Guinness Extra Stout (Original) - Guinness Ltd.

BTFU

Indiana

4.33/5  rDev +17%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served at O'Bryan's Nine Irish Brothers, West Lafayette, IN

Winner of Best Pint of Guinness in the United States awarded by Diageo (parent company of Guinness)

The environment definitely added to my experience, but that's what pubs and bars are supposed to do. Besides, part of the Guinness experience is to feel like you're in Ireland.

A - It takes them a couple minutes to pour your Imperial pint, but as soon as it is in front of you, you know that it was worth the wait. The head is perfect each time, with just shy of an inch of creamy head. The body is solid black and if you pay attention you can see the bubbles going both up and down in the beer (gotta appreciate the little things in life!!)

S - Some good roasted barely notes and some sweet/smokey caramel scents. This is the only part of the beer that doesn't live up to the rest of it.

T & M - Amazing combination of roasted notes. It changes as it first hits your mouth all the way through until you swallow it and take a breath. Each step in between allows you to get a different element. There's a hop element as you first take it in that is pronounced but not too powerful. It finishes dry with a hint of coffee.

O - Guinness can sometimes taste a little far on the roasted flavors, but that is really dependent upon what's going on around you (smoke, food, other beer scents). I loved the entire experience and it's a great change of pace from all of the more intense ales around.

Serving type: nitro-tap

02-13-2012 21:51:02 | More by BTFU

RRoeb1123

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

One of my favorite Stouts I've tried to date. Poured from a Guinness tap into a branded pint glass.

Appearance: Absolutely beautiful to watch, and makes you anticipate what you are about to drink. A very thick 3 finger head, and the very unique waves that cascade down the glass like waves in the ocean. The bubbles flowing downward are very unique also, and a treat for the eyes.

Smell: Roasted malt, a bit of barley, coffee, and a tiny tiny bit of hops.

Taste: The malt comes through at first, and fades into a coffee and caramel flavor. The barley and hops come through very gently at the end to show you they are there, but they take a back seat to the other flavors.

Mouthfeel: thick, but very smooth. It feels substantial, but it doesn't allow the flavors to linger and allow you to meander and explore the beer.

Drinkability: Goes down pretty easy, and is a great beer to enjoy with a meal, especially something good and heavy, like corned beef or something.

Verdict: An Irish favorite, and one of mine also.

Serving type: nitro-tap

09-20-2010 02:10:04 | More by RRoeb1123

cameraman

Kentucky

2.25/5  rDev -39.2%
look: 5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

I ask the question? Is there anything more mesmerizing than watching a Guinness settle, I didn't think so. The beer is black color with hint of a brown and red along the sides of the glass. A creamy thick head, tan to light beige in color, settles at quarter inch high and not going anywhere. A chocolaty aroma at first scent, then a mild bread fragrance with a slight grassy scent at the end. A strong dark bread flavor, along with heavy malt flavors. Those flavors blend to mild chocolate taste, then moving to a mild citrus bitterness, with a touch of pine, those last flavors linger on the palate for some time. Though it looks thick, mostly due to the head, it has rather a thin watery feel at the front. It does gain some weight as it reaches the back of the throat, leaving the palate fairly dry. This is a visually stunning and beautiful beer, the aroma and flavor are very lackluster and the feel reminds me of a macro brew, with out the strong carbonation. Though this beer is in many ways is supposed to be the standard it falls short.

Serving type: nitro-tap

11-07-2009 22:17:28 | More by cameraman

thequeen711

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a beer for everyone. The thick cola dark pour and the 2 fingered head is a beauty to see, as well as a treasure to drink. Malty, caramelish flavours blend well to create this masterpiece. Nose mostly malty, with just a slight hint of caramel. The taste is what I've expected, matches the nose, not thick, not thin, just sit back and enjoy this stout.

