Guinness Foreign Extra Stout - Guinness Ltd.

jerryc123

New York

4/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Aggressive pour into a pint glass from a 330ml bottle.

Appearance is espresso black with fine foamy tan head with decent retention and nice lacing.

Smell/Aroma/Nose of smoke, charred wood, or burnt coffee. Perhaps some burnt caramel or butter in the background.

Taste is very agreeable. Strong malt flavors of coffee and chocolate hit immediately; Moderate to strong hoppiness is there - and cuts quickly through the heavy malt. Restrained earthy and herbal notes. Long finish is moderately hoppy with a lingering hop flavor;

Mouthfeel is soft and full, yet drying. This would be a good beer to pair with fatty food, such as a grilled cheese sandwich.

Drinkability: Definitely will buy again.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2011 02:04:14 | More by jerryc123

icebergfat

South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Just drank one of these at a brothel on St.
Marteen don't know if it was the beer or the location I liked better but it was a welcome change from the weaker guiness at home because of the 7.5% content overall very good the carribean is paradise. Wish I could find this in the States.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2008 03:45:58 | More by icebergfat

beltyrion

Massachusetts

4.53/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Somehow I found this in a random bar in Palermo Sicily. Unfortunately I couldn't enjoy it as leisurely as I would have liked, but I was later able to enjoy a second round with a buddy of mine.

A: Pours the typical guinness near pitch black color. If anything the head is a darker brown.

S: Hints of coffee and chocolate. This seems to be the typical Guinness Extra Stout I get in the US on steroids.

T: Like drinking bread. The same coffee and chocolate hints. It takes all the hints you get from a bottle of regular old extra stout and fulfills them. Very bold.

M: Just as carbonated as the regular extra stout but a bit thicker.

D: I don't think I could do this all day like its lesser brethren, but a definite treat. Felt very fortunate to find this, as I don't plan on going to Africa, Asia or the Caribbean any time soon.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2006 01:24:31 | More by beltyrion

bonk420247

Kentucky

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

My first real experience with a true stout that can be called as such. Rich flavor, chocolaty, bitter, heady aroma. This was brought back to me from family members, and I loved it. 7.5% alc. by volume, a nice difference for me and my Guinness draft regularity. Drank at room temperature, as instructed by the Guinness brewery.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2008 17:21:48 | More by bonk420247

clintone

Wisconsin

4.2/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Found this one in the Bahamas, a little overpriced at $2.50-$3.00 a bottle, but almost every beer was, and this was by far the best beer I found there

A- A nice color black with a good head on it

S- Strong roasty/coffee-like smell, pretty good, nice and strong, which I like in a stout

T- Kind of bitter, has a roasted/coffee-like taste to it, fairly strong flavor, very good though

M- Not as creamy as I expected, but still very good, nice as smooth

D- Decent drinkability, I had up to about 4 or so in a row, so it was definitely drinkable

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2008 03:30:06 | More by clintone

dkrusekontrol

Ohio

3.98/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I was going to wait until St. Patrick's day to try this one, but two days early is close enough. Great to experience this other Guinness offering.

A: Dark. I can't see through it at the full width of the glass, but some brownish ruby at the edges. Tan head that left lacing all the way down.
S: Earth and alcohol to go along with coffee (reminds me of the Italian Roast I had this morning) and a little bit of chocolate.
T: A good hop bite to this stout, but still smooth and creamy! I could taste the alcohol a little bit late, a nice finish. I like the full and balanced profile, but I would have enjoyed a bit more chocolate in the taste.
M: Thick and creamy. Yum!
D: I like stouts, and I like this beer! Very drinkable, but a filling stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2011 00:54:21 | More by dkrusekontrol

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

tjdietz

North Carolina

4.47/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Poured into a tumbler a beautiful black color with 2" beige head

S- lots of roasted malt comes through Along with faint hops

T- roasted malts and currant dominate this flavorful brew. Has that guinness taste to it but a more flavorful beer then the extra or draught. As beer warms some alcohol can be detected but not overwhelming.

M- very velvety and silky feel to this one, quite nice

Overall a very good offering and a new favorite!

