Guinness Draught - Guinness Ltd.

jjamadorphd

Florida

3.83/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I very well enjoyed this offering from Guinness - from the packaging to the actual brew itself.

The beer pours a very, very dark brown out of the bottle, then sits in its confines blacker than black. Even in the light the beer looked black, just plain black - it was a sight to behold. The head was thick, frothy, and a beautiful shade of tan; it had staying power and the lacing was thick all around the glass - truly impressive. The smell hinted of citrus with a strong but appealing malty scent. It's mouthfeel was good as well - no stickiness, bold flavor, and little carbonation to get in the way of enjoying the beer - just the way I like it. It's taste was very similar to other Guinness' I have had - strong, hoppy, malty, and just plain good. Overall, I was very pleased with this offering from one of my favorite brewers.

If you drink, don't drive, but if you drive, do us all a favor and don't drink...stay safe...

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2013 00:30:24 | More by jjamadorphd

LXIXME

New Mexico

3.61/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A rich cream light tan head falls through itself above a super dark brown to black head.

A rich well roasted grain malts aroma that seem to border on slightly burnt.

Creamy well roasted malts taste, you can almost taste the roasted barley itself, with just the slightest hint of hops or something else similar.

A dryish aftertaste with the roasted malts taste lingering on with this full bodied beer.

A have a fond stop for this beer, it was one of the only beers I could find as a young one that wasn't in the mold of Grain Belt, Pabst, Bud, Miller, Coors and the endless list of crap like those.
So in a sense this is the beer that enlightened me to the fact that American light lagers were not the only option and I've been on a quest to try as many different kinds of beers as I can since then.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 22:21:44 | More by LXIXME

vkv822

Oregon

2.55/5  rDev -26.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 2

12oz : tulip

Deep brown, near black with a foamy, frothy tan head.

Fairly subdued overall with light notes of bittersweet cocoa and lightly roasted malt.

Mouthfeel is briefly creamy but quickly thins out and becomes watery which combined with low carbonation, makes the mouthfeel quite disappointing.

Nothing outright unpleasant or offensive about this beer, but I have absolutely no desire to drink this again as every aspect fell short of expectations.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 08:17:55 | More by vkv822

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.45/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer was served from a bottle at the Sundeck on Aspen Mountain in Aspen, CO. It arrived in a pint glass, showing a solid cola coloring. It held a creamy, two finger tan head, showing nice retention, and leaving spotty lacing around the glass. Carbonation appeared moderate, and no haze or sediment was noted. The aroma gave sweet, freshly baked raisin bread, char roasted malts, dark cherry sweetness, adjuncty grain, metallic tin, and rich toffees. Our first impression was that the flavoring was lighter than you might expect, but decent once you get past the metallics. As we sipped, deeply roasted brown and chocolate malts, warm wheat bread, and metallic yeast started things off. The middle came to a peak with sweeter milkiness, booze, soured brown malts, mild roast, and soured coffee acidity to pull us to the finish. Here medicinal phenols, more alcohol, plastics, warmed lactics, light smokiness, metallics, and bitter, bready yeastiness dominated the last flavors of the sip. The aftertaste breathed of tinny metallics, roast and char, bittered coffee, medicinals, and plum pudding sweetness. The body was medium, and the carbonation was medium. Each sip gave excellent slurp, with good smack, pop, and glug. There was definite drying following the initial creamy coating. The abv was fine, and the beer drank easily.

Overall, the best thing about this beer was the mouthfeel. This was helped by the surprisingly well-retained head, giving big cream and slurp throughout the entire tasting. Otherwise the nose and flavoring, while showing some positive and robust fruitiness, phenols, and char, gave too much on the metallics and the dry, chalky yeastiness. That being said, the nose was better than the flavoring, and everything else just screams “standard”.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 03:40:43 | More by TheBrewo

Shade1951

Pennsylvania

1.3/5  rDev -62.5%
look: 4 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.25

It's hard for me to believe that I once actually liked this stout. I don't know whether their formula changed, my tastes changed, or some combination.

Pouring from bottle into a standard glass, there seems to be carbonation, and there is even a nice head that lasts a little while. The color is suitably black.

Smell is of black coffee and roasted "stuff," but fairly mild.

Taste - to me, just terrible. Like weak black coffee with other burnt flavors that I can't quite identify. Despite the head, there is almost no carbonation whatsoever. Almost totally flat. This was not an isolated incident. The previous couple of times I've had this over the past 2 or 3 years - same thing. I hadn't tried it again in quite a while, and forgot just how bad it tasted.

