Guinness Draught - Guinness Ltd.

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

His_Royal_Hoppiness

United Kingdom (England)

3.75/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

A: Can a beer look better than this? Surging brown carbonation that seperates perfectly into a deep black body and off-white head.

S: Slight scent of toasted barley.

T: Smokey, mildly bitter coffee taste - to me that base guinness flavour is what I look for in every stout - sadly though in the draught version it's rather dilluted.

M: Smooth, but also rather watery - not much carbonation.

Still the best fallback beer in the average British pub - almost every pub has it and it's reliably tasty. Unfortunately the draught version is much too watered-down to qualify as a really great beer.

Serving type: nitro-can

01-27-2013 18:21:35 | More by His_Royal_Hoppiness

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

JH7278

4.95/5  rDev +42.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I truly appreciate the fullness of this beer. It has a great taste and a welcoming follow. I would be happy to have this at my home. Do not be afraid of its dark color or its thick nature, she will be one of the best dark stouts you will ingest. I am amazed to say that its tastes good also in can or bottle form, although I do prefer it by the pint off the tap.

Serving type: on-tap

01-15-2013 18:36:51 | More by JH7278

AC-Mivsek

Ohio

3.08/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Poured from a 14 oz. can into an English pub glass.

A- Nice creamy tan head which leaves some decent lacing, very dark.

S- There is some roasted malt character, but there is really not much going on with the nose.

T- Sweet, somewhat metallic this may have just been the can though. Very watery.

M- It's smooth but with a pretty light body. Very little carbonation.

O- Very watery and light stout with no real outstanding smell or flavor. It looks nice though.

Serving type: can

01-14-2013 23:49:23 | More by AC-Mivsek

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

undeadozzy

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +25.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Poured by a certified Guinness pourer at Dugan's Irish Pub in Luzerne, PA. Incredible thick white head that never goes away and leaves thick lacing all over the glass. And the trademark pitch black body that fades in under the head is always a welcome sight.

S - Never picked up much of a scent on Guinness, other than some darkness. Yes, I can smell darkness. Just a deep bready musk, nothing too strong or weak, just a presence.

T - Smooth and flavorful, good ol' Guinness never disappoints. Dark chocolate, some pumpernickel, milk chocolate, a little bit of roasted marshmallow, some fudge maybe, lots of dark hops, and the spirit of the Irish of course.

M - Smooth yet slippery. It's very easy to drink because it's smooth, but I would like a little more character there.

O - For as long as I could remember, Guinness Draught has been one of my favorite beers, and finally getting to have it on tap poured in the CORRECT manner is just incredible, it just tastes so much different than the canned Guinness or the bottled Guinness or Guinness just sloshed into a glass by an inexperienced beer pourer. Long live Guinness!

Serving type: on-tap

01-04-2013 17:13:35 | More by undeadozzy

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

M_C_Hampton

Georgia

4.85/5  rDev +39.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: poured from a 14.9 oz nitro can into a nonic pint glass, pours a dark orange yellow brown almost black with a thick creamy light tan head that lingers through the entire glass, bubbles cascade down the sides of the glass

S: heavily roasted burnt malt smells, cocoa, pumpernickel, charcoal

T: dry roasted malt, subtle flavors of dark caramel, coffee, little sweetness, subtle hop bitterness

M: creamy mouth feel from the nitro widget

O: if I had to pick one beer to drink for the rest of my life this would be it, it has a nourishing yet refreshing quality, it's lower in calories than most "light" beers yet is packed with flavor, it's low alcohol content means you can have a couple without getting swimmy, it is the perfect representation of a dry Irish stout

Serving type: nitro-can

12-31-2012 18:06:59 | More by M_C_Hampton

DavidST

Texas

3.8/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

As often as I've had this, I'm surprised to realize that I've never reviewed it. Bucking the ice cold method this is sometimes served, I've left the bottle out for an hour to get a little more warm.

This is poured from a 33cl bottle into a Guinness mug, coded bottled date. This pours a nice black color with a large foamy mocha colored head (far larger than I'm used to on nitro bottles, perhaps this is due to removing the nitro widget). This has an extremely long retention time and leaves a lacing everywhere it touches. The smells are of dark roasted malts and a hint of the Guinness burnt smells. The feel is medium to thick and creamy. More warm this is better, the taste is light but smooth and easy to drink, you get the dark roasted malts, and a little burnt malt bitterness, more subtle than the traditional guinness. Not the greatest beer in the world but a great session one and I often order it with my meal.

Serving type: nitro-bottle

12-31-2012 01:21:28 | More by DavidST

bsmith1029

3.65/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Sooo I hated Guinness when I first started drinking. This has changed over time. I would not consider it an Imperial Stout like many do. The new recipe they made for it (I think in the 80s) has changed the consistency of the beer. It was designed to be the thick low ABV meal like beverage for english monks and Irish farmers who didn't need to be drunk allot nevertheless I digress. I do love this beer and I really wish it wasn't owned by "the big man" like sooo many beers that are over-popularized and overrated. I do consider this beer to be overrated, then again, it's sooo good! This beer would pair well with (in my opinion) nothing. Needs to be drank after dessert or meal. Can stand alone (IMO any beer can stand alone without a cheese or a meal unless itsa AAB). Should be consumed after the AABs (bud, miller, coors, PBR), after the medium and/or amber beers. I'd consume the real hoppy and bitter type beers after my Guinness (if I was lining up my palate). Get it on tap, so much better then bottle or can? (wtf Guinness cans?).
L: Dark brown almost black, cannot see through it, creamy, dreamy, head retention is perfect. At least an inch that stays and dissolves to about 1/2 to 1/4 inch by the time you finish. Everyone has seen the shamrock that they put on the beer on St. Patty's (it pretty much stays on top and in tact if you drink cautious).
S: Not a strong smell, burnt wheat, smoky maybe.
T (and mouthfeel): Very creamy, milky, smooth, buttery, surprisingly light, almost malty (certainly not hoppy), slightly sweet maybe like a vanilla or carmel sweetness idk. On second thought it does have a carmel like flavor. The after taste is really my only complaint with Guinness. Its not a crisp after taste but a sticky milky after taste (pretty typical of stouts and porters). The "burnt taste" lingers in the palate on the back of the tongue or in the back of the mouth too long.
O: At the end of the day it's Guinness, if you don't like it, you still can't help but respect it. I happen to like AND respect it.

Serving type: on-tap

12-28-2012 06:38:05 | More by bsmith1029

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

FLima

Brazil

3.28/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Hard to beat Guinness appearance, with its down cascade of brown beige waves turning to a deep black color. Thick and consistent head that lingers forever.
Mild aroma of cream, vanilla, dark chocolate and toasted malts.
Similarly, creamy, sweet toasted malts and a touch of dark chocolate flavor. Mildly bitter, though it gives some random spikes and with a dry and toasted like aftertaste.
Light to medium body, but still a bit watery, which is unexpected. Carbonation quite low, tiny bubbles.
Classic, used to love it 15 years ago, but general benchmark moved up. Now there are lots of better choices.

Serving type: can

12-22-2012 01:22:52 | More by FLima

jadpsu

Georgia

2.75/5  rDev -20.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Pours a dark brown to black with a creamy foamy head that has really good retention and terrific side glass lacing. From that point on it was pretty much down hill.
Aroma, is of roasty sweet malts, with some caramel, and or molasses and a tinge of coffee.
Taste, is really watery, with no body, which is exactly what you get for the mouthfeel category or lack of it.
Very disappointing product by Guinness.

Serving type: can

12-20-2012 00:20:44 | More by jadpsu

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