Helping You to Marmite and Guinness

You know how it is, most of our time is diligently spent dealing with news of fresh disasters: of the weakness of humankind, of the warming of the earth, of planes falling from the sky. But then once in a while, we lift our rheumy eyes and see that you, dear readers, want something else.

The thing you want, more than anything else, our machines tell us, is Marmite. And not just Marmite, but a special Marmite made out of Guinness that is being made for this year's St Patrick's Day.

This week twice as many of you have been searching Times Online for Guinness Marmite (tapped out in frenetic, hungry variations: "Marmite & Guinness", "Guinness and Marmite", Marmiteguinness") as anything else. Next on the list is bird flu. You're crazy.

But don't worry about it. We're going to help. Looking at various short news items and blog entries written about the gimmicky foodstuff since it was posted on the Guinness blog last Friday (300,000 pots are being made at £2.49 a go), we haven't seen anybody who has actually tasted the thing. The closest anyone has come is repeating the makers' claim that "the nonalcoholic spread is said to have a distinctive yet subtle Guinness flavour". Also: rumours about it being "less salty and less meaty than the original".

We're going to do better. We've got a jar off the stuff on our desk, smartly black and white, all Guinness livery, and now in slightly less than hygienic — let alone scientific — conditions, we're going to tell you how it comes across, what to make of "the most unusual innovation in the history of Marmite".

(Disclosure: the news blog eats Marmite regularly, even conscientiously. Preferred state is on a bagel, hot, in the morning. Likes a thin to moderate spread but not averse to the odd, shocking glop. On Guinness: doesn't object but no great hairy fan either. For control reasons, Drew Broomhall, the search editor of Times Online and a Guinness aficionado, has agreed to take part in the test. We have Jacob's Cream crackers, a plastic knife and no butter.)

Texture-wise, there's no sign of anything different here. It's as gluey as ever. The first taste — an orthodox Marmite serving — doesn't yield anything much either, only a slight bittering in the aftertaste. It's when Broomhall takes an indecent dip that things seem to change:

"There, we, ah, in that initial taste it had something malty — is Marmite always malty? — no, this is hoppish, it's definitely hoppish, it's not as beefy. But then, it changes, no, it turns, it's tart. It's almost acrid. It's sour."

After another taste these notes have been shortened to: "Nice start but a terrible finish." Broomhall says he will not be putting on his toast "and if they do something with Stella I won't be trying that either".

We copied Broomhall's example, took a dangerous-size portion and there it was: an unmistakable opening-out, a soft blast, something of Ireland's wide skies, before a brisk, surprising closing down, the onset of something bitter and not-quite nice.

Our tasting attracted the interest of a passing night editor who complained about the absence of butter and crumpets, her favoured Marmite-delivery, but had a go anyway: "At first there was some of that marmitey good and then it went a bit foul." Which pretty well sums it up.

Comments

[Pam Westmore]

I only heard about Marmite Guinness last weekend but when I phoned round various supermarkets within 20 miles or so from my postcode to find a stockist I found, to my amazement, that only ONE had any stock left. If anybody still wants to buy a jar, Waitrose in South Woodford still have several cases for sale.

[DT]

Managed to find some GM in Waitrose near Russell Square in London. They've got a load of the stuff, spoke to the store manager and he said they'd had to fight to secure the stock. Apparently it's selling fast. Tried it once I got home from work. I like it- more subtle than regular marmite.

[Em]

I've been looking for this everywhere and have just managed to find a couple of jars - amazing! I was looking for some on ebay when I came across a petition to make it permanent - help keep this fab product on the shelves!!

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/GuinnessMarmite/signatures.html

[chrissie]

You can't buy it in Ireland? What is the world coming to?

[Tracey Steenson]

Me and my friends LOVE Guinness Marmite, so much so that we want it to be available all the time. If you agree with us go to the petitions website and sign the Guinness Marmite petition, which we are going to present to the guys at Marmite.

[Ben Hickey]

I saw it my local supermarket and, because I love Marmite, I thought I would give it a go. Not a huge fan of Guiness to be honest - tastes too much like warm blood for my liking. But this combination is great! I love it! Goes great with cheese!

[Alex Bouton]

I love it! It's just arrived in our Tescos. I like Guinness, and I think Marmite is alright, but this Guinness one is just really smooth, and kind of less bitter and sharp than normal. Mainly though I just think it looks really cool!

[Tracy]

I'm a Bovril fan, NOT a marmite one. The Guinness version changed my mind! Love it.

[Ben Gibson]

This is a genius idea! The taste is a little less bitter than the standard version and the overall texture more creamy, I actually like it more than the original marmite, does anyone know if it's going to be made permanent? I've bought 4 jars to keep me going!

[Sam McEwan]

I am a big lover of both products individually but wasn’t sure about the mix.. I tried it last night & think I prefer it to the original! Even better acompanied by a pint of the black stuff too!

[Sarah Moorhead]

I am always willing to give something a chance, wasn't sure what to expect at first but I have to say what a pleasant surpise!

Unbelievably great taste, I will definitely be speading the word about this little gem

[tracie Sullivan]

I Love it sooooo much, hope they keep it! what a great combo, would have never thought !

[Sally]

I don't think the sacred marmite should be messed with. I'm not putting Guinessy marmite with a foul aftertaste on my children's toast soldiers! I'd rather defect to vegemite...

[stuart ekins]

Absolutely 100% genius idea! I didn't think I liked marmite but bought a jar because of the Guinness association. Now I eat it straight from the pot! We also made Bloody Mary's with it last night which I can thoroughly recommend...

[Peter Roberts]

What a selfless team to commit the greatest test of man's devotion and taste a new marmite. There's nothing wrong with the old. I'm very grateful for your sacrifice it saves me having to do the same. One thought though. It probable has to be eaten at the same time as drinking a pint or two of chilled Guiness. Then the aftertaste wouldn't clash and the normal marmite taste would seem sweet! Magic. Now there's something to try team!

[J Collins]

Irish Marmite how dare they, I bet it can't taste as bad as Vegemite!

[ken cairney]

And the Times pay you for this?