There is some creaminess in the mouth - and yet, somehow, it feels watery.

I had this at a restaurant, and I honestly was able to down only about the first 4 ounces before I gave up. My wife sipped it, and wouldn't have any more. My son drank maybe an ounce, made a face, and gave up. We left the restaurant with still at least 6 ounces left in the glass.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 13:51:19 | More by Shade1951

Dbrown144

California

2.83/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.75

A: One of the better looking beers. A very dark ruby color, almost black. Had an impressive foam head which rose up quickly.

S: Not much of a smell really. Has a faint smell similar to that of pale lagers. Bready, maybe.

T: The flavor is fairly weak. Only flavor I can really detect is light roasted malt.

M: Really really watery and slippery.

O: Definitely not one of my favorites, but I wouldn't turn one down if someone else was buying.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 07:03:07 | More by Dbrown144

PaterMorse

Indiana

3.64/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Today was a quick stout taste test of macro-brews: Guinness Draught, Guinness Extra Stout, and Murphy's Stout.

A: Similar to Murphy's (poured black, etc.), but head a little creamier in color (trending more tan than white, like Murphy's) and less persistent -- lasting longer than most stouts but not as long as Murphy's. Good side stick..

S: Note quite as pleasing as Murphy's -- perhaps a little gutsier, but alos less complex (and Murphy's not complex in the first place). Beer/stout smell, and that's about it. Aroma not as potent/sharp as Extra Stout. A little skunky -- frankly evoking the cross between a urinal and a fraternity basement...

T: Very used to this beer, so hard to describe it -- but that candidly may be because it's relatively non-descript. Not as watery as Murphy's, but still an easy drinker. "Flavors" just not all that prevelant. Roasted barley, and that's about it.

M: Fine. Lite to medium body. Balance if fine, if not a little soft.

O: An easy, if unremarkable, staple.

Repeat? Sure. It's easy, it's known, it's imminently drinkable. In other words, I'd buy for a party and would grab one occasionally for myself when I want an easy-drinker or something simple that doesn't make me think... It's just not that much fun -- more an accompaniment to a good time than an experience itself (like so many other stouts).

Where Ideal? Football game. Fraternity reunon. Any pub -- anytime, anywhere.

Two Words: Non-Descript Staple

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 17:22:06 | More by PaterMorse

JJKBeerLvr

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Nice dark color with good head. Head was light color.

Smell: Some malt aromas, but not a lot.

Taste: Nice malt flavors, but not much of a hops flavor.

Mouthfeel: Thin, and not as substantial as I like.

Overall: Good, but not great. Will drink casually.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 21:15:01 | More by JJKBeerLvr

Fusion7777

Virginia

3.36/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Dark appearance. Flavors are very faint and muted, but what is there is pleasant. Mild coffee and chocolate flavors make up a very thin and watery body. Reminiscent of Folgers Instant Coffee. A bare-bones Irish Stout. Lies somewhere between not bad and almost good.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 08:42:18 | More by Fusion7777

justincolts

Indiana

3.63/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've always loved this beer and although their may be better, I still like it. Sometimes we get so sucked into a culture of something we can get a bit snobbish. It certainly isn't a bad beer. There are tons of, I'm sure real good grilled cheese sandwiches, but I can still appreciate a simple grilled cheese. With that off my chest, here goes a classic for me (I named my dog Guinness).

Pours a foamy but thin head, which lingers. Black as the night. My nose is always an awful judge of smell, and I'm not getting anything right now. Has that subtle chocolate taste with a nutty caramel hint. Extremely drinkable, satisfying, lovely.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 01:53:03 | More by justincolts

MUSHROOMCLOUD

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Dark brown with a 1/2 off white collar that sticks around....lace follows the beer down.

Muted aroma of roasted malts - nothing out of the ordinary and nothing out of place.

Roasted malts, slight bitterness. Simple, but satisfying.

Velvety smooth, low carbonation. Finishes dry.

Overall a fairly simple drink that you have all of a sudden had 4 or 5 of...not too bad at all.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 23:18:19 | More by MUSHROOMCLOUD

schoolboy

Ohio

3.89/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I picked up a Guinness sampler this morning figuring I would slum it a bit from all the crazy microbrews I usually drink. It was a good choice as I had forgotten how good their products are. This one is perhaps the weakest, but it is still good and appropriate for the style.

