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Guinness Foreign Extra Stout

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The oldest surviving line in the range, first exported in 1801 as West India Porter and brewed with extra hops and a higher gravity so it would survive voyages of four to five weeks into tropical ports. The aroma is robust and roasted, with dark chocolate, caramel and dried fruit over a base of roasted barley. The liquid is black