Guinness Extra Stout

 Guinness Extra Stout. St. James Gate, Dublin, Ireland. 5.6 % ABV. 

And now, part two. I will take brief notes on this large bottle of Extra Stout, then compare them with what I first wrote eighteen years ago. Let's crack open this king-size bottle and begin. I don't remember how long it's been since I've had this old favorite, and if I have ever had it in this large bottle, with the Arthur Guinness signature embossed in the glass? And why the big, 22 ounce bottle? Because the 12 ounce bottles weren't available as singles, and I'd rather buy the one (the equivalent of 2 12 ouncers, almost) for $3 than 6 for $9? Or, do I want to feel like a big man, with a big bottle in my hand? Also, I don't have room for six more bottles in my fridge.

Solid blackness, richly roasted tan head, thoroughly opaque. 

In the nose: Cocoa, cream, nuts. dark fruits. Roasty, rich, slightly sweet, delicately bitter. 

In the mouth: Bittersweet, malty, dry. Earthy, roasted, a complex cornucopia of flavors abound on the palate, all that stuff from the nose at play. This is the exemplar of Dry Irish Stout. You might like some better (this is currently ranked only #103 out of all Dry Irish Stouts on BeerAdvocate.com.) Bold, full bodied, long, malty, bittersweet finish. I still like this, after all these years. 

So, a sidebar. I'm not sure what made me drink my first Guinness Extra Stout, but it was the right beer at the right time for me. And it was my favorite beer for a time, along with Bass Ale, until I discovered American crafter beer, and my allegiances to the ales of Ireland and Britain took a backseat. The words I'll share below were written for BeerAdvocate.com in March, 2003, when I was four years into my career as bar manager at the Blue Nile Restaurant & Lounge, and Ethiopian Restaurant, which doubled and tripled as a pan-African/American/Caribbean nightclub, offering many musical styles to delight, well, just about everyone. I grew to learn much about the drinking tastes of our clientele from Africa & the Caribbean. Guinness is second only to Heineken among Africans. 

Here are those notes: 

A personal anecdote: long ago, when I first learned to love beer, Bass and Guinness were my bottles of choice. I had a show of my drawings, some cartoony, some darkly satirical, at a coffee shop near my apartment. My older brother was in town, saw the show, and gave me a surprise visit on a Sunday morning, with bottles all over the floor, from the night before. His judgement: "They're too bitter! Like this beer! LIFE isn't BITTER!"

Ah, ha, ha! Now, I'm not a complete cynic, more a realist in the face of truth, but this example proves a prevalent opinion that divides many beer drinkers on the subject of Guinness.

Another anecdote: at my bar, we sell a ton of Extra to our African and Carribean customers, and we used to also serve it on "draught". I would tell my bartenders that if an African customers asks for Guinness, they want the bottle, and if it's an American, check whether they want tap or bottle. Once a ponytailed caucasian ordered a Guinness and the bartender asked, "Bottle or tap." After stating his preference, he turned to his mate to remark, "What a stupid question!" (It didn't take long for me to realize the draught kegs were moving too slow, and I had the nitro system taken out.)

Color as black as pitch, big, creamy, rocky tan head. Aroma is filled with sweet and roasty flavor, hints of coffee and spice. More flavors come through on the palate, dark cherries, berries, chocolate. Some bitterness, huge and flavorful malt. Long lasting and tasty finish. Bold and substantial, this classic is best consumed cool, not cold. 

Another devotee of "draught" once told me on the subject of stouts, "There's only one!", referring to Guinness. I'm glad that that's not true, but I never turn down Extra Stout.

Now, to get my hands on that African Foreign Extra that I've heard so many fables about!

Drinking this in 2021, I'm wondering how many times have I actually had it on purpose (rather than finishing off a mistakenly opened bottle, after work) in all these years. I was more interested in finding American craft brewed stouts, than continuing to support a massive international conglomerate. And there ain't nothing wrong with that. 

And now, in 2021, what do I think of it? It's not exactly yum a dum dum, but it is still satisfying. 

As deep as Guinness Extra Stout’s color is its taste. Crisp barley cuts through hops. A bite draws you in, bold flavors linger. Bitter marries sweet. A rich, refreshing taste. Brewed with skill. Built to last.

A direct descendant of our archival recipes, Guinness Extra Stout is based on a beer first brewed in 1821, when Arthur Guinness II set down precise instructions for brewing his Superior Porter. This beer has since become the precursor to every Guinness innovation you’ve ever enjoyed. Brewed at our St. James’s Gate brewery in Dublin, Guinness Extra Stout is crafted from finest quality malt, hops and Irish barley.

Sharp and crisp to the taste, it’s an entirely different experience from the smooth, creamy Guinness Draught and punchier Foreign Extra Stout, but the trademark Guinness flavors preside. We’ve come a long way since this beer was first dreamt up in the 1800s, but we’ve stuck to our values. We’re blessed with over 250 years of brewing experience, and, as Guinness moves forward, history accompanies us in the bottle still enjoyed by people all over the world.