What Does “Split the G” Mean? (And How Do You Do It?)

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Plus, learn the fascinating history of the “splitting the G” tradition

Co-authored by Sophie Burkholder, BA

Last Updated: November 21, 2025 Fact Checked

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“Split the G” Meaning

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How to Do It

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How It Started

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Guinness Fun Facts

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Maybe you’ve heard the term “splitting the G” at the bar recently—or even on social media! If you don’t know, to “split the G” means to take one sip (or gulp) out of a Guinness beer glass and get the top line of the stout to perfectly bisect the “G” in “Guinness.” Keep reading for a more in-depth explanation of what “splitting the G” means, the history of the challenge, and how to do it yourself. Plus, we’ll serve up some fun facts about the iconic Guinness beer company and its home country of Ireland! Sláinte!

“Split the G” Drinking Challenge, Explained

To “split the G” on a Guinness beer, you must take one singular sip so that, when you set the glass back down, the line between the white foam and dark beer sits perfectly in the gap of the Guinness logo’s “G.”

Section 1 of 4:

What does “splitting the G” mean?

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“Splitting the G” refers to a drinking challenge involving Guinness beer. You start with a (famously large) glass of Guinness in front of you. To “split the G,” you must take one single sip of the beer and have the line between the foam and the stout itself land perfectly in the gap of the “G” in the glass’s logo. In other words, the line between the foam and the beer should exactly bisect the word “Guinness” on the glass and split the “G” in half horizontally. To reiterate, this must be done in one single precise sip!^{[1]
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- This might seem easy, but you’ll actually have to do a pretty large gulp—plus, you need to know exactly how much to sip to split the G precisely. And, the thickness of Guinness beer’s signature head and stout can make it difficult to chug.

Section 2 of 4:

How to “Split the G”

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Pour or receive a proper pint of Guinness. Whether you’re ordering a pint of Guinness in the pub or pouring yourself one at home, make sure that it’s poured correctly, as Guinness beer must be poured according to a specific technique. First, tilt the glass at a 45-degree angle and fill it three-quarters of the way with beer. Then, set the beer down and let it settle for about 90 seconds (this helps the creamy foam head develop properly). Finally, slowly top off the glass with some more beer.^{[2]
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- Of course, you’ll also need to use a Guinness-branded glass—otherwise, there will be no “G” to split!
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Take one large, long sip (and aim for the G). Now, bring the Guinness to your lips and, with a steady pace, take one large gulp. You can technically sneak in a couple of gulps (and you might need to), but just make sure that it’s one uninterrupted sip—the glass can never leave your lips, and the Guinness should never stop flowing into your mouth. As you do this, remember that your goal is for the “horizon line” of the beer and the foam to land exactly in the middle of the Guinness logo’s “G.”^{[3]
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- Some people advise that you shouldn’t really swallow the Guinness—just focus on pouring it straight down your throat, or straight down your hatch!
- That being said, you know yourself best. If you’re not already a pro at chugging beer or you have a sensitive gag reflex, pouring Guinness straight down your throat may not be the best move.
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Keep practicing if you don’t nail it the first time! It’s practically impossible to successfully split the G on your first try, since you’ll need to get a sense for exactly how much beer you’ll need to drink to complete the challenge. Plus, this can differ from person to person, since we all have different-sized mouths and rates of drinking beer. Aside from just practicing over and over (with caution—don’t go drinking too much beer, now!), you can also try some insider tips and tricks:^{[4]
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- Aim for about 2.5–3 normal swallows, which seems to be a sweet spot for most people.
- Angle the glass so that you can see the logo on the left or right side while drinking. Keep drinking until the beer is cutting through the lower part of the “N” from your point of view.
- Practice with a 0.0 Guinness so that you can try splitting the G as many times as you want to without getting too inebriated. You’ll thank us later!

Section 3 of 4:

The History of “Splitting the G”

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The exact origins of “splitting the G” aren’t clear—but we have theories! Guinness is pretty much synonymous with Ireland, so it’s no wonder that “splitting the G” comes from Irish drinking culture (and it’s certainly a fun challenge and badge of honor to be shared amongst Guinness lovers). However, no one knows precisely when this tradition began or who started it. We do know, however, that it likely has nothing to do with the actual Guinness Brewery or the Guinness family. Colm O’Connor, a Guinness Brewery Ambassador, told Chowhound that splitting the ‘G’ is “not a Guinness initiative” and seems to be something that’s become a trend in recent years.^{[5]
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- In fact, O’Connor cautioned that it takes “a lot of beer to split the G, to be honest with you.”
- And, O’Connor is at least partially right, as “splitting the G” has become more mainstream and trendy in recent years due to celebrity exposure.
- Irish actor Paul Mescal, for one, challenged Chicken Shop Date host Amelia Dimoldenberg to split the G during an interview (she balked at the quantity of beer she’d have to drink).
- Similarly, Irish musician Niall Horan challenged English musician Ed Sheeran to split the G in a backstage concert video—and Sheeran actually got closer than Horan did!

Section 4 of 4:

Fun Facts About Guinness Beer & Ireland

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Want to learn more about the iconic Guinness beer? We’ve got you! Below, you’ll find some more fun facts about the world-renowned Guinness brand and its connection to Irish culture:^{[6]
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- Nigeria is the second-largest market for Guinness. After Ireland, of course! The first overseas Guinness brewery opened in Nigeria in 1963.
- The Guinness Brewery repurposes its used grain for agriculture. After their grain is used during the brewing process, it’s sold to farmers as animal feed.
- The Guinness Brewery once had its own railway system. Inside the St. James’s Gate Brewery, there used to be 8 miles (13 km) of criss-crossing track, but this system was shut down in 1975.
- The famous Guinness Brewery has a 9,000-year lease. The St. James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin, Ireland, was acquired by Arthur Guinness through a 9,000-year lease in 1759. The rent was established at £45 per year, allowing Guinness to grow his now iconic brand.
- Guinness’ logo is also the national symbol of Ireland. The harp, which is a Guinness company trademark, is a traditional Irish symbol that only became the official symbol in the 1920s. The only difference between the Guinness logo and the national symbol is that the images are mirrored.