Guinness Foreign Extra Stout - Guinness Ltd.

MUSHROOMCLOUD

Texas

4.35/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Dark, dark brown with a 2" beige, dense head that hangs around a while and leaves a thick lace.

Brown sugar, molasses, burnt toast - twangy sour funk....lots to like.

Rich...grainy, earthy malt. Cocoa or un sweet chocolate? Coffee with cream. Boozy. Slight twang in the end. Delicious.

Thick and velvety. Long, lingering finish.

Outstanding...feel like I should have been drinking this for years. Time to play catch up....

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 23:24:48 | More by MUSHROOMCLOUD

screamking

Ohio

3.69/5  rDev -10%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

12 oz bottle poured into snifter.

Appearance-dark brown almost black, darker then I expected, half inch light brown head goes away quickly. 4.25

Aroma-roasted malts, vanilla bean, brown sugar,slight Carmel. 4

Taste-deep roasted flavor, mild coffee, not that complex for a stout. 3.5

Feel-thick, little alcohol at first then dry dry dry. 3.5

Overall-good not great. With all the other offering around at this price point you can usually do better, but you could also do much worse. 3.75

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 03:33:09 | More by screamking

Seekerpilgrim

Washington

4.7/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pouring a muddy brown, sweet notes of burnt brown sugar and coffee waft off the very dirty head, backed by an almost meaty undertone. On the tongue, a surprisingly complex balance is maintained: the extra hops attack up front, receding quickly as the brown sugar kicks in, a bit cream...followed by the coffee, earthy and gritty, and completed with a slightly dry finish reminiscent of Guinness Draught...all delivered with a full mouthfeel that satisfies like the act of chewing jerky.

I have to admit, I wasn't expecting much with this one, but I'm very pleasantly surprised as it's rapidly risen of the ranks of my favorite beers. Not really a session beer, as it's quite complex and demands you attention, but perfect now and again, either on it's own (perhaps a third beer to wake up a numbing tongue), or with a heavy, meaty dish (including jerky). Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 02:41:30 | More by Seekerpilgrim

mndlssphlsphr

Washington

4.29/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Wow, I must admit that I was not expecting this. There is a dark chocolaty flow into my glass with a lovely whipped mocha head. The flavor is of hint of a stale dark roast and a yummy tobacco. I feel that my mouth i content while it goes away pretty quickly leaving a weird feeling that make you want to take another sip asap. This is worth it weight in gold, or atleast coffee.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 03:24:01 | More by mndlssphlsphr

Neorebel

New Jersey

4.19/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

I generally do not succumb to cult classic beers that just are nothing at all special without the hype. Yuengleng, Fat Tire, PBR... please. Guinness however is a bit of an exception. I'm fully on board with the allure of the Guinness folklore, even though I know what's fact and what's myth. Guinness in general is something I drink when I want a decent beer to throw back in large quantities, and not consume a days worth of calories on beer in the process. I want to be clear that I know this is not going to be on par with my favorite microbrews, but I still am excited about this previously unavailable and mysterious selection.

it's appearance is a dark, yet vaguely translucent cola hue, with a thick head of creamy foam. Absolutely incredible lacing as it goes down too! The aroma is very, very promising. I am picking up raisins, figs, dark cherries, nuts, toasted bread, and creaminess all intermingled nicely. Now for a taste... Very pleasantly 'roasty,' as the style suggests, with brown sugar, and a noticeable bitter hop presence as well. This beer is light years beyond Guinness Draught & Guinness Extra Stout in the full flavor dept, and not much more in calories. As it warms a bit I notice more of a smokiness and prominent sweet raisin aspect, which are great characteristics. The mouthfeel is light and The alcohol effect is slightly warming. One negative thing I have to say is I get an occasional oxidation off-flavor in the finish. Maybe it's just this bottle. I may edit this out of the review if it does not occur in tasting the rest of the package.

