As is evidentiary and pertaining to my Title as www.ribbqnews.com ‘s “BBQ NERD,” so bestowed upon me by the Social Media Director of RI BBQ News and www.wiseguysbbq.com #WiseGuysBBQPodcast, I oftentimes find myself FASCINATED by a particular fact that I encounter whilst researching OTHER BBQ Topics. Like the veritable “Dog with a Bone,” phrase, I fully acknowledge, ad rem, and embrace that idiom which describes “someone who is stubborn, persistent, and determined, often to the point of being relentless or single-minded; meaning that they are unwilling to let go of something, whether it’s a task, an idea, or an object.” Thus is my mindset and unwavering focus, refusing to relinquish “the bone” until I have researched said topic as it is germane to the topic of BBQ! I can diverge, off-shoot, meander, sidetrack, and reroute My BBQ Studies down, down, down the Rabbit Hole of BBQ Inquiry, ad infinitum. The most recent case in point is as follows: I discovered, while investigating another completely unrelated BBQ topic, that there is such a job title as “A GUINNESS PINT AUTHORITY!” “Wait, what?” I asked myself…come join me down the aforementioned Rabbit Hole as we discuss this revelation!
www.country1025.com made mention of a local news story entitled, “Famous Guinness Reviewer Names Boston Pub as the Best for the Brew!” apparently, “A Guinness Authority recently visited the United States to find the best place for brewing, and Boston emerged as the top choice. The honor for the best place to grab a Guinness pint went to J.J. Foley’s Café and Pub in the South End of Boston!” Jason Hackett, recognized as “Prime Mutton” to his 170,000+ Instagram followers, embarked on a 35-Day U.S. Tour visiting Pubs in Boston, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and even Providence, RI –among other cities, in search of “The Best Pint of Guinness Poured Outside of Dublin!” Jason Hackett said, “When I took a sip of the pint, I thought—WOW, I’d be really happy with this Guinness in Ireland!” The pint at J.J. Foley’s earned Hackett’s “Tip of the Hat!” In a statement shared with NBC 10 Boston, Hackett exclaimed, “It was well-balanced, just a little hint of bitterness, not too much. You get a little bit of chocolate, a little bit of coffee, and the perfect dry stout.”
Jason Hackett, hailing from Manchester, England, is a professional bridge player, who travels throughout the world critiquing beer and food. When it comes to Irish stout, he is famous for taking “giant gulps and dishing out no-frills reviews.” Instead of relying on numerical ratings, he prefers a four-tiered approach:
–On the lowest end is “Good,” then “Very Good,” then “Creamer,” and finally, “Absolute Creamer.”
J.J. Foley’s earned the “Absolute Creamer” recognition for its premier pint pour of Guinness!
Jason Hackett and his twin brother, Justin, were introduced to the game of bridge by their Mum. By the age of 16, the twins were the youngest ever players in the World Olympiad. They soon went on to become European Champions and World Junior Champions. Jason has also won the Gold Cup, the Crockfords Cup, and Spring Foursomes multiple times. Jason is currently described as “a 55-year old professional bridge player with a moustache, a leather pork-pie hat, and a body that he readily admits, reflects his enthusiasm for ale!” Jason Hackett’s troop of “Muttonistas” adore his beer reviews, as do some major celebrities! In little more than the space of a year, “Prime Mutton” AKA Jason, has created an “Army” of followers and social media frenzied fans. “He is not, with all due respect, a beautiful twentysomething posting videos that are brightly lit with nice colors and snappy edits.” In fact, “the lighting in his videos is not up to professional standards, they are rife with background noise –as he films his videos in bars, and his recent experiments with fonts and emojis have frequently been chaotic,” reports www.theguardian.com The Guardian continues, “But what Prime Mutton does have is a passion: A Passion for Pints. He’s just a man, a man who likes drinking beer, who likes making his videos, and likes bringing people joy!” Prime Mutton announces his in-person appearances on his Instagram in advance. He greets his ever-growing populous of fans at his bar and pub appearances, as the hopeful crowds await to hear Prime Mutton’s catch phrase for his gold standard of beer reviews, that the pint is “AN ABSOLUTE CREAMER!” “His delivery of the phrase, which he said he picked up on a visit to Ireland, sends crowds online and in person into ECSTASY!” concludes The Guardian. You can find Jason AKA Prime Mutton on Instagram at @primemutton2000abfr and at www.primemutton.com
After Hackett’s review went public, in the beginning of August, 2025, J.J. Foley’s Pub could hardly maintain its stock of Guinness. The honor and recognition is a significant achievement for the Boston establishment. Jeremiah Foley pontificated, “You have all these big groups and everything, they come in, 10 pints of Guinness, 12 pints of Guinness…We’re sitting there flying through it (the Guinness.”) J.J. Foley’s Café and Pub has been family owned and operated since it opened its doors in 1909. www.jjfoleyscafe.com and @jjssouthend states, “What makes this special? Prime Mutton is one of the most respected Guinness reviewers out there—his reviews are honest, independent, and never bought or paid for. After Prime Mutton named our pint the Best Guinness in America, we’re honored to be recognized but even more grateful for all of you who come in, enjoy a pint, and leave impressed.” In 2025, J.J. Foley’s Café and Pub celebrated Its 116th Anniversary, establishing it as “Boston’s Oldest Irish Pub!” with its incredible, remarkable legacy!
