Enjoying Guinness the Malaysian way
> Guinness has engaged chef Johnny Fua to craft stout-infused recipes in a bold new recipe book
THE world’s number one stout and Malaysian favourite Guinness Foreign Extra Stout recently unveiled a vibrant new look, now available all across the nation. Inspired by the sun’s corona visible during a solar eclipse, the label prominently features the iconic Guinness harp in the centre, accentuated with teal and yellow curves.
Guinness Malaysia brand manager Chuang Wei Ting said: “For a brand with such a rich visual identity as Guinness, it’s important that we remain true to our heritage while still making the packaging appealing to modern drinkers.”
Keeping its famous black-and-gold key colours, another feature that makes it instantly familiar to Malaysian drinkers is the bulldog, a symbol that catches the eye better in the updated look.
Legendary brand founder Arthur Guinness’ distinctive signature acts as a nice final touch to the design.
Chuang added: “Our dedication to quality, with more craft, more character, and more flavour, is what has made us Malaysia’s – and the world’s – No.1 stout for generations.
Rest assured the same impactful flavour beloved by many shines through, with only the finest ingredients – roasted malted barley, hops, special Guinness yeast, and crystal-clear water – used to brew the beverage.”
To celebrate the makeover, Guinness is showcasing the alcoholic beverage in a different light: as an ingredient in food, and an accompaniment to typically local flavours.
Teaming up with acclaimed local chef Johnny Fua, who runs Hello by Kitchen Mafia in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, the brewery has come up with a recipe book featuring Guinness Stout as an ingredient.
The specially-curated recipe book includes recipes by Fua, where he plays around with flavours, resulting in dishes like buttermilk prawns, pork ribs, chicken dumplings, and pork jerky – all infused with Guinness Stout.
Called Real Malaysian Flavours, the book even contains sketches by the chef himself.
According to Fua: “I like [to] do sketches, and I tend to visualise how this dish is going to be and how good it is, you know.
“My mind will be flying around, and I’ll be like: ‘Oh okay, I love this, I love this’. So, when I actually do it, I’ll probably give it a twist here and there to actually give that final touch.” The collection of recipes emphasises the versatility and complementary palate that the ruby-red stout shares with everyone’s favourite food. It also recommends yummy local delights, like dried bak kut teh and Nyonya bak chang, that will pair best with its three methods of pouring Guinness Stout, depending upon the different characteristics of the food and drink. The three pours are Guinness Classic, with the staple twofinger head of foam; Guinness Rise, a combination of foam and micro-foam; and Guinness Artisan, an equal amount of liquid and foam. In an intimate food pairing session at Hello by Kitchen Mafia, guests and members of the media were treated to a few of the dishes in the book. Chef Fua first served the creamy buttermilk prawns and nostalgic pan mee along with the Classic pour, saucy lala and juicy chicken dumplings with the Rise pour, and lip-smacking chicken heart satay with the Artisan pour.
“Chicken hearts give the best impact to the Guinness pouring,” said Fua. “The reason: the char, the flavours there, and the texture of the chicken heart.”
He added: “I think [the] chemistry in your mouth when you’re eating and drinking, having a sip ... that gives the best impact for this Guinness pour.”
Fans of the brew can get their hands on the limited-edition book by taking part in one of a series of activations at several coffee shops and food courts across Malaysia in the coming months.
There they will learn about the quality ingredients and brewing process that results in a Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, a beer Made for More, with the book presented as a gift upon purchase of the stout.
Chuang said: “Whether you use it as a way to bring richness and depth to your home cooking, as an accompaniment to your favourite coffee shop dishes, or enjoyed by itself in one of our three signature pours, Guinness Foreign Extra Stout is the perfect beer for those who will never accept anything less than the best.”
Selected recipes will be made available on the Guinness Malaysia Facebook page.