Guinness Extra Stout (Germany) - Guinness Ltd.

rale

Quebec (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I really love this beer. This version has quite low percentage of alcohol and it's very aromatic and easy to drink. Dark almost black color and moderate smell. Has a nice creamy head with good retention. Taste is a melange of coffee, toffee roast cereals, very complex and enjoyable. I would recommend it over Guinness Draft.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 21:10:57 | More by rale

kojevergas

California

3.45/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Acquired in the Bier Specialty (laden) shoppe in Berlin, Germany. Bottle poured into Guinness pint glass ('borrowed' from the King's Head pub in Galway, Ireland) in Berlin, at me friend's gaff. Reviewed live.

A: Pours a five finger head with an impressive upward bubble show that lasts about twenty seconds. Lovely brilliant cream lacing and wonderful perfect thickness for a stout. Soft and velvety appearance. Retention is incredible as always; the bottle didn't have a nitro-widget and doesn't need one. Dark ruby-black colour. Highly appealing.

Sm: Where to start? Cream, coffee, toffee, chocolate, roasted (and thankfully unmalted) barley, caramel, and assorted nutty hop hints. Brilliantly complex and appealing, but not overbearing. Relatively light strength.

T: The notes from the nose culminate in the body, building to the climax (do beer reviews ever sound sexualized...?) Yet the notes are more restrained than the Extra Stout in Ireland. They're muted, draining the flavour from the hops. The best way I can think to describe it is that the Guinness is "dunkelized" for the German consumers. The coffee does come through on the finish, but even the roasted barley is shockingly held back. It's still balanced and built well, but it's not the Guinness I've enjoyed for nine straight months living in Ireland; that much I'm sure of (and yes, I'm comparing the extra stout to the extra stout, not the draught to the extra stout or the foreign extra to the extra stout. I know what I'm doing here, thanks).

Mf: Shockingly wet and smooth for a stout, let alone a Guinness. There's a touch of coarseness on the climax, but otherwise it's deprived of the most essential characteristics of an Irish dry stout. There it is in the title: "dry" stout. Inconceivable.

Dr: Almost merits reclassification as a dunkel. They gutted this for the German market. The chocolate and cream are nice, as is the beer, but it just isn't the Guinness quality I expect. Very affordable in Berlin for an import (around two euro, making it cheaper than Guinness in Ireland).

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2011 14:19:26 | More by kojevergas

cervezango

Bolivia

3.88/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

my extra stout thy lovely bitterness enraptures my tongue. its pure bittersweet, in stinging harmony with my senses.
I'd have three more to assist in denying your perfect irony, but since i only have the sole, i will meditate on it while it lasts...

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2011 00:39:52 | More by cervezango

cambabeer

Florida

4/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-totally opaque and dark with fine carbonation. Semipersistant light brown head that leaves film on glass and settles at a nice half finger of quite persistant foam.

S- Sweet malt and some fruity banana. Some alcohol tones with some floral hints in there. Could be a little more vivid. Coffee.

T- Burt. Some alcohol. Big on the hops which are present at the end. Malty. Bitter in the aftertaste, very much so. Alcohol is present in middle. A little coffee. Tastes good. Roasted malt.

M- clean palate with a little staying in the back of the throat.

D- drinkable, I'd take another.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2011 02:26:12 | More by cambabeer

RuudJH

Netherlands

3.68/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Guinness Extra Stout, bought in Germany, clocks 4.1% abv.

Looks like Guinness: very dark brown. Head is fluffy, lacing is good.
Smell is rather fresh. Malts, roasted coffee and nuts. Also a bit fruity, and hops as well.

Equal taste, but sweeter than other Guinness.

Mouthfeel is rather thin. It's got good carbonation.
Very easy drinkable in sessions, on warmer days. Alcohol is easy.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2010 13:34:08 | More by RuudJH