guinness | Kings Of Brewing

Guinness, the iconic Irish dry stout, has dazzled beer lovers worldwide with its rich flavor and velvety texture for over two centuries. What began as a simple brewing recipe by Arthur Guinness in 1759 has now evolved into a household name with a range of distinct styles. This comprehensive guide aims to unravel the diverse array of Guinness styles with clarity and information. Each Guinness style has its unique character, truly highlighting the versatility of this much-loved beverage. From the world-famous draught stout to lesser-known quantities, such as the Foreign Extra Stout and the Nitro IPA, there is a Guinness style for everyone's taste. Exploring these different styles allows for a greater understanding of this celebrated brand's legacy and its continued pursuit of brewing excellence. Throughout this guide, we will delve into each Guinness style's origins, brewing methods, and flavor profiles, providing valuable insight for both the budding connoisseur and seasoned drinker. Armed with this knowledge, readers will not only better appreciate each sip of this world-class beer but also enhance their Guinness drinking experience. Types of Guinness Guinness Draught Guinness Draught is the iconic Irish Stout known worldwide for its creamy, dark, and velvety texture. This beer is brewed with a mix of malted and unmalted barley and roasted barley to create its deep color, rich flavor, and smooth character. It has an alcohol content of 4.2% ABV. Guinness Extra (Original) Guinness Extra Stout, also known as Guinness Original, is a descendant of the famous Extra Superior Porter. It is a classic Irish Dry Stout with a higher alcohol content than Draught Guinness at 6% ABV. This variant offers a robust, slightly bitter flavor and a more pronounced roasted taste. Guinness Dublin Porter Guinness Dublin Porter is a tribute to the traditional porter style enjoyed in the 18th century in Dublin. This beer possesses a rich and smooth character with subtle notes of toffee, chocolate, and caramel. With a 3.8% ABV, it has a light-bodied texture and a balanced taste. Guinness West Indies Porter The Guinness West Indies Porter is inspired by the recipe used for the original 1801 Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, brewed to withstand long voyages across the Atlantic. This beer offers a complex flavor with notes of sweet chocolate and caramel. It has a higher ABV of 6%, delivering a rich and satisfying taste. Guinness Hop House 13 Lager A departure from the traditional stout, Guinness Hop House 13 Lager is a crisp and refreshing beer with a 5% ABV. Brewed with Irish barley and double-hopped, it has an approachable hoppy taste and a gentle maltiness. Guinness Golden Ale Another distinct offering, the Guinness Golden Ale features a 4.5% ABV. This beer showcases the brewery's expertise in crafting ales, presenting a smooth, balanced flavor with hints of honey, citrus, and biscuit. Guinness Blonde American Lager With a 5% ABV, Guinness Blonde American Lager is a fusion of Irish brewing tradition and American ingredients. Brewed with American hops and Guinness's signature yeast, this beer delivers a crisp, refreshing taste with subtle maltiness and floral notes. Guinness Nitro IPA Guinness Nitro IPA is a unique take on the India Pale Ale style, infused with nitrogen to create a velvety and creamy mouthfeel. It has a 5.8% ABV and features a hop-forward flavor with notes of citrus, pine, and subtle malt. Guinness Smooth The Guinness Smooth is a 5% ABV beer offering a more delicate flavor profile and a creamy, nitrogen-infused texture. This variant is designed to appeal to a wider audience, blending the roasted flavors of a stout with a lighter and smoother drinking experience. Guinness Special Export Originally brewed for the Belgian market, Guinness Special Export is a rich and full-bodied stout with an 8% ABV. This beer offers a robust flavor with notes of chocolate, coffee, and dark fruit, making it a luxurious and indulgent option. Guinness Black Lager Bridging the gap between stout and lager, the Guinness Black Lager boasts a 4.5% ABV. This beer is cold-brewed and offers a refreshing, crisp taste with hints of roasted barley, caramel, and hops. Guinness Foreign Extra Stout With its roots in the 1801 Extra Superior Porter, Guinness Foreign Extra Stout is a full-flavored and intense beer with a 7.5% ABV. This stout presents a rich, malty, and fruity character with a powerful yet balanced finish. This comprehensive guide covers the numerous styles and varieties of Guinness beers available, ranging from the iconic Irish Stout to more innovative options like the lagers and ales. Each variant delivers its unique flavor profile and drinking experience, adding further depth to the world of beer. Which Guinness Is The Most Popular? Guinness has a rich history and has introduced various styles of its famous stout beer over the years. Among these styles, it's worth noting which one stands out as the most popular