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2011 02:34:13 | More by tjdietz

Chris1108

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured into a 12oz glass - pours very brown, settles to a thick deep black. Nice growing 3 finger head, sticky lace with 5 mins hang time
S - smell the chocolate and hops - very nice!
T - almost delivered the on the promise from the smell but fell a wee bit short
M - Looked thicker, tasted thinner. Not much but noticeable.
O - this is a great beer - I like regular Guiness Stout and I liked this even more. I would def buy again.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 04:42:45 | More by Chris1108

ACinSC

South Carolina

4.41/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25

Guinness FES is a most worthy propitiation for the rancid-in-comparison Draught. This is the beer that got me hooked on porters and stouts. I'm so glad they finally started importing it in the States!

Poured from a bottle into a stout glass. The color of the beer is a dark brown. Tan head is usually about half a finger thick or a little more. The roasted malt smell quickly settles in your nose and begs for a sip.

The taste is best described thus: as though a truck full of Draught crashed into a truck full of 70-80% cacao baker's chocolate. I find it to be a little sweet, which is why I took .75 off of the taste, because although it is very strongly hopped, the sweetness of the malt is a bit strong and it even overpowers the bountiful hops. It's probably to mask the higher alcohol content (which is nearly undetectable), but some drinkers may consider this a flaw. I am not awfully bothered by it. On the plus side, the sweetness nicely rounds out the "roasted chocolate malt" flavor profile of this beer.

Mouthfeel is incredibly creamy. Again, this beer is liquefied chocolate.

The aftertaste is a welcome bitter chocolate that lingers for many minutes after consumption.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 06:27:02 | More by ACinSC

MurphyKieran

Ireland

4.13/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This is one of my favourite beers. It's strong and it's got balls and it's not shy in the bitterness department. It's not the kind of thing I'd suck back several bottles of in a night though, just a couple on a Friday or Saturday night while watching a movie maybe.

Just a note to add - maybe this has been cleared up already, but despite Todd's review from a few years ago, this beer is readily available in supermarkets and off-licenses in Ireland, despite some claims that it's only available in obscure markets like Africa or the Caribbean.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2006 00:54:07 | More by MurphyKieran

falconmatt

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Great beer. Poured from bottle. Good 2 inches of head in the glass, low caronation. Dark brown color, with red hues when held to the light. Smells of coffee. Tastes of coffee. Heavier beer, so I feel the drinkability is at 3.5. But it's a great beer to casually sip on.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2010 18:30:36 | More by falconmatt

erog5188

Wisconsin

3.95/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a standard pint glass.

Appearance: Dark Black, Frothy Head with a small amount of lacing on the glass. It appeared as though there were almost some legs on the glass. In all pretty much what I expected.

Smell: Roasty but not overly strong, No hotness in the nose what so ever. I was hoping for a lot more aromatic flavor through the nose but still decent.

Taste: similar to other servings of guinness that I have had, It could have had a lot more flavor in my opinion but it was so drinkable that I could have had the whole 4 pack, It is very crisp and there is a very nice hop presence.

Mouthfeel: light not overly slick. It is perfect and what I was expecting.

In all I thought this was a great beer, I will definately buy it again as it is a great go to stout for a decent price.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2011 18:04:26 | More by erog5188

spydo99

Connecticut

4.28/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Picked up the first 4 pack that my local bottle shoppe sold. At $10 a 4 pack - well worth the price of admission.

Chocolate/Coffee color. Foamy 1 finger head. True Guinness Taste

I prefer the Draught but at 7.5% - I am happy to have access to the option going into the winter months.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2010 15:30:23 | More by spydo99

ctempuser

Louisiana

4.08/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a chalice.

A: Pours black, with a tan head that almost fully dissipates.

S: Roasted chocolate, caramel, and coffee.

T: Similar to smell. This has a very roasty flavor, almost like the malts were smoked rather than roasted. Good flavor.

M: Good mouthful, carbonation is right on for a stout.

O: Very good; much better than the traditional guniness.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2011 22:41:03 | More by ctempuser

BuzzLikebeer

Pennsylvania

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

8PCVsFinest

New York

4.5/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I was fortunate enough to have a friend who was visiting London secure 3 bottles for me.

Pours into a pint glass with a thicker, more substantial and lasting head than the "Extra Stout" seen here in NYC. Aromas of coffee, steak, chocolate, and roasted almonds pervade. Mouthfeel is more refined, more complex than Canadian-import Extra Stout.

