pubs seem to do nowadays!

Guinness Cold is fine ... it just needs an hour or so to warm up before you can taste it!

That Guinness 'West Indies' that only seems to exist in bottles is the only one I'd choose to drink, unless there was no alternative

It's rarely a case of 'versus as it' extremely unlikely you will have more than one available in any one pub. It's been a while since I had the choice of a Murphy's or a Beamish.

When I am in Ireland I skip those stouts and indulge in the red ales!

This is a trick question. Smithwicks is the answer.

If you are in Cork, you should probably dismiss Guinness as it is from Dublin. It’s more than 20 years since I have drank in Cork, I can’t remember my preference from the two local brews. 

Preference, innit ? I prefer Guiness when its on form.