Overall though, I am astonished at how good this is for a commercial offering.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 04:35:48 | More by Neorebel

knoxtennessee

Tennessee

4.79/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Oh my god.
I've waited 8 years for this beer, and it didn't disappoint.
This thing pours pitch black with a tan head that fades into a long lasting thin tan head. The nose is a big snort of creamy roasty sweet fruitiness. Surprisingly more fruity than anything. Has that classic Guinness funk, but at a little bit higher levels.
The flavor is nice and sweet with the same fruit but also with a load of dark chocolate and dried cherry, finishing roasty and surprisingly dry. The body is thick and luscious without any heavy cloying quality. The finish is slightly acidic and calls you back for more.
Amazing, just absolutely amazing.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 19:35:29 | More by knoxtennessee

KingSlayer

California

4.35/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 fl oz bottle
poured a jet black untranslucent liquid, 2 fingers dense white foam, medium persistance, nice lacing, nose of chocolate and coffee, bit sweet, not too overwhelming, palate same as nose, called my attention the dark chocolate flavor and the dry and mildly bitter finish to round it up, full body nice carbonation, nice stout, strong and dry, toasted flavors blend in nicely.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 00:40:05 | More by KingSlayer

Kromes

Georgia

4.11/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Best before 07/06/12. So this one has a bit of aging on it.

Poured into a goblet. Pitch black in color with a thick, solid brown colored head that leaves lacing down the sides of the glass.

Sweet black cherry, tobacco, roasted malt, stale coffee.

Initial flavors are of roasted malt, plum and black cherry. Then the tobaccoo, coffee, and chocolate flavors kick in. The finish has a lingering bitter roasted malt and slight cherry flavor.

Very smooth, silky mouthfeel.

More drinkable than I had expected. The roasted flavor isn't overpowering and the alcohol is not very apparent.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 23:46:40 | More by Kromes

CommanderOfAwesome

California

4.04/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a snifter. Would have never given it a shot without this site.

A: Pours a dark black, khaki one finger head. Subdues to the edge of the glass quickly.

S: Chocolate, slight coffee, sweet dark malt. Fairly sweet aroma.

T: Smooth creamy chocolate, bitter sweet finish.

M: Smooth, creamy, medium to slightly less body. Carbonation action on the tongue.

O: Pretty damn good, and shocked this comes from Guinness. Highly drinkable and by far the best product I've had from them.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 02:46:18 | More by CommanderOfAwesome

blackcompg

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from their 12pak sampler:

Appearance - Poured 3 fingers of mocha brown foam, body is a rich opaque sienna to black, fantastic cinnamon brown lacing coats the glass, gorgeous!

Smell - Roasted malts, black licorice, mild black strap molasses, slight herbal hops.

Taste - Much like the nose, robust rich roasted malts, bittersweet black licorice, sticky herbal hops, molasses, finishes dry roasted herbs, grapefruit pith and slight coffee grounds.

Mouthfeel - Almost medium, very smooth and nearly creamy then medium carb cleans the palate just enough to usher in the bitter and drying roast and herbal hops.

Overall - By far the finest 'version' of Guinness stout. Smooth, full flavor, great appearance, the finest that Guinness has to offer, highly recommend.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 01:50:08 | More by blackcompg

M_C_Hampton

Georgia

4.83/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: poured from an 11.2 oz bottle into a nonic pint glass, dark yellow brown almost black with a dark tan foamy head that dissipates slowly leaving good lacing, clear

S: chocolate, coffee, slight hops, dark roasted malts, slight burnt charcoal smell

T: very hoppy up front with a strong bitter presence, flavors of bitter dark roast coffee and chocolate, finish sweetens with big roasted malt

M: quite heavy and oily, alcohol is subtle but there, low carbonation

O: an excellent export stout if you love the dry burnt quality of Guinness

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 21:27:59 | More by M_C_Hampton

DavidST

Texas

4.05/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've been looking for this for a while, it finally showed up. Anyways poured from a 33cl bottle into a Guinness mug, coded bottle date. Pours a pitch black beautiful color with a massive three fourths the mug mocha colored head which is slowly receding to the body below, after a while this leaves a two finger thick head with a lacing. The smells are of dark roasted malts, the guinness burnt smells, a little hops. The feel is somewhere between medium to thick and creamy very nice. The taste is outstanding, plenty of dark roasted malts combined with a noticeable hop bite and a little alcohol burn, this is pretty great, better than the original.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 00:04:22 | More by DavidST

TempeBeerMan

Arizona

4.43/5  rDev +8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

A - Pours a opaque jet black with a magnificent FIVE-finger tan head, with an amazing cascading effect. (Not a nitro bottle!) Head is creamy, becoming craggy as it subsides, leaving almost total lacing covering every inch of the glass. Seriously, this is the best looking beer I have ever seen.