among consumers and enthusiasts. Guinness Draught is the most widely recognized and consumed Guinness variant. Introduced in 1959, this smooth and creamy stout is celebrated for its signature surge and settle effect. It offers a perfect balance of sweet and bitter flavors, making it a favorite among stout lovers and casual drinkers alike. Not to be overshadowed, Guinness Extra Stout has also garnered a loyal following. Brewed with extra hops and roasted barley, this well-rounded beer presents a more robust flavor profile and a higher ABV when compared to Guinness Draught. It has been a staple in the Guinness lineup since the 19th century. In recent years, Guinness has ventured into new styles, such as Guinness Blonde American Lager. This crisp and light lager was created to appeal to a broader audience, and while it may not be as iconic as the classic stouts, it has gained its share of fans. To summarize, while each Guinness variant has its unique charm and appeal, Guinness Draught remains the most popular choice among consumers. Its iconic status, distinctive taste, and widespread availability make it the undisputed flagship product of the Guinness brand. Which Guinness is Hardest to Find? Guinness is known for its iconic stout, but the brand has a surprisingly diverse range of beers beyond its staple beverage. Among these varieties, some can be quite hard to come by. In this section, we take a closer look at a few rare styles one might encounter on their quests for the elusive brew. Guinness Special Export Stout: An offshoot of the classic Guinness stout, Special Export Stout was crafted with a stronger flavor and higher alcohol content. The resulting beer has a bold profile that can be truly challenging to find. Originating as an export product aimed at the Belgian market, its distribution has been limited, making it a sought-after item by Guinness enthusiasts. Guinness 200th Anniversary Export Stout: Released to celebrate the 200-year mark of Guinness exports to the United States, this limited edition stout adds complexity with malts that produce notes of caramel and toffee. While it enjoyed a wider release than some other rare editions, its limited production run contributes to its scarcity, and it may yet prove to be harder to track down as time goes by. 1963 Guinness Draft: In 1963 Guinness created a nitro-based draft, a unique innovation at the time. However, finding an original example from this era can be extremely challenging since the limited run was followed by a revamp of the brewing process shortly afterward. The rarity of this stout has made it a sort of Holy Grail among collectors. While the difficulty of finding these versions of Guinness may depend on personal connections and one's location, dedicated beer hunters will undoubtedly relish the quest. Although not all of these rare varieties can be found on tap or in bars, true aficionados might be rewarded with the opportunity to taste some of the elusive offerings from this storied brewery. Which Guinness Do Experts Pick As Their Favorite? When it comes to the diverse styles of Guinness available, experts have their own preferences based on factors such as taste, aroma, and overall experience. Here are some of the favorite picks from well-known experts in the field. Foreign Extra Stout: This Guinness variant is a popular choice for many beer experts due to its robust flavor profile and higher alcohol content of 7.5%. Its rich, dark color and complex taste, blending bitter and sweet notes, make it a standout among other styles. Draught: Guinness Draught is known for its unique creamy texture and smooth finish, largely attributed to the nitrogen gas infusion. Beer experts, particularly those who appreciate a lighter and more refreshing variant, often choose draught as their go-to Guinness. With an alcohol content of around 4.2%, this style is an excellent option for more casual drinking occasions. Antwerpen Stout: Originally brewed for the Belgian market in the 1940s, the Antwerpen Stout has made a solid impression among experts for its strong flavor and high 8% alcohol content. This style is characterized by a combination of roasted malt, dark fruit, and molasses flavors, making it an appealing option for those who seek a more intense Guinness experience. Though these three styles are common favorites among experts, it is important to note that personal preferences can always vary, and trying different Guinness styles is the best way to discern which one suits your taste buds best. Limited Edition and Seasonal Guinness Beers Guinness Antwerpen Stout It is a dark and rich stout that is brewed with a blend of roasted barley and hops, giving it a complex flavor profile that includes notes of coffee, chocolate, and caramel. The beer is also known for its creamy mouthfeel and smooth finish, making it a popular choice among stout enthusiasts. Guinness Rye Pale Ale It is a modern take on a classic pale ale, featuring a blend of malted barley and rye grains, as well as