Serving type: nitro-tap

04-28-2009 20:22:57 | More by thequeen711

dmamiano

West Virginia

2.7/5  rDev -27%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Had a pint at the 'fabled" College Lunch, a local hang out.
Dark black like in the glass with a very creamy head and amazing lacing. This thanks to the nitrogen I figure.
Taste was not really impressive. Burnt bitter taste with an "ashyness" to the finish that I didnt really enjoy.
Not impressive at all.

Serving type: nitro-tap

01-17-2009 12:13:07 | More by dmamiano

thekevlarkid

Maryland

4.05/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had to do a classic. Pours out of the tap as black as can be and takes several minutes to settle, just as it should. And it is always so gratifying watching those tiny bubbles rise to form the two finger tan head. Smells of malt with a hoppy/floral undertone. The flavors are rather simple in a way. Guinness tastes like Guinness! Malt, some maple and coffee undertones, bitter in the middle and a dry hoppy finish. As clean and as smooth as beer can be made. Refreshing, hearty and filling. A classic for a reason.

Serving type: nitro-tap

08-19-2008 02:52:45 | More by thekevlarkid

hdofu

Maryland

4.1/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

An impressive looking beverage. While not my favorite stout, it is a pleasant and enjoyable beverage. The color is dark brown with a light tan head which remained consistent til the bottom of the glass. The smell was of chocolate. The taste was malty with a hint of milk chocolate. The feel on the tongue was smooth and it made for a quite drinkable beverage.

Serving type: nitro-tap

04-06-2008 02:44:23 | More by hdofu

abcsofbeer

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I did not develop an appreciation for this beer until my trip to Ireland. This ubiquitous brew is the country favorite and not a bad one at that. I tried this one in each pub and kept going back to it time and again. After a careful pour by the bartender, the beer must sit for several minutes to settle and ready itself for drinking.

It comes in its own special Guinness glass and is a dark dark brown color topped by a very creamy tan head that when poured correctly, is one finger high and slightly over the lip of the glass. The head leaves a good amount of sticky lacing.

The aroma is a nutty malty smell that is faint but is apparent. The taste is very smooth and easily drinkable. The taste is fully carbonated and again nutty and mildly malted. You really have to take in consideration the style of this beer to be objectionable, after becoming a beer snob, because it does not compare to american stouts or imperial stouts. It is in a class by itself. The mouthfeel is very light and smooth and again, an easy drinker.

Serving type: nitro-tap

03-23-2008 02:03:18 | More by abcsofbeer

kaboose72

Virginia

5/5  rDev +35.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is the stout of all stouts, not too harsh, not to mild. Just right. Started drinking it when in Sweden for School. My irish classmates convinced me to try it. after 3 days I was hooked, now I can not go to any bar with out ordering it. Now i go to all the Guinness Nights at our local bars. yes, i am addicated and loving it.

Serving type: nitro-tap

02-27-2008 17:41:26 | More by kaboose72

mynie

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Guinness Stout? On tap? Well, this is something that I just need to try.

And my god is it tasty.

The best-looking Guinness I ever bought. Much more opaque than usual, still the same fine, perfect head.

Smells kind of faint like roasted malts. Coffee and chocolate all burnt and sweetened. This is good, but too faint.

Tastes great. The burnt coffee bean taste of Guinness, along with a fine chocolate maltiness. In the back, and this is the kicker, is a very nice kiss of roasted hops. The bitter taste in leaves in your mouth is divine.

Serving type: nitro-tap

12-30-2004 01:35:04 | More by mynie

EyeBeeFameUs

Florida

1.66/5  rDev -55.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.25

I did not enjoy this brew at all. It looked decent as I poured it into my glass, but when I took the first sip I was instantly transported to China because it tasted exactly like soy sauce. It sat there dead on my tongue and eventually the aftertaste was like teriyaki sauce. I had to pour the rest out and drink a Shock Top to ease my pain.

