Guinness fan whose online reviews are an 'absolute creamer

How Jason's lockdown idea became a viral hit - with its own catchphrase

- CHRIS SLATER

IT IS A scene that was replicated in households up and down the country, as people stuck at home during the Covid lockdowns pondered a new career.

Among them was Jason Hackett from Didsbury, now in his mid-fifties.

You may well know him as 'Primemutton. And his decision to branch out into social media has proved a fruitful one it has made him an unlikely celebrity.

His food and drink reviews on YouTube and Instagram and in particular his takes on the best pints of Guinness on offer in the UK and Ireland have earned him an army of followers known as 'Muttonistas.' Fans of the black stuff hang on his every word and await his declaration that he has found an 'Absolute creamer.' His catchphrase has now become common parlance amongst many Guinness fanatics and has even made its way onto flags at Glastonbury and his beloved Manchester City.

He already had a rather unusual day job, as Jason was, and still is, a professional bridge player who plays at international level. "The money's not great, but what you do get is a hell of a lot of free travel," he says.

Jason classes himself as a beer 'connoisseur. "I'd say I also know quite a lot about food and wine as well," he says.

As a younger man he was predominantly a real ale drinker and says he got into Guinness 'by accident. "I went to a few places where no casks were available, so I said 'well, I'll try the Guinness instead' and I kind of got into it," he says.

One of his regular haunts was a now closed social club called St Edward's Confraternity on the border of Rusholme and Moss Side. "We used to go in there after playing bridge and there was some great Celtic rock music and quite a good pint of Guinness," he said.

"I'm actually a dual British/Irish national. My grandfather is from there. I don't know if that makes me a plastic Paddy, but I found I quite liked it. But I was aware of people telling me it's different gravy in Ireland.