The head sticks to the pint glass relentlessly. Even with the last viable sip, a rocky outcrop sits defiantly. The aftertaste consists of equal parts roasted earthiness and smoothness. This is clearly a superior beer that should be available to all corners of the globe; it is truly a shame that it is not available in New York City.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2007 09:29:27 | More by 8PCVsFinest

irishbrendan

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +22%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

best beer I've had yet. It is a beer work of art. It was both smooth to drink and with a ever pleasant aroma to the mix. With strong hints of chocolate, and an earthly darkened barley taste. Its an great beer to try and to share with friends and family.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2011 05:00:20 | More by irishbrendan

seanluvsbeer

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz. bottle. huge head of foam like a tit with an inny nipple. smells a bit boozy and coffee and chocolate. slightly heavy. chocolate and very drinkable for 7.5abv slight crack cocaine after taste at first but slowly fades half way threw the glass... ...

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 00:12:15 | More by seanluvsbeer

beerme5582

California

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

At Red Carpet Liquor in Glendale, CA, I bought a four-pack of 11.2-oz. bottles of "Guinness Foreign Extra, Genuine Quality Stout" today after a bad experience with Guinness "draught" "pasteurized stout" from a can with a widget in it. (The cardboard carton holding the four bottles advises the consumer to "see bottle" for the best-before date, but upon thorough inspection of the bottle, I don't see any best-before date.)

'Came home, felt the bottles and thought they were at a good temperature for the style--cool, I'd guess about 55-58 degrees Fahrenheit. 'Poured contents into a mug at a moderate pace, trying to create some head. Ended up with a smaller head than I intended--about one centimeter tall.

Upon pouring the contents of the bottle into a clear-glass beer mug, the appearance was very appealing. The liquid was a very dark brown and almost completely opaque. The head had a very light brown color. This beer had a pleasant aroma like what I remember from my previous very positive experiences with Guinness. Smelling notes of coffee with a nutty quality and relatively mild hops in the background. Lots of lace head-residue as you drink this.

The taste is basically true to the smell--delicious. I highly recommend this. Although there are /several/ important differences between this and the canned Guinness "draught, pasteurized stout," the most striking of all to me is that this beer has hops you can taste. (The taste of these hops is more apparent to me than their smell.) I know hops are not really the defining ingredient of the style, but I always like at least a little of that fresh bitterness, and it's particularly interesting coupled with the rather "creamy" mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2010 05:00:51 | More by beerme5582

BeerintheHave

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Brewed and rated in Georgetown Guyana, 275 ml Bottle.

Dark Brown, with a 1/2 centimeter light tan head. Smell is rich and chocolate malty. Taste is medium charred- some welcome coffee notes. Nice and round tasting, with a drier, slightly bitter finish. Feels rich, and good for you. Nice beer

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2009 21:40:18 | More by BeerintheHave

VLtor

Michigan

1.53/5  rDev -62.7%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Let me assure you, the Foreign Extra that you're tasting in the States is a marketing ploy, not the stuff experienced in original markets. I spend about 1/3 my year in Ghana, and while the stuff is widely available, almost nobody drinks it. It is not Guinness like, it is not stout like, it is pretty dang nasty. If you want a Guinness like beer you get a Castle (Milk Stout).

The stuff in the States may be fine, and that is one thing. But to say Foreign Extra is 'finally' available in NA is another, because the NA stuff is NOT the Foreign Extra most markets get (thankfully).

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2011 22:42:40 | More by VLtor

cbrbenny

4.15/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Saw a standard Guinness on the menu at a bar on the island of Grenada and must to my liking, this was presented to me (albeit in bottle form). It seems smoother and more aromatic than the standard, and maybe even more coffee flavoured.
When I got back to the States, I tried a Guinness Stout to compare, and it made the difference much more clear.
a-The appearance is a thing of beauty and though commercialized, is probably still my favourite looking beer. A true 5.0 for me!
s-its a Guinness but just a little bit deeper. Lot's of coffee.
t-smooth, easy to drink, pairs with nearly any hardy food.
m-i found myself drinking quite slowly and savoring each sip.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 05:29:17 | More by cbrbenny