a variety of hops from around the world. The beer has a golden color and a crisp, refreshing taste, with notes of citrus and pine from the hops, and a subtle spiciness from the rye. It is a relatively new addition to the Guinness lineup, having been introduced in 2015 as part of the brewery's "Brewers Project" series, which focuses on experimentation and innovation in brewing. Guinness Milk Stout It is a sweet and creamy stout that is brewed with lactose, a type of sugar that is derived from milk. The lactose gives the beer a smooth and velvety mouthfeel, while also adding a subtle sweetness to the flavor profile. The beer also features a blend of roasted malts and hops, which give it a rich and complex taste that includes notes of coffee, chocolate, and caramel. Guinness Milk Stout is a relatively new addition to the Guinness lineup, having been introduced in 2020 as part of the brewery's effort to expand its range of stouts and explore new brewing techniques. History of Guinness Guinness, a world-renowned Irish stout, has a rich history that dates back to the 18th century. Its origin can be traced to Arthur Guinness, who established the now-iconic Guinness Brewery in Dublin, Ireland, in 1759. The beginning of the Guinness story unfolded when Arthur signed an unprecedented lease for 9,000 years, showcasing his confidence in the product and its long-lasting success. In the early years, the Guinness Brewery focused primarily on producing ales. However, Arthur recognized the growing popularity of porters and stouts in England, prompting him to shift the brewery's focus. By the end of the 1770s, Guinness began exporting their stouts to England, marking the start of the brand's international expansion. Over time, the brewing process for Guinness evolved, initially using wooden vats for aging and eventually transitioning to metal casks. Arthur continuously improved the quality and taste of the stout throughout the brewery's existence. Furthermore, the company's expertise in the brewing industry allowed them to create various styles of Guinness, each with distinct flavors and characteristics. A significant milestone in the history of Guinness was its 250th anniversary in 2009. To commemorate this landmark event, limited-edition brews were released, celebrating the brewery's long-lasting legacy and bringing new attention to the brand's innovative nature. Today, Guinness remains a staple of Irish culture and pubs worldwide, and the company continues to experiment with new styles and flavors. The history of Guinness is a testament to Arthur Guinness's foresight, dedication, and unmatched craftsmanship in the brewing industry. Noteworthy Facts and Trivias Guinness, the iconic Irish stout, is enjoyed by millions of people worldwide. As one of the most recognizable beer brands, Guinness has cultivated a rich history and multiple styles that cater to various tastes. Here are some facts and trivias about Guinness that highlight its importance and versatility. The recipe for Guinness has evolved from its humble beginnings in the 1750s. Today, it uses a specific strain of yeast, roasted un-malted barley, hops, and water. One interesting ingredient added to Guinness is sugar, which contributes to its unique flavor profile. Guinness is brewed using mosaic hops, a key component in its distinct, bitter taste. These hops are added during the brewing process, providing Guinness with its signature bold, roasted flavor that has stood the test of time. Guinness believes in the principle of moderation when it comes to consuming alcoholic beverages. This is evident by the lower alcohol content in many of its beer styles. A typical Guinness draught, for example, contains only 4.2% alcohol by volume (ABV), making it a more moderate choice compared to other stronger beer brands. Although Guinness is enjoyed by both men and women alike, some interesting facts about the beer's impact on men have emerged. Studies have shown that men who drink Guinness in moderation tend to have a lower risk of developing heart disease than those who abstain from alcohol or consume it in excess. In terms of sales, Guinness is a powerhouse in the global beer market. While it is most popular in its home country of Ireland, it also enjoys strong sales in countries like the United Kingdom, Nigeria, and the United States. Below is a short list of facts about Guinness: The brewery at St. James's Gate in Dublin, Ireland, was leased by Arthur Guinness in 1759 for a period of 9,000 years. "Guinness is good for you" was once an actual advertising slogan used by the brand, although it is now recognized as more of a cultural myth. The iconic Guinness toucan mascot first appeared in 1935 and remains a cultural symbol of the brand. Guinness, an iconic alcoholic beverage, has a fascinating history and diverse range of styles enjoyed by people across the globe. Its unique ingredients, use of mosaic hops, sales figures, and facts about moderate consumption all contribute to its enduring appeal.