This weekend, Irish people around the world will be pouring themselves a pint of Guinness as they celebrate St Patrick’s Day.
And if you want the ultimate drinking experience, scientists say you should listen to Irish music.
Guinness tastes better while listening to Irish music – and its flavour even changes depending on the type of tune being played, scientists from the University of Lincoln say.
Revellers can enjoy a sweeter-tasting pint of the black stuff while listening to Orinoco Flow by Enya, or What Can I Do by The Corrs.
But those who prefer a bitter beer should listen to songs like Drunken Sailor by The Irish Rovers, or Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison.
This weekend, Irish people around the world will be pouring themselves a pint of Guinness as they celebrate St Patrick’s Day. And if you want the ultimate drinking experience, scientists say you should listen to Irish music (stock image)
Revellers can enjoy a sweeter-tasting pint of the black stuff while listening to Orinoco Flow by Enya, or What Can I Do by The Corrs (pictured)
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Dr Annemieke van den Tol, of the University of Lincoln, said: ‘Irish beer tastes the best when accompanied by Irish music on St Patrick’s Day.
‘This is because of two psychological phenomena. The first is priming.
‘This is the idea that exposure to one stimulus may influence a response to a subsequent stimulus without conscious guidance or intention.
‘For example, exposure to German music increased how many German wine bottles people bought in a wine shop, while exposure to French music did this for French wine.
‘The second psychological phenomenon is “musical fit”.
‘Our brains function better when things are as we expect them to be, or are well put together.
‘For example, people are willing to pay more for their drinks when the music in a bar or restaurant fits the décor and types of foods being sold.’
The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, said different styles of song can alter the flavour your brain perceives while drinking stout like Guinness.
Researcher Prof Felipe Reinoso Carvalho said: ‘Certain frequency ranges, tempos, timbres and harmonies are associated by our brains with flavour attributes such as the sweetness, bitterness, sourness and perceived body and strength of the beer.’
those who prefer a bitter beer should listen to songs like Drunken Sailor by The Irish Rovers, or Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison (pictured)
He said frothy, lighter-sounding tunes lead to a sweeter taste, while heavy, emotionally charged music makes the drink seem more bitter.
‘Guinness has a lot of body to begin with, but to enhance the perception of bitterness, you could listen to some Sinead O’Connor or the Cranberries’ Zombie,’ he added.
‘The super heavy guitar and strong emotions are likely to make your Guinness taste even heavier, stronger and more bitter.’
The research was presented by music streaming platform Deezer, which revealed that Grace, by Aoife Scott, Roisin O and Danny O’Reilly, is the UK’s favourite Irish song.
WHEN DID HUMANS START DRINKING BEER?
Humans have had a long history of consuming alcohol.
It is believed the primitive cultures of Mesopotania could have been brewing malted barley scraps as far back as 10,000BC but there are no records of it.
The earliest proof of beer-drinking dates back to Northern China 9,000 years ago.
This ancient brew was made using hawthorn fruit, Chinese wild grapes, rice and honey, and is the oldest known fermented beverage in history – older even than wine.
The earliest proof of beer-drinking dates back to Northern China 9,000 years ago
To make it the corn was milled and moistened in the maker’s mouth to convert starches in the corn into fermentable sugars – before it was ‘spat’ into the beer.
Throughout history, the consumption of alcohol may have helped people become more creative, advancing the development of language, art and religion.
This is because alcohol lowers inhibitions and makes people feel more spiritual.
It is believed the Egyptians started brewing beer around 5,000BC, according to the papyrus scrolls.
They were brewing things like dates, pomegranates and other indigenous herbs.
At around 3150 BC, the Egyptians used industrial-scale breweries to provide beer for the workers who built the pyramids of Giza.
Eventually beer made its way from the Middle East to Europe where an abundance of barley crops provided lots of raw ingredient for brewers.
Experts have now found evidence of brewing in Greece during the Bronze Age.
Researchers believe that these prehistoric people enjoyed getting merry with alcoholic drinks for feasts all year-round and not just when the grapes were ripe.
Not only was it considered nutritional it was also a safe alternative to drinking water.
It was in the Middle Ages that malted barley became the main source of fermented sugar and beer became the beverage we are familiar with today.