I would not recommend this beer to anyone that doesn't like the taste of chinese food in their beer. The dark color looks like chocolate but does not taste like chocolate liquor or chocolate or coffee anything. I was excited to try something new but I was not satisfied with Guiness Extra Stout. I will try a regular Guiness although.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 22:30:05 | More by EyeBeeFameUs

tronester

Oklahoma

3.79/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a very dark ruby in color, almost black. Thin eggshell colored head. Aromas of chocolate liqueur. Taste begins with a smoky, woody flavor, then a little brown sugar sweetness, finishing with a slightly sour, herbal, piney flavor. Mouthfeel is pretty good. Overall a nice stout, though I prefer the Foreign Extra better.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 22:29:02 | More by tronester

JesseMurdock

Hawaii

4.24/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

I had very little experience with stouts before buying this beer. However it was St. Patrick's day and it seemed appropriate. The dark hue and thick, brown head make this beer looking creamy and inviting. However it is very bitter and full-bodied. This can be good or bad depending on your taste in beer. I didn't enjoy the first one, but by the end of the 6 pack, i thought it to be a very good beer. This is a great beer to pair with food. It stands up well against a stew or with steak.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 22:30:14 | More by JesseMurdock

scottfrie

California

3.8/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A: Pours black with a huge airy light tan head that slowly faded into a bubbly film leaving a ton of complex lace down the glass.
S: Roasted nose, light choc, honeycomb. Light but good.
T: Follows the nose, roasted malts, toasted grains, with a honeyesque sweetness and honeycomb. Maybe toffee. Straight forward. Slight bitter.
M: Medium body, smooth crisp mouth, drying, bubbly carbonation.
O: I prefer this to the draught. A simple very drinkable light stout.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 23:10:41 | More by scottfrie

fitzy84

Massachusetts

3.86/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bought a six pack recently. Appearance has some brown-black look with a frothy head and thick lacing on the side. There is a light roasted aroma of hazelnut, chocolate, raisin, and malt. Nice taste with a sweet malt mixed with hints of dark coffee. I liked the mouthfeel to this; it was a good, creamy drink, but it was not too heavy thanks to the carbonation. Overall, pretty darn good.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 04:04:33 | More by fitzy84

Lognar

Illinois

4.11/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Couldn't quite make out the bottled on date, but I think it is about 4-7 months old.

Pour - Pours black brown with a rocky finger of khaki head. Not as creamy looking at Guinness Draught.

Nose - Surprisingly sweet. Sweet malts, dark fruit notes, and floral hops. Reminded a bit of a barleywine or a Belgian ale honestly. Quite shocked by the nose on this.

Taste - Earthly mild roastiness up front, along with a hint of those dark fruit notes. Earthly malt dryness and bitterness on the finish. Quite earthly all around.

Mouthfeel - Medium to full body and chewy. Good ole meal in a glass.

Overall - Picked this up for St. Pats. I first and last had this about 7 years ago when I started drinking Guinness and a friend bought me Extra Stout instead Draught. I couldn't stomach the Extra Stout, but now I enjoyed it a lot. I don't know why this doesn't get more love (probably because people consider it a macro). Guinness has been brewing this for a long time and it's a damn fine product. Definitely enjoy this more than Guinness Draught.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 02:37:44 | More by Lognar

Moose90

Colorado

3.15/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A – Dark nearly opaque brown, nearly black. Head is pale brown in color, fluffy, lingering and leaves nice lacing.

S – Malty, though not real fresh malts. Almost a bit old, but the malts for the most part are sweet and chocolaty.

T – Bitter coffee and chocolate notes here. Nothing too complex, but does have a noticeable lingering bitterness.

M – Surprisingly thin, though it is nice, clean and crisp. Just a bit unexpected for the style. Maybe overcarbed.

