Guinness Extra Stout (Original) - Guinness Ltd.

NatalBrewingCo

South Africa

3.65/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Purchased in Durban South Africa. Tall nitro-can poured into a Guinness glass.

a - Pours a dark ruby/black color with a gorgeous creamy tan head.

s - Smells of roasted malts, chocolate, coffee.

t - Roasted malts, chocolate and coffee again

m - Medium bodied and medium carbonation with a fantastically smooth finish.

o - Guinness is a fantastic blend of quality, accessibility and availability. Although it can't hold a candle to many of the better micro-brewed stouts, in countries like South Africa where good beers are few and far between Guinness is a light in the dark.

Serving type: nitro-can

09-18-2011 23:28:38 | More by NatalBrewingCo

sonicyouth45

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

I think this beer is great and could be a lot better. The one thing that I love the most about this beer is the smooth creaminess. Its so creamy you could accidentally drink the whole beer in one sip. The only disappointing factor to it is the fact that the flavor is not that strong. Its there for a little bit then kind of fades away. That being said I think its a great beer if you are in the mood for good grub and what not. It's not so much as a dedicated thick-flavor beer in my opinion.

Serving type: nitro-can

04-29-2011 01:31:05 | More by sonicyouth45

Rhynes2

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Also had this brew in the nitro-bottle. If you're going to have this beer, go for the bottles. I have had this beer in the four pack of cans on several occasions now. I gotta say, for one of my favorite brews, Guinness in a can sucks. I feel like the taste from the can ruins this brew. Especially when served at the proper temperature, the metallic taste overpowers the good. Great beer just get it from a nitro-bottle.

Serving type: nitro-can

01-25-2009 07:40:26 | More by Rhynes2

WJVII

Wisconsin

3.53/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a nitro can into a glass and "charged" this brew has the wonderful cascade head that settles thick and creamy. The smell was of roasted, almost burnt, malts. There were some hints of woodiness and coffee. The taste leaves a bit to be desired. I know Guinness has been around a long time, but I have had so much better for my money. Solid stout, but nothing special.

Serving type: nitro-can

04-16-2008 23:58:35 | More by WJVII

happygnome

Minnesota

3.3/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

a: pours a dark dark black color. the nitro bubbles rise to the surface. produces a good half inch of thick creamy looking head that really doesnt dissapear throughout the beer
s: cocoa, coffee and other roasted malts very nice warm inviting aroma
t: cocoa coffee roasted malts, a rather sweet brew that offers little hop bitterness as balance to the overall sweetness
m: full bodied beer, even the head is full bodied

overall, this has an amazing mouthfeel, i loved the full bodied aspect of it, but overall the flavor and aroma of this seem a little muted

Serving type: nitro-can

04-03-2008 02:24:43 | More by happygnome

Higravity

Michigan

2.68/5  rDev -27.6%
look: 5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Been years since my last Guinness so when I got an 8 pack for X-mas I wasn't complaining. The Widget went a wooshing as I opened the can poured sloppily into the glass. The cascading dark beer is one of the coolest things I have ever seen. The smell was muted even though the beer was around 50 F. The flavor is somewhat the essence of a stout but none of the actual umph. The beer gas mixture gives thing beer an artifical body and a weird taste IMHO that is present in other widget beers. Still this is a poundable session affair, with less calories then a BUD as if I care.

Serving type: nitro-can

12-21-2006 20:15:11 | More by Higravity

ozmodium

British Columbia (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pouring this stuff out of the widget-laced pint can is pure beauty. Art in motion. This stuff is gorgeous, with its jet black opaque esspresso appearance. Textured waves of dark brown nitrogen bubbles teem with an almost lifelike quality. The most beautiful, cappuccino-like head you'll ever see in a glass. Sadly it's downhill from here.

Smells of dark burnt roasted malts, coffee. Could be a richer bouquet it my opinion.

Taste is almost overpoweringly bitter. Takes some getting used to. Tastes burnt and like coffee and some sort of wood.

This is very rich and has a rather thick, but creamy feel to it. Carbonation is vitually non exhistant (duh) Serve this stuff COLD. It's a myth that you serve this stuff at room temperature. COLD is the key. Once you get past the bitterness its goes down very soothly.

The fact that this is SO rich and heavy makes this rather hard to drink large quantities of. It's pretty tasty tho. A must every St. Patrick's day, or after a tough day at work.

Serving type: nitro-can

10-18-2005 00:01:30 | More by ozmodium

Backer2004

North Carolina

3.6/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I can still recall not being able to finish one of these back in college and dreaded drinking them with friends at Notre Dame tailgaters a few years back. Maybe I've developed a taste for other styles but this one is just your average stout with a good mouthfeel and appearance, especially poured out of a nitro can. Great carbonation and head, smooth mouthfeel. Though no impressive smell, it's not too bad at all.

Serving type: nitro-can

08-24-2005 02:29:39 | More by Backer2004

whynot44

Missouri

3.95/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Reddish black, with a milk chocolate colored head that lasts a while before retreating to lace. Full bodied, an interesting blend of bitter and sweet, with a rich fruity malt base tasting of roasted coffee, with a touch of chocolate. Dry hops finish.

Smooth, very flavorful, could take some getting used to. Miller Light and Corona fans probably shouldn't bother. Could be addictive.

Serving type: nitro-can

08-14-2005 05:09:43 | More by whynot44

apintofknowledge

New Jersey

2.83/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Guinness used to be a standard order for me in the years before I discovered the world of craft beers. Dining at a restaurant recently with a very limited beer selection, I decided it was time to try it again...

It arrived in a nitro-can, which I was happy to find provided a decent tan creamy head on top of the cloudy chocolate brown stout. Those classic tiny bubbles were definitely present. The aroma... much more mild than other stouts I've had recently... a very mild coffee and toast smell. It had a very smooth mouthfeel, surprisingly similar to what I'd get out of a tap. The taste however was watery to me. Nice flavors of coffee, toffee and toasted nuts, but all very mild. I guess I've been drinking much more flavorful, concentrated stouts lately. The pint went down almost too easy. Still a good brew, but nothing in it to knock my socks off.

Serving type: nitro-can

01-07-2005 14:24:15 | More by apintofknowledge

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