Located at: 117 East Berkley Street, in Boston’s South End, Boston, MA, 02118: J.J. Foley’s Café and Pub declares, “Here at J.J. Foley’s Café, we pride ourselves on offering delicious food, great drinks and friendly service that has represented our long-standing family traditions since 1909. When you walk into J.J. Foley’s you not only feel that you are in an authentic Irish pub, but you get a real sense of the history of post-modern Boston. While either visiting our comfortable seated dining room, great for large parties or intimate dinners, or joining us in our classic pre-prohibition bar where you can enjoy a great pint while watching your favorite sporting event or playing your favorite song on Touch Tunes; there is something for everyone to enjoy at J.J. Foley’s Café!”
In addition to the finest Guinness Pint, J.J. Foley’s is well-known for its Grilled Steak Tips Dinner, for their BBQ Wings, BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich, and their variety of juicy flame grilled Burgers. Of course, there are also the traditional Irish fare dinner choices such as Fish & Chips, Chowder, The Grilled Reuben Sandwich, and their House-Made Beef and Bean Chili– which all have stellar reviews! There are surprise items on the Irish Café and Pub menu as well: Duck Poutine Fries with duck confit, cheddar cheese curds covered in duck gravy; Buffalo Shrimp Tacos with slaw and poblano avocado ranch dressing; Shrimp Scampi with lemon, butter, and wine sauce over a bed of linguine pasta; and Steak & Blue Cheese Salad with (The Famous!) grilled sirloin tips, crumbled blue cheese, avocado, and balsamic dressing, just to name a few possibilities of selections! Pictured below are Foley’s Fan Favorites including:
- –The Truffle Mac-N-Cheese
- –The Loaded Nachos
- –The Eggs Benedict
- –The (Twice Mentioned) Duck Poutine Fries
The BBQ options at Boston’s Oldest Irish Pub had me marveled! J.J. Foley’s Chicken Wings or Boneless Tenders can be served with Buffalo Sauce, XXX Buffalo Sauce, Chipotle Honey BBQ Sauce, Sweet Teriyaki Sauce, Korean BBQ Sauce, Hot Honey, or Sweet Thai Chili Sauce. Their Burgers are freshly ground and hand packed in-house daily, using certified Angus beef and patrons have choices of: Open Range Bison Burger; Mr. Foley’s Favorite Burger served with bacon, cheddar, mushrooms, caramelized onions, and an organic fried egg; MAC DADDY Burger served with pan-fried Mac-N-Cheese, applewood smoked bacon, cheddar cheese and BBQ Sauce; Plymouth Turkey Burger served with all-white ground turkey breast, cranberries, caramelized onions, cheddar cheese & mayo; as well as ALL of your typical flame grilled burger preferences, AND—A Build-Your-Own-Burger alternatives! The Grilled Steak Tips Dinner is served with rice pilaf and sauteed vegetables; The BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich is served with fries and coleslaw; and finally, the BBQ Sampler is loaded with: Steak Tips, Turkey Tips, and Italian Sausage served with rice pilaf and vegetables. The Oldest Irish Pub in Boston most certainly has a plethora of foodstuff offerings to assuage your hunger, whether you are 1 or 116! Furthermore, J.J. Foley’s rotates seasonal dishes into its menu as well! J.J. Foley’s Café and Pub invites you to stop by “AND TASTE AN ABSOLUTE CREAMER FOR YOURSELF!” …Along with some of their BBQ Delish-Dishes and Tasty Pub Fare!
