Accompanied by first-class photography, both from archives and the advertising department of the company, where the brand name and styling is so strictly controlled, you can learn all about the past, present and future achievements of the Irish brewer and then delve into no less than 25 pages of cooking recipes (18 meals in total), all of which naturally involve this king of ales.

The brand possesses such a long and steady heritage that is almost as rich as the end product in all of its several guises. If you want to learn precisely how to pour the perfect pint of Guinness, then you should read this book, as indeed should several bar staff, who quake at the very prospect of making whatever cardinal errors could cause a Guinness customer to suffer from apoplexy. It is a lovely history book, even if lacking in some of the innumerable anecdotes that I am sure surround the brand and its carefully nurtured development over the past 250 years.

The range of printed advertisements are a reminder of social stop-off points over the two and half centuries of the firm’s existence and together with the harp and the founder’s signature that make-up the recognised symbols of Guinness, which have also been through various evolutions over the years, they add some vital elements to this much-valued brand. While it is certain that there will never be a recipe outlined for Guinness stout, the deep ruby-coloured liquid clearly has a place in our social history and this excellent little book (£9.99) provides all that you might ever need to know about the brand.