O – This is a bit underwhelming out of the bottle. Though for such a widely distributed dark beer it is nice enough. No huge malt complexities, and it drinks quite light and crisp.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 21:10:32 | More by Moose90

rdilauro

Connecticut

3.43/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Got this one really to make an Irish Stew. Its been a while since I have had my last Guinness. Over the years, I've had it normally on Tap or in the Draught Cans.

Same old black coal pour with a semi-white creamy head. Not much of any bouquet. The taste is the same: big , round, no hop/yeast taste, good amount of malt.

I get a hint of pine tar right before taking another sip. Its bitter but not in the terms of high IBUs

Still, for St Patty's day, what better way to cook and drink something from Guinness.

March 15, 2013 - Getting ready for another St Patty's day - Cornbeef/Cabbage/Potato and Guinness.

Same coal black pour with its familiar slight brown head. Not very lasting long I may say. Not a lot of aromas going on here, if anything, I pick up malt.
The initial taste was nice, just as I have remembered it hundreds of times before. This does have a bit of carbonation, which to me, takes away from any Stout. I do not pick up any chocolate or coffee here. Its all malt and also (sounds crazy) as if I was walking out into the middle of a baseball field after a couple of innings of play.

The complete taste lacked something for me as well as the finish. Still very enjoyable. It was the first stout I ever had MANY MANY MANY years ago.

I know that I have a problem rating some stouts today. I've been drinking many of those large ABVs with loads of chocolate or/and coffee.. They are in a different category / style then this one, so I need to keep that in perspective.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 18:04:58 | More by rdilauro

MCain04

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

With St Patty's coming up, seemed appropriate to pick up one of these old standbys and review. 12 oz bottled poured into a standard pint glass at around 45 degrees.

A: Dark brown, almost black, big 2-3 finger kahki head with good retention and lacing.

S: The malts are there but smell stale. Hard to describe, but almost that BMC smell. Kind of skunky.

T: Bitter roasty malts, but the taste is kind of thin, bitterness lingers. Not a lot of other tastes ie coffee, dark chocolate, caramel, etc that are often found in stouts.

M: A nice smooth body on Nitro tap, but when out of the bottle, the body feels thin and the carbonation is overly present. Wet finish.

O: Wish I was reviewing this on Nitro tap. Feel like I'm a giving this a worse rating than it deserves, or that I've just been drinking high quality stuff recently, but just not impressed. Appreciate Guinness for a lot of things in my early beer drinking days, but probably won't drink this more than once a year. That said, I will drink a lot of it once a year. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 23:47:15 | More by MCain04

orcsinspace

Virginia

4.78/5  rDev +29.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Pour the 1 pint, 6 ounce bottle into your favorite beer mug, and instantly find out why Guinness is a legend. This is really the only Guinness product I will drink on a regular basis, and for good reason--it is by far the best.

Let's start with the head. You can chew on it! Talk about mouthfeel, this beer has a presence about it. The Extra Stout is thick and rich, and it has a texture about it. Lacing all the way down the glass in layered waves of foam. Excellent, and among the best physical characteristics of a beer I have ever seen.

The color is also amazing because it is black. You cannot see through this beer even if you shine a light through it. Many people say it is actually deep amber, but I call it black.

The taste of Extra Stout is surprisingly mellow and smooth for such a bold beer. However, it tastes exactly how it looks: roasted with a heavy, earthy taste to it. Not bitter at all. The flavor masks the alcohol flavor that many other heavy duty beers sometimes have.

I also tend to factor in price, and Extra Stout is among the cheaper 22 ounce selections. This is a fairly economical beer for what it is, and is definitely worth it. There is nothing worse than getting a 8 dollar draft of some obscure beer and struggling to finish it when you can spend less than 3 dollars at 7-11 for this.
This is an outstanding beer. Over the past few years I have drank a lot of dark beer, but Extra Stout is among the best. This beer is balanced and drinkable and has a quality to it that lots of commercial, industrial produced beer does not.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 16:51:40 | More by orcsinspace

Seekerpilgrim

Washington

3.83/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

To me, this is Guinness's perfect brew: not as dry as the Draught, nor as hoppy as the Foreign Extra, nor as thin as the Black Lager. Pouring a deep brown, there are strong yeasty notes on the dirty foam head, as well as sweet hints of molasses and burnt sugar. On the tongue, the sweetness diminishes as stronger tastes of coffee, bitter chocolate, and mild jerky dance around, carried to the taste buds in a heavy, chewy, satisfying mouthfeel that vanishes quite quickly, leaving a pleasantly soot and grit aftertaste.