It's a typical pure black with a smallish head and light lacing. The aroma is faint but nice. The taste is mild and creamy and the finish is the same. It's like the ones I've had with the widget but not as good. I am enjoying my Irish Saturday!

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 23:04:41 | More by schoolboy

barnzy78

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle that says it's meant to be drunk from the bottle. Whatever, it's poured into a Guinness shaker glass and the ale is dark brown/near black with a dense tan head that holds excellent retention, but doesn't leave much for lace. Aromas are roasted barley, cream, chocolate, classic Guinness. Tastes are watery (yes watery), cream, roasted barley, cocoa, charcoal. Thinner body, but mild carbonation makes it so smooth & creamy, but can also be somewhat chalky at times. The nostalgia behind this beer makes it better than it is, but i love it for what it is. It may not be the best beer, but it makes me happy whenever I drink it, so they must be doing something right.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 04:36:33 | More by barnzy78

Seekerpilgrim

Washington

2.93/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pouring a deep, deep brown that only lets the strongest light through, very earthy notes of peat, soot, hops, and an almost copper tang may put some people off. Hang in there, though, because for some people this is THE beer to have. On the tongue, a bittersweet cream start, followed by what I can only describe as a charcoal middle, and a VERY dry chocolate finish. It all sounds awful, I know, but it works in it's own unique way, including having the shortest lasting mouth feel I've had in a beer so far.

This is not a session beer by any means, but every once in awhile I'll get a craving for the unique experience Guinness provides, much preferring their Extra Stout, and the Draught is a perfect companion for a thick burger or heavy chili. A beer everyone should try at least once. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 00:56:30 | More by Seekerpilgrim

bogggyboys

Florida

2.66/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Ahh…a “Pint of Plain,” the Workman’s Friend, a Guinness Draught, a living piece of history directly from dear old Ireland, supposedly anyway. I like Guinness for what is, not for what I want it to be, and that’s enough for me. Guinness is now a mass produced mega-brew, and the reality is that it’s not much better than any other brew produced on that scale. Initially, it pours dark with a nice creamy head that disappears soon enough. The first sip tastes of roasted malted barley, but as your taste buds adapt to the smoky, dark flavor it has a refreshing but watery taste. It is a porter in name only, and much closer in taste to a dark lager such as “Michelob Dark” (although smoother than more drinkable). I’m not necessarily a beer snob, but a modern Guinness Draught is no match for a quality micro-brewed porter. You won’t have to twist my arm too hard to get me to drink one, but this beer is nothing special.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 02:48:50 | More by bogggyboys

Weli

Wisconsin

2.03/5  rDev -41.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

A- What can you say about a classic? No other beer has this look. Ebony pint with thick tan head that is velvety smooth

S-Next to nothing, spring water?

T-Again next to nothing. Am I drinking foamy water? No bitterness only the barest hint of roast character. more astringent than anything else

M-Thin bodied, but nice creamy head.

O- Looks great! no substance whatsoever

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 20:10:51 | More by Weli

brewskifan55

Mississippi

2.96/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Poured into a snifter

A: Black with a tan half-finger head that slowly fades. Gives way to tiny bubbles. Decent lacing.

S: Malty, nutty.

T: Dry, frothy, smokey. Light malts, extra smooth. Lacks robustness.

M: Light to medium with light carbonation. Watery.

O: Not very impressed. It just kinda sits there, hoping for a charge of real stoutness.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 18:35:24 | More by brewskifan55

Mgm54

New York

3.03/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Serving Type - 11.2oz bottle

A - Black, nice tan creamy head

S - some slight roasted notes, but overall leaves more to be desired from a stout

T - smooth buy subtle roasted notes, more come out in the finish with a pinch of bitterness. very "drinkable", but leaves more to be desired

M - smooth creamy goodness. Better on nitro tap.

O - good into fro people into dark beers, and often saves me from not having beer at a bar, but does leave more to be desired from a stout.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 08:56:39 | More by Mgm54

acevenom

Louisiana

4.45/5  rDev +28.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a glass mug. Pours black with a thin, white head. There is some lacing left on the side of the glass by the head, which is retained well during consumption. The beer has the aroma of sweet and dark roasted malts and some coffee. The taste follows the nose and has the familiar flavors of Guinness in a more watery form. The roastiness is forward with some mild malt sweetness. The coffee notes blend well with the dark roasted malts. The body is light to medium with a creamy mouthfeel provided by the nitro widget. This is a highly drinkable and very sessionable stout. This is an excellent beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 23:29:14 | More by acevenom

Haydn-Juby

Quebec (Canada)

3.4/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served from a 443ml can to a English pint glass

A: I love the look of a Guinness in a pint glass. Nice head about a finger thick, thanks to the nitro widget. Good lacing as well. Black but not completely. Deep red hues are visible when held up to the light

S: Very slight roasted malts and a dark coffee smell.

