100-Year-Old Woman Says Guinness Is Key to Long Life

When it comes to celebrating a significant moment, getting together with a group of friends, or just unwinding on the couch after a long day, an alcoholic beverage tends to pair perfectly with those situations. But it never really was considered something to consume in terms of health, until recently that is. According to a 100-year-old British woman, her secret to living a long life is pretty simple: Drink a daily glass of Guinness.

Some say Diet Coke (like this 104-year-old woman), some even say mushrooms, but Doris Olive Netting swears by the popular Irish stout.

Netting celebrated her 100th birthday this month with a Guinness-themed birthday party at her care-home in Plymouth. There were Guinness balloons, a life-model of the Guinness toucan logo, a hamper from Guinness themselves (who were thrilled when hearing of Netting’s Guinness-drinking habit), and even a telegram from Queen Elizabeth II.

So, Why Guinness?

Surprisingly, Netting hasn’t been making up the idea of Guinness being great for your health. It was actually a key point in Guinness’ marketing campaign after the war. Guinness advertised that drinking this Irish stout will actually help with iron intake (given that it’s loaded with iron). Since rations were small back then, having a Guinness could help with getting that nutrient that was harder to get elsewhere.

It Was Enough to Convince Her

That small marketing campaign was enough to convince Netting, who was in her early 30s at the time. She immediately bought a mini bottle of Guinness a day for the rest of her life.

“She refuses to go a day without drinking it,” said Netting’s daughter in an interview with The Independent. “She reckons that’s why she’s lived for as long as she has, because of the iron intake through Guinness.”

Sounds like enough of an excuse for us to drink up! Or maybe it’s enough of an excuse to cook one of these 16 recipes to make with Guinness and indulge this decadent Chocolate Guinness Cake.

Here's How to Cook With Guinness

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Malted Chocolate & Stout Layer Cake If you want a dessert that will take the cake at a St. Patrick's Day celebration, look no further! The rich chocolate cake is incredibly moist and has a nice malt flavor that's perfectly complemented by the Irish cream frosting. —Jennifer Wayland, Morris Plains, New Jersey Go to Recipe

Chocolate Guinness CakeOne bite and everyone will propose a toast to this silky-smooth chocolate Guinness cake. The cream cheese frosting reminds me of the foamy head on a perfectly poured pint. —Marjorie Hennig, Seymour, Indiana

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Lamb StewMy grandmother used to make this stew as a special Sunday meal. It's an unforgettable treat from Ireland. —Vickie Desourdy, Washington, North Carolina

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Mushroom and Sweet Potato PotpieThe last time I was in the U.S., I had an amazing mushroom and beer potpie at a small brewpub. It was so rich and comforting. I tried numerous versions when I got home and I think I've come pretty close! —Iben Ravn, Copenhagen, Denmark

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Guinness FloatThat very first sip of a Guinness is what inspired this quick and easy dessert. The rich, creamy foam that gathers on the top of a freshly poured draft made me think of vanilla ice cream. At that point, I knew I had to combine the two in a Guinness float. —James Schend, Dairy Freed

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Grampa's German-Style Pot RoastGrampa was of German heritage and loved the old-world recipes his mother gave him. I made a few changes so I could prepare this dish in a slow cooker and give it a slightly updated flavor. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

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Irish Beef StewRich and hearty, this Irish beef stew is my husband's favorite. The beef is incredibly tender. Served with crusty bread, it's an ideal cool-weather meal and perfect for any Irish holiday. —Carrie Karleen, St. Nicolas, Quebec

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Skillet Stout BrowniesThese stout brownies are so rich and fudgy. I love how quickly they come together. They're perfect for a busy weeknight. —Mandy Naglich, New York, New York

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Bratwurst Burgers with Braised OnionsThis burger is a fun mashup of a bratwurst with onion and peppers, chicken-fried steak and a beef burger. The best of three dishes, bratwurst burgers are guaranteed to be family-pleasing. —Priscilla Yee, Concord, California

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Spicy Bavarian Beer MustardHere's a gift that has bite! This spicy beer mustard is great with pretzels or as a condiment for bratwurst. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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Stout & Shiitake Pot RoastMushrooms, onions and a bottle of Guinness add excellent flavor to my pot roast. This one-dish wonder may taste even better the next day. —Madeleine Bessette, Coeur d Alene, Idaho

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Grilled Beer Brats with KrautI made this for my son’s 21st birthday bonfire, which included a dozen buddies. The kraut topping flavors are fabulous. —Keeley Weber, Sterling Heights, Michigan

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Taste of Home

Irish Spiced BeefThe story goes that my Irish ancestors brought this recipe along when they immigrated to the U.S. Start it at least five days ahead to spice and tenderize the meat; the flavors are worth it. —Mary Shenk, Dekalb, Illinois

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Touchdown Brat SlidersIt's game time when these mini sausage sliders make an appearance. Two things my husband loves—beer and brats—get stepped up a notch with crunchy flavored chips. —Kirsten Shabaz, Lakeville, Minnesota

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Short Rib TacosWhenever we go to Houston to visit family, we like to track down cabeza—cow’s head, cooked slowly, resulting in extremely tender meat that's excellent in tacos. Cabeza is hard to find in Seattle, so I use short ribs to replicate the texture. I like corn tortillas for these tacos and a quick pico de gallo to add some freshness to the rich, flavorful meat. —Anai Yost, Bothell, Washington

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Beer-Braised Roast with Root VegetablesI like the combination of seasoned vegetables and lean meat in this recipe, and my wife likes how the seasonings complement the meat. I serve the roast with a garden salad and crusty multigrain bread. —Malcolm Cieszko, Washington, North Carolina

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Honey Chipotle RibsNothing is better than having a sauce with the perfect slather consistency. Here's one that will ensure a lip-smacking feast. Go ahead and make the sauce up to a week ahead for an easier grilling experience. —Caitlin Hawes, Westwood, Massachusetts

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Beer and Pretzel CaramelsBeer and pretzels are a natural combination—mix them with smooth caramel and you have an awesome candy. The guys will go wild over these crunchy, chunky chews. —Jenni Sharp, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Guinness Corned Beef and CabbagePassed down through generations, this robust corned beef and cabbage recipe is requested often in our house. The Irish stout adds excellent richness to the corned beef. Just throw the ingredients together in the slow cooker and let them simmer until delicious! —Karin Brodbeck, Red Hook, New York

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Cider-Brined TurkeyMy family had been going through some rough times, and when we were finally able to get together for Thanksgiving one year, I made this turkey. It brings back such good memories of joyful family gatherings. —Nicole Keller, Waterford, Pennsylvania

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Spicy Cowboy ChiliToasting the peppers for this cowboy chili releases their earthy flavors. I recommend wearing gloves when handling dried peppers and seeds. —Rachel Sprinkel, Hilo, Hawaii

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French Dip Subs with Beer Dipping SauceThese savory subs make a family-pleasing meal that comes together in no time. The tender roast beef goes great with the hearty beer dipping sauce and a garnish of banana peppers.—Susan Simons, McKenna, Washington

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