About a year ago I brewed the original Guiness recipe from 1790 ( "East India Porter"). Absolutely fantastic. No artificial anything.
Dick
Guinness is a company that for too long has been abusing a quasi monopolistic position in the Stout market; it's still a good beer, but the micro brewing revolution is catching up with them (witness their recent TV advertising campaign about their "craft brewed beers). Any visitor to the emerald Isle who hasn't been there for a few years will be amazed by the huge number of interesting beers from new independent breweries that are now on offer, all of which is eating into Guinness' domestic market.
Since it has been part of the Diageo group, the price of Guinness has just gone up and up and what one gets in return has gone down. It is clearly just viewed as a flagship brand by the corporate monster which owns it.
The problem for me with many of the alternatives such as Murphy's or Beamish has always been a lack of bitterness on the finish. A couple of years ago I discovered the Carlow Brewing Company's excellent O'Hara's stout which has wonderfully complex liquorice and coffee-ish flavours on the palate, with a dry hoppish bitter finish. I replaced Guinness with it in my pub two years ago and have not regretted it.
I prefer (where I can) to work with small independent brewers. This Christmas I received a card signed by all 13 of the staff at the Carlow Brewing Co; a sure sign that my custom is appreciated. I certainly enjoy working with them.
......well fooled. 
