julrey (32), Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Dec 19, 2004
Although a far superior beer, in it’s own way Guinness is just as overrated as it’s overseas arch-nemesis, Budweiser. I say this primarily due to the wealth of superior stouts which can readily be found in the US and the UK. Guinness gets high marks with your average drinker based on it’s subtlety, neither the bouquet nor the mouthfeel evincing much beyond the roasted coffee taste of the malt (not strong enough to compete really) and the sweet but flat aftertaste. Goes down easy but so does Natural Light. Guinness Draught is once again a better beer than the American Macros I’m facilely comparing it to, but I feel this is due more to the superiority of the stout genre, or rather the increased difficulty of watering a stout down to pure swill. I used to drink quite a bit of Guinness in my nascent days of conneisseurism but these days, with a little more experience under my belt, I can’t think of many stouts that I wouldn’t just as soon imbibe as a Guinness. The thick body is pleasant enough but is offset by the low alcohol content and too-subtle taste, and in fact makes Guinness one of the more filling beers if, in fact, one is trying to drink enough to work up a buzz.
mcsquint (57), , Missouri, USA
Nov 30, 2008 Poured from 14.9 oz bottle into large dimpled mug.
Aroma - Faint toasted malt.
Appearance - Opaque black. Huge creamy tan head that has nice retention and lacing.
Flavor - Toasted malt with faint notes of chocolate and coffee.
Palate - A bit on the watery side. Smoothly carbonated due to the nitro widget.
Overall - This is the ultimate drinkable stout. Low ABV and smooth flavor. What it lacks in complexity it makes up for in pure drinkability. It goes well with anything from breakfast to a midnight snack. Cheers!
brewski519 (31), Morrisville, North Carolina, USA
Nov 30, 2008 My first "foray" into dark beers years ago - Pours from the can an almost black with a nice thick creamy head - the cascading effect continues for several moments. The aroma brings through malts, chocolate and oak. Good solid taste that follows up the aroma with a little bit of sweetness added into the scents that came through. This is a great beer to stock my pub fridge with that I drink during the colder weather when watching football - not a summer beer. One of the other great things I recently discovered about this beer is that many of the casinos in Las Vegas serve this beer free at the tables (bottle version) - a great alternative to the standard Macro offerings they typically serve up there!
 MoritzF (4019), Ruhrpott, Germany
Nov 28, 2008 (44cl can, 4.2% abv) Almost black coloured hue with a short but dense and persistent beige creamy layer. Discreet aroma of roasted malt and shy hints of coffee and cacao. Moderately bitter flavour, light bodied with a soft, even a bit flat (nitro-)carbonation. Dry and slightly roasted malty taste with shy notes of coffee, cacao and licorice; dry and moderately bitter, but also a bit watery finish. Not one of my regular buys (28.XI.08).
jimmack34 (161), Ohio, USA
Nov 28, 2008 Bottle. Pours tar black with a velvety smooth creamy tan head. The carbonation seems to cascade down the side of the glass. Smells like roasted coffee and chocolate. Tastes like a nice roasted blend of coffees, some nuts, and creamy chocolate. Im not real fond of the creamy texture and thin aftertaste. Good flavor, but its just not for me.
couchand (164), Iowa City, Iowa, USA
Nov 28, 2008 I have to admit, this does pour exactly like Guinness on tap, with the thick milky head falling quickly in waves, settling with a creamy off-white meringue layer over a red-tinted dark brown. I can see (though I may not understand) why they spend so much time perfecting that aspect of the experience. Like on tap this has almost no nose, though the canned version does have slightly more toast aroma and a significant diacetyl note.
The taste confirms diacetyl, which actually serves to mellow out the unpleasant bitterness I’ve come to associate with Guinness. Unfortunately there’s almost no other flavor so it is a lost cause anyway. The palate is rich and creamy, and unlike on tap, it is not at all cloying. This beer is not bad, but it could be so much more.
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