T:Very watery. The roasted malts and dark coffee scents are slightly present on the tongue followed up by a moderate hop bitterness.

M: This beer shines shines in this department. Partially due to the nitro tab in the can. It has a really nice creamy head and goes down very nicely. Very drinkable.

Overall: Nothing astounding and there is definitely better in the stout department but I like it. I drink it from time to time. Its a little bit over hyped but its still pretty decent for a macro stout.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 08:56:06 | More by Haydn-Juby

emerge077

Illinois

2.58/5  rDev -25.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Another ubiquitous macro beer, one of the first I can remember drinking all those years ago. More for the novelty of the nitro can, nowadays bottled Guinness doesn't pass muster.

Poured into a tulip glass, the color is a dark reddish brown, and black in the glass. The foam only cascades momentarily, unlike the super slo-mo version from the nitro can. It's tan foam has a creamy texture and good retention, minor arcs of lacing are left behind in the glass.

Smells a bit dull, wet barley and roasted grains, old coffee.

Tastes similarly weak, roasted barley and cardboard, folgers, vague ashy note in the aftertaste. Watery feel, bland with a lower level of carbonation. Seems to be a mere shell of its former self, or maybe the added nitrogen adds something, and without it there's just not much substance.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 21:40:36 | More by emerge077

Damian74Shensky

South Carolina

3.43/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

bottle poured into a 19 0z. tumbler

A- Very dark brown, nearly black. It has a fluffy tan head that dissipated slowly, leaving some lacing on the glass.
T- more creamy than stout, with hints of malts, coffee and chocolate
S- smells lightly of roasted malts. It smells somewhat clean, and there are definite hints of coffee beans.
M- Mouth feel is watery. Very light feel, smooth and easy to drink. Low on carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 02:19:53 | More by Damian74Shensky

CaptJackHarkness

New York

4.25/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Been a while since I could find this type of Guinness in a NON nitro bottle!Bottle has coding ,no readable date . 11.2 fl. oz. Brewed in Dublin. Nice creamy malt aroma. Deep dark body with full long lasting beige head. Appearance is not as fulsome as the nitro version, no discernable "fall". Taste is flatter as well, but still very pleasing to the palate.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 02:10:52 | More by CaptJackHarkness

mckenziac

3.4/5  rDev -2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from an 11.2 oz. bottle into a Samuel Adams Boston Lager glass. Taken from a Guinness seasonal variety pack.

Appearance: Pours a deep, black color. Has a large, foamy, tan head that dissipates slowly and leaves some nice lacing. Say what you will about Guinness, but they always make fantastic looking beers that are fun to pour.

Smell: Smells of roasted malts with strong notes of bitter chocolate.

Taste: Moderately hoppy up front, with a bitter, roasted malt finish. Rounds off with some hints of dark chocolate and coffee. The flavor is a good bit lighter than the appearance and smell would lead you to believe. I've heard this blamed on the nitro that Guinness adds to get that perfect head and it wouldn't surprise me to be true.

Mouthfeel: A bit lacking in body and weakly carbonated.

Overall: All in all, Guinness is a pretty standard stout that benefits from a good reputation, history, and marketing team. I prefer the Extra Stout to the Draught version, but there's still nothing really wrong with this one either.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 01:46:34 | More by mckenziac

JoshuaB

3.85/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The most famous and widely available, it seems that the bottled variety has been significantly smoothed out over the last few years. What was once a very heavy, moderately bitter stout is now a light, neutral snack redesigned for warm summer days instead of dark winter rains. The nitro cans have a bit more body, but still don't approach what I once craved nightly.

In color it's nearly as dark as ever, almost pitch black with hints of red around the edges, and the head is certainly as robust, still taking a minute to settle down and never quite disappearing.

Tastewise there's not a lot of flavor. It's more creamy than stout, with faint hints of malts and coffee, but nothing strong. I like a smooth beer, but in this case it feels too smooth, like a completely flat beer, with no bite from hops or alcohol to add any zing to it.

Overall, a light, easy-drinking beer that bears little in common with most other stouts. Even the black lager might be closer.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 06:18:35 | More by JoshuaB