Guinness 250 Anniversary Stout

Brewed by St. James’s Gate (Diageo)
Style: Dry Stout
Dublin, Ireland

I bought a whole case of this, in anticipation of something special. I am a fan of Guinness, and I love a good stout. Despite its popularity and it being so ubiquitous, I can always pick up a Guinness and be satisfied. This was nothing special. It is somehow lacking in a creaminess and smokiness that is present in the standard Guinness. Feel free to give it a try, but hold onto the old standard.

Pours the familiar black color the brand is known for, but with a darker tan head. Aroma was of chocolatey roasted malt. Palate is smooth, but found it to be lighter than regular Guinness. Taste had a roasted malt sweetness with a chocolate undertone. As it warms, some coffee comes through as well. Seems like a lighter version of stout.

pours black with a slight red tint when held to the light, a medium size khaki head, and great lacing. smell is of cocoa, malt, and a little roastiness in the back. taste is smooth, sour malt, dark chocolate, a touch of licorice, and a little touch of toasted nuts.

Taste 10/9 Bottle. Looks: Dark brown opaque body with a lacing foam that settles down to a thin top. Aroma: Roast with a sweet astringency. Taste: Sweeter and more bitter than regular Guinness. Smoky and a little sticky. Pretty good but not worth 9.99 a sixer. It is labeled under dry stout, I think it falls right in the middle of dry to sweet.

Presentation: It was poured from a brown 11.2oz bottle into a pint glass. There appears to be no freshness date on the label. Appearance: The body has a very dark brown/black color and is nearly opaque. A small tight foamy head about one finger thick sets on top. It is light tan in color and hangs on well making nice rings of lace on the glass each time I sip. Smell: There are hints of smoky wood with loads dark roasted grain and some dried leafy/mineral like hops. Taste/Mouth: The base has nice roasted malt flavors with very mild sweetness and creamy over roasted coffee notes. Hop flavor is mild but adds some leafy spice and light mineral notes. The light sweetness dries out into the finish and becomes more roasted and bitter but not overly so. It has a light to medium body, moderate carbonation and an easy drinking texture. Notes: It’s not my favorite stout by Guinness but it is still very drinkable. Happy 250th Guinness!!!

Dark brown color with a tan head. Dusty brown malt aroma with some smoke. Medium body. Decent dusty dry dark roasted malt flavor with some smooth corn flakes. Bitter coffee finish.

Normal dark Guinness pour into my pint glass produced only a small head, unlike the nitrogenated stout. Smells like honey, oats, less the dark roasted chocolately normal Guinness. Well balanced carbonation, less cloying mouth feel than normal, not the same burnt chocolate flavor either, almost more malty. Had to drink two bottles to really get into the flavor.

Bottle. Pours almost black, like the draught, but with dark ruby highlights and creamy tan head. Nose has plenty of roasted malt as well as notes of aniseed and bitter dark chocolate. Flavour is much the same but with a creamy edge. Mouthfeel is smooth and dry, and is very similar to the regular bottled Guinness. Not bad but not very different either.