The world knows the pint. Ireland knows the legacy. Millions recognize the black pint with its creamy white head. Few know the story it carries. For more than 250 years, Guinness has stood quietly beside Ireland's greatest moments: empire and independence, famine and renewal, emigration and homecoming, music and mourning, friendship and faith. It has become far more than a drink. It has become one of the world's most enduring cultural symbols. In Pints and Power, Michael Villa follows that symbol through Ireland's remarkable story. From St. James's Gate to neighborhood pubs, from the Easter Rising to the Troubles, from the Irish diaspora to modern-day gatherings, the book reveals how one pint came to embody the history, resilience, humor, generosity, and spirit of a people. Blending history with personal journey and conversations gathered across Ireland and the Irish-American community, Pints and Power invites readers to discover the Ireland behind the Guinness—and the universal human search for identity, belonging, and home. Once you understand the story behind the pint, you'll never see Ireland the same way again.