How a Brooklyn Brunch Became The Guinness Whisperer

 Every good thing starts somewhere. For The Guinness Whisperer, it began at a Brooklyn brunch spot on a beautiful afternoon—with a pint of the black stuff and a shot of whiskey that changed everything.

So you've always been a beer guy?

"Oh yeah, always enjoyed beer. I've gone through phases, you know? Months where I'd drink the same thing over and over. At one point it was Boddington's. Then I had my Brooklyn Lager phase. Heineken, Red Stripe, Lagunitas IPA was always my jam. For years, my go-to was a Goose Island IPA with a Laphroaig neat. That was the move."

But Guinness was different?

"There's something different about ordering a Guinness at an Irish pub. It's kind of magical, that order. It's a communal experience. You're recognized down the bar with a wink and a nod. People see you having that Guinness and there's this... understanding."

Understanding about what?

"That you know what you're doing. That you appreciate it. But here's the thing—before you order a Guinness, you have to look around and ask yourself: can I get a proper pour here? You can't walk into a local dive and order a mojito and expect it to taste good, right? Guinness is the same way. Not every watering hole puts the time and respect into pouring a good, creamy Guinness. You've got to choose wisely."

So when did The Guinness Whisperer actually start?

"One day, Jess and I went out for brunch. I usually don't do brunch—I'm pretty light with breakfast. But I was off that day and she was working the evening shift, so we had the afternoon together. She wanted to grab some brunch, do the whole Eggs Benedict thing. Me? If I'm going out on my day off, I'm not eating brunch. I'm having some drinks, getting a little buzz, then grubbing up later."

Where'd you go?

"We walked down to Hartley's. Small Irish pub in Brooklyn, right in our neighborhood. Traditional spot—they introduced that area to some great Irish dishes with a little American spin. Soda bread, all that. Real deal Irish pub."

And what do you normally drink at brunch?

"Gin and tonic. That's my brunch drink. I'll have a G&T while she eats, maybe another one as she finishes up. But this day... I don't know, man. When in Rome, right? So I was like, 'I'll have a pint of the black stuff.'"

And?

"Oh man. I found my drink right there at Hartley's. A Guinness and a shot of whiskey—that'll do it. The Guinness just goes down so smooth. Halfway through the pint, you have a second shot. Perfect."

That's when The Guinness Whisperer started?

"Yeah, it was that day. At Hartley's, this small pub in Brooklyn. We went out for brunch, I decided to have that Guinness and a shot of whiskey, and Jess took that first picture. And from there... it was on. That's what started it all."