A moment of cross-cultural excellence is being hailed as magic. In it, a Japanese World Cup fan was taught how to split the G on a Guinness, and he absolutely nailed it.
The footage, uploaded by a TikTok user who goes by Joey B. (@joeybluhhh) highlights the joy experienced by soccer fans knocking back pints of the world-famous stout in a bar.
It begins with footage of a Japanese World Cup fan holding a large glass of Guinness with a foamy head. Standing beside him is an American fan relaying instructions on how to properly enjoy the beverage within the game’s rules.
“It’s like three big swigs, ready?” he says, placing the cup on the countertop. Following this, they bring the beers up to their lips, and the Japanese man places his cup on the table. His quaff elicits an excited reaction from those watching the scene. The person behind the camera then zooms into the glass, showing off his handiwork. The line where the foam head begins exactly bifurcates the G on the “Guinness” branding.
A text overlay in the clip intones the significance of the scene for the two men. Along with the nomenclature of this drinking game. It reads, “Taught a Japan fan about splitting the G. He hit that s— perfectly, and then Japan scored.”
In mid-celebration, one of the American men with the Japanese fan points to the TV screen. And as it turns out, Japan scored a goal shortly after the two men shared their Guinness. Not only does it charge the room with even more enthusiastic energy, but it also put Japan up three goals to zero against Tunisia.
Guinness: What Does It Mean To ‘Split The G’?
Several dry stout lovers have opined on this practice, and their descriptions exactly match what transpired in the aforementioned video. As Food Republic writes, “The object of the challenge is simple … in your first … gulp … of a freshly poured Guinness, you want to consume enough that, when the glass is set back down, the horizon between … residual beer and foam bisects the word ‘Guinness’ labeled on the pint.”
The outlet went on to state that while this may seem like an easy endeavor, there are a few factors that must be satisfied in order to satisfy it. First, the pour of the Guinness needs to be perfect, culminating in a foamy head. One that needs to be taken into account when sizing up that inaugural sip. Additionally, the website notes that this game is so beloved, a pub owner in Galway will give customers who are able to split the G perfectly on their first pint their beverage for free.
How To Split The G
Others have shared their own methodologies on how to succeed at this drinking game. Man of Many uploaded a five-step protocol that can help those looking to crush their first attempt at G-splitting.
First, get yourself a newly poured pint with a foamy head. Next, you must leave 60 to 90 seconds for the pint to properly settle. Step three is the most delicate part of the process: You need to determine how much you must gulp (preferably uninterrupted) in order to align the bottom of the foam’s head with the middle of the “G” in Guinness.
Afterwards, you’ll have to set your beverage down on the table to assess how you’ve done. If you’ve accomplished your goal, celebrate accordingly.
During your first gulp, there are some tricks you can employ to help you hit your mark, such as facing the Guinness logo away from you. This way, you can watch where the foam line is headed. Once it’s right at the bottom of the Guinness logo, you should be where you need to be. After the pint is set down, the foam level should rise to the middle of the G and leave you in the split-G zone.
Where Did Splitting The G Originate?
As per this blog post by Irish pub Daffodil Mulligan, the game is said to have originated in Irish pubs. But its real roots are, like many drinking games, “a little hazy,” according to the bar. “No one can quite pinpoint who did it first,” the restaurant writes. “We’re taking a small liberty in claiming it as an Irish tradition. After all, who else could have birthed such a charming little tradition than the makers of Guinness itself?” the site argues.
This video is one of many viral instances of World Cup fans traveling abroad who have been swept away by the dining traditions of other cultures. Another Japanese World Cup spectator was gobsmacked by the size of Texas BBQ portions. His reaction to eating a “Fred Flinstone Brontosaurus Rib” captured the hearts of folks online, who were smitten with how happy he was after trying the food.
Others were impressed with U.S. comfort food staples, such as Waffle House, during their trip to the states in order to watch the global soccer tournament.
@joeybluhhh Buy a man a Guinness, he drinks for a few minutes. Teach a man to split the G, he drinks all night #worldcup #USA
BroBible has reached out to Joey B via TikTok direct message for further comment.