By far my favorite Guinness offering and a great introduction to the world of Stouts and Porters, Extra Stout should be drunk with heavy meat dishes, thick hamburgers, or spicy chili. Not really a session beer, it nevertheless works as some great reward for a particularly rough day or a black celebration. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 00:50:31 | More by Seekerpilgrim

Kromes

Georgia

3.83/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Pours black with ruby edges and a thin tan colored head.

Roasted malt and coffee aromas with some faint dark cherry.

Roasted malt flavors up front with a more noticeable dark cherry flavor. There are also some mineral and peat and earthy hop touches to it. Finishes dry with a lingering roasted malt bitterness.

Medium body with good carbonation. Smooth feel to it.

A nice dry stout. Flavors are strong and blend well.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 20:48:37 | More by Kromes

PaterMorse

Indiana

3.64/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Today was a head-to-head between Guinness Extra Stout, G. Draught, and Murphy's Stout.

A: Pours dark; head disappears more quickly than Guinness Draught or Murphy's Stout. Golden raisin tint on edges. Nice lacing and sand-colored clusters remain.

S: Sharp. Grassy, meadow. Hops & barley. Not much more, other than a "white wine" scent that I'd never experienced with other stouts. Expect a bigger punch than Draught or Murphy's, just from the scent.

T: Starker than Draught, but also possessing some of the guts missing from Draught. Grainy, barley. Earthy. Roasted, burnt. Bitter but not too bad. Again, wine-like. Want to like it better than Draught (b/c Draught is so wimpy); but I honestly don't.

M: Medium to full body... Slightly skunky after-taste.

O: Nothing special, nothing bad. Although I hate the over-used saying, it applies: "It is what it is..."

Repeat? Oddly enough, though it's better than G-Draught or Murphy's, it's not nearly as good as other, more complex stouts; and it's not as quaffable (if you're looking for a pound-fest) as Draught or Murphy's. So while I'll always have some on offer for friends (given that it's a staple for many), it's unlikely I'd yearn to reach for another... Too many others out there that are better.

Two Words? Guinness. Period. (meaning it's a standard -- offering nothing special, no drawbacks)

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 17:13:19 | More by PaterMorse

Kerrie

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Guinness was one of the first beers I was able to drink, but I've never had the extra stout. Here goes!

A- Looks like the usual Guinness; pitch black with the iconic tan head. Minimal lacing.

S- I'm not sure how to describe the smell, though I'm not getting much. Smells like normal Guinness is the best I can come up with here.

T- Tastes better than Guinness Draught! It's a bit creamier and not as dry. Irish dry stouts aren't my favorite and this tastes better than the last few I've had.

M- Not too thick or watery, just right. Same as Guinness Draught, it seems.

Overall, if I'm ever limited to Guinness at a non-craft sort of place, I'd take this over the original draught.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 00:19:57 | More by Kerrie

sbxx

Illinois

3.16/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Appearance - Pours almost identical to flat Coca Cola. 1/2 finger of head disappeared almost instantly.

Smell - Chocolately malt

Taste - Roasted malt, distant hints of dark chocolate and espresso, a little watery, medium carbonation, bitter finish.

Mouthfeel - Light, with a wet finish.

Overall - Not bad for a basic stout. Would drink again. Sure, there are better options out there, but for $7.99 a sixer, it's hard to go wrong with this one from time to time.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 23:51:41 | More by sbxx