S - Roasted grainy malts, hint of chocolate, and some musty hops.

T - Roasted barley malt begins the show, but almost immediately followed by an earthy euro hop bite which carries right through the finish. Esters of bittersweet chocolate, black currant, and pipe tobacco. A hint of lactose sugar comes out as it warms, invoking a "hot chocolate" taste. Flavors are rich and nicely balanced. Sweetness stays in control, but also in check.

M - Thick and chewy, with some of the grainy-ness in the taste and aroma coming out in the feel, but then gets silky as it finishes. Medium-high carbonation. Drying finish. Everything works here.

O - Ok...THIS is what Guinness should be. Their best product by far, and a million times better than the "pub draft" crap that most people associate with the brand. So good it made me want to go to the fridge and get another bottle right away. Could be the best example of "just" a "regular" stout....and it's "just" splendid.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 04:51:05 | More by TempeBeerMan

punky796

Michigan

4.35/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the bottle into a pint glass.

A - Pours heavily and VERY dark, can't see through it at all. Leaves a MASSIVE three-finger head that takes a long time to go away, leaving almost opaque lacing. Hardcore look.

S - Similar to regular Guinness, sort of a burnt coffee smell with some chocolate, touch of molasses/syrup.

T - The way regular bottled Guinness ought to be, with a little extra kick. Coffee, chocolate, molasses. Very roasty.

M - Quite heavy body, but ends sweet even after the trademark Guinness roasted bitterness. Like whole milk, if it were beer. I mean that in a good way.

O - Whoa. This is probably what all stouts should aspire to be.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 09:22:00 | More by punky796

JoshuaB

4.38/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

It looks like the ultimate beer the moment you pour it, but be prepared with a much larger glass than you think you'll need: The foam is enormous, rises instantly, and takes minutes to settle. An English pint glass for a bottle will almost do. Once it does begin to subside, the foam is still so substantial that it has the appearance of a root beer float. It's as black as can be; only by shining a bright flashlight right through it does a deep blood red color come through.

I don't get a lot of smell from it, maybe a bit of sweetness. Flavor is very rich, almost has a firewood-like roastiness to it, with an excellent sweet and tart balance and a bite of extra alcohol. At first the bitterness seems to fill the mouth, but the taste doesn't linger more than a few seconds.

Compared to regular Guinness Stout, it's a bit sweeter and a bit less mouth filling.

I'm amazed by this beer, loving it and can't wait to crack another.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 02:45:27 | More by JoshuaB

scratch69

Missouri

4.18/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I poured a bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance- Black in color with two fingers worth of lingering tan head. Each drink leaves a nice ring of sticky lace.

Smell- Bitter dark roasted malt aroma with raisin, molasses, and chocolate.

Taste- Roasted malt and bitter hop flavor with notes of sweet molasses, raisin, and hints of chocolate.

Mouthfeel- Full bodied and slightly creamy. Nice amount of carbonation.

Overall- This is the best Guinness that I have had out of a bottle. Not as good as a Guinness draught on nitro-tap but pretty close.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 21:59:47 | More by scratch69

tectactoe

Michigan

3.6/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep and thick, black, used motor-oil kind of color with spots of dark ruby shining through the edges of the glass. Head is a creamy shade of tan, lasts for a while, though not as long as the head on the draught nitro cans (of course). The aroma hits with toasted malts and barley, light toffee-like sweetness, and is slightly reminiscent of red wine, via the alcohol. The initial taste has a nice carbonation bite with an onslaught of roasted malts and dark fruits, like prunes and raisins. Bitterness is present with a light but noticeable bite from the hops. The caramel/toffee notes come through at the end, and even more so when the beer starts to warm up. Not much "cocoa" flavor here, mostly just dark fruit sweetness, roasted malt, toffee, and slight floral bitterness. Alcohol shines through in the flavor much like in the aroma - nearly in the form of "wine". Medium body with a dry finish.

Say what you want about them, but Guinness really does make a nice product - both tasty and accessible. This is probably the best brew in their line-up, and at 7.5% ABV, it's definitely their strongest. Be careful, or this one will sneak up on you.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 12:37:20 | More by tectactoe

CraftBeerTastic

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Ba Review #233
Served On: 11/02/2012
Glassware: Duvel Glass
Labeled ABV: 7.5%
Date/ Code: L1286GG003 23:42

This was a 12oz. bottle from a 4-pack I got at Evergreen Liquors in Frederick for $8.99.

Look: Poured a monster 3-fingers of a thick tan head with some serious lacing. The brew was pitch black (no surprise there).

Smell: Aroma was of robust winter fruits and a sweet lactose quality. Some slight hits of roasted barley or peat smoke.

Taste: First was a black coffee bitterness, probably from the hops. Then a hint of roasted dark chocolate in the middle. The finish was more bitterness with the roasted notes retuning along with some sweetness. The 7.5% ABV was completely hidden.

This was a really nice variation on the Guinness brand. The hoppy bitterness was a nice addition the usual Guinness palate that I'm used to.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 16:53:23 | More by CraftBeerTastic

wvsabbath

West Virginia

4.03/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving Type - Bottle

Appearance - Dark tanish black with a killer 2 inch foamy, creamy head with tons of lacing.

Smell - Roasted malts, sweet dark fruits, plum, rasin, some brown sugar and mollasses. Some chocolate and caramel.

Taste - Sweet fruits mixed with roasted malts start this off. Caramel and added sugars give it a nice balance between the roasty malts. Some hops add a little tropical flavor, and alcohol warmth is present. Clear at the finish i get the classic guinness dry stout slavor.

Mouthfeel - The tounge really gets alot of the sugars, caramel malts and hops. The palate gets more malts, and a little dry malt flavor along with some alcohol. Aftertaste is sweet and dry.

Overall - Really nice beer. Far superior to regular guinness. Has alot of flavor, balance and easy to enjoy. This is awhole different beer then guinness draught but still has the flavor and feel. Nice, glad it came to the states, worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 00:03:47 | More by wvsabbath

facundoCNB

New Jersey

4.35/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

a beautiful dark brown almost black pour with an exact 2 fingers of fluffy tan head (excellent lacing).
a creamy Chocolatey, hazelnut, coffee smell.. I know I haven't had guiness in a while but this is by far the best smelling stout I've smelled in a long time. It has a very cream like smell to it that's indescribable unless it's in front of your nose. Sweet like kahlua or a light rum of sorts.
damnnn the taste really falls short on this one.  I was really hoping for the same characteristics as the smells but I got a very traditional dark roasted grain bill instead. Chocolate and smoked flavors are very strong. Some tobacco in there as well.
rich and creamy up front with a chalky finish. It's a heavy medium body beer with low carbonation but the creamy/silk feel makes it seemed watery.
as far as guiness beers go, this is really the only one you should be drinking. It's a damn near perfect stout, and yes I feel weird typing this, but I can't help it, it really is that good.  As ridiculous as it sounds it feels as if they paid a smaller brewer to make this for them and stick their name on it - it IS that hard to believe that they made something this good.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 00:35:47 | More by facundoCNB

Beastdog75

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Guinness Foreign Extra Stout has only been available in the states since 2010 (or so I've read). While the rest of the world got to enjoy this very nice brew, Americans had either regular Guinness (which is a nice brew as well), or the Guinness Draught with the nitro widget. Seeing how many consider this to be the best brew in the Guinness portfolio, I was very excited to snatch up a four-pack of this.

Guinness Foreign Extra pours a very dark, pretty much black color which permits no light to shine through it. A big, light tan foam forms and retains extremely well leaving an impressive lacing behind. The aroma is of dark toasted grains, cofee, some chocolate, light amounts of dark fruit smell and some burnt grains too. The mouthfeel is smooth with a low-moderate amount of carbonation. The flavor is of a deep, dark roasted bitter coffee taste. Some of the dark fruit taste comes through, some unsweetened chocolate flavors, some burnt notes. There is a nice roasted bitterness throughout and leading into the finish with some woody flavors present. The roasted bitter flavors linger on awhile in the aftertaste, and some nutty flavors make their way through as well. The beer concludes with a small amount of alcoholic warmth.

This brew is a bit more flavorful and intense than its "normal" version, and it boasts a higher ABV % as well. Guinness Foreign Extra Stout is a nice big beer, which should definitely be savored.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 07:33:21 | More by Beastdog75

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.75/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from bottle into pint glass

Appearance – Pours a deep-deep brown nearly black color with a thick tan head. The head has fantastic retention, very slowly fading over time to give a great level of lacing.

Smell – The smell is of sweet dark fruits and bitter roasted malt. There are other notes of a caramel sweetness as well as some aromas of dark chocolate.

Taste – The taste begins with roasted malt and some caramel and dark fruit flavor. The sweeter flavors lose some ground in the taste while the roasted flavors grow more and more bitter. Some light coffee flavor enters the profile with a bitter herbal hop flavor. This creates a quite roasted off bitter flavor at the end of the taste; a rather off aftertaste of these flavors lingers on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is on the average to just above average side in terms of its creaminess and has a carbonation level that is on the average side as well. The average carbonation is good at hiding some of the non favorable flavors at the end of the profile, but not great for the roastier flavors of the foretaste; which the body does a nice job of enhancing.

Overall – The taste and feel start out great, but that off bitter-herbal-roasted flavor that is left on the tongue really bring the brew down.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 00:32:50 | More by Darkmagus82

jwhancher

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Bought a bottle from Total Wine in DE. Poured into a classic Guiness glass. Looks black with very nice carbonation and mountainous head that sticks around forever. Foam clings to side of glass. Smells bittersweet as in the label description with roasty notes and hints of candied fig. Some caramel & molasses notes. Tastes very dry with bittersweet notes and candied figs, dark fruit, and some molasses. Alcohol seems well hidden. I love the texture - seems light because of the dryness but feels about medium to full. Overall, a nice variation of the standard Guiness product. Glad to have seen this one arrive in the US. Just pissed I didn't try this one sooner

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 00:55:34 | More by jwhancher

BuzzLikebeer

4.45/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a pint glass

A - Dark brown/black with 2 fingers rocky tan head. Head lasts for several minutes. Some
lacing.

S - Roasted barley, molasses, slight hops, slight alcohol

T - Roasted barley, molasses, acidity balanced by sweetness, slight hops, slight alcohol
(expected at 7.5% ABV)

M - Chewy, full bodied, but not overly filling. No bloated feeling after drinking 3.

O - This is the epitome of a stout. This is what I'd give to somebody who'd never had a stout
but wanted to try one. Perfect example of the style, which isn't suprising considering
it's one of the first. Much better than I expected, never having drank a Guinness other
than a draught, which I quite enjoy. Shoots to the top of my stout list.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 00:06:07 | More by BuzzLikebeer

DrinkMoreBigBeers

Michigan

4.55/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - I gave this beer a gentle poor and it produced a nice rocky fluffy three finger head. This beer produces great lacing and is pitch black like motor oil. The head is a nice brownish khaki color. Great looking beer.

S - This beer is nice and light on the nose with a nice dark roast creamy smell to it. I get a faint amount of figs and dark fruit. I get a nice chocolate smell on this one as well that seems to be smooth and pleasant throughout.

T - First thing I notice on this one is the dark roast which last a split second. Then I get some of the dark fruit and fig taste along with some nice woody after taste. It lets you know that it is a Guinness beer on the finish that is for sure. I also get some black licorice and anise on it. It seems to change every time I drink it. Hmm. Nice and complex and I cannot detect alcohol on this one at all.

M - Nice full bodied, smooth and lightly carbonated. A bit creamy as well.

O - Very nice beer for anyone who enjoys the regular Guinness but wants to try something on a whole new level. This beer is a great Stout that everyone should give a try at least once. A proper beer for a beer enthusiast. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 03:59:53 | More by DrinkMoreBigBeers