Guinness 250 Anniversary Stout

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

Got a good deal on a 6-pack of this. Wasn’t sure what to expect from this since guinness is so definitive. Much more ale qualities to this than i expected. Some metal and barnyard aromas to go along with the classic burnt malt. You expected dark color with foaming head. Taste was bitter and a little like tin and hay.

Not as good as the the draught I’m used to, but still a good stout. Better than Murphy’s. I had this one on tap in SF, and the Irish bartender warned us ahead of time that it did not taste like what we might think. Still a good brew, though.

Appearance is rather different from traditional draught Guinness. Head is more of a dusting than a creamy layer. Aroma is still nice and toasty. Carbonation is rather agrressive at first, but settles out quickly. Body is rather thin and disappoints a bit. Malty toasty flavor continues from the aroma nicely. Finishes out quickly. Ok, but not as good as regular Guinness.

Black pour with reddish tints when held up to the light. Head is off white and frothy. Aroma has subtle lactic qualities, oatmeal, some roast, and mocha. Flavor is light roasted barley, chocolate, and further notes of creaminess. Palate is a tad thin, making for a thoroughly session-able brew. Not spectacular, but tasty and enjoyable.

Pours pitch brown with a thin tan head, lots of fizzy carbonation. Aroma is mild chocolate and licorice. Flavor is smooth tobacco, bitter chocolate, sharp hop pepper and a bitter licorice finish. Mouthfeel is slightly sharp and acidic, overly carbonated.

Bottle Pours a deep brown with a good tan head. The head lasts well and laces nicely. Has okay aromas of chocolate and grain. A light carbonation. Good flavors, it is a lot like Guinness. Has a medium body the texture is on the flat side. A good finish with a good aftertaste. Not bad.

11.2 oz bottle from Canal’s Haiensport. Pours like a classic Guinness a flat super dark black body sitting underneath a large creamy light beige head. Aroma of sour milk, bitter dark chocolate, and dark grains. Body is slightly more carbonated then your standard Guinness or perhaps it’s simply because this is from a bottle and not a nitro widget can. Flavor had some harsh metallic notes on the first few sips but luckily that quickly passed. The remaining flavors are sour milk, toast, stale freeze dried coffee and old bakers dark chocolate. Not really any crazy variation from the original Guinness at all.

Bottle. Pours dark brown with a massive rocky tanned head. Lightly roasted malt, brown sugar and nuts. Smooth mouthfeel. A touch of sourness in the finish. Unoffensive and tastes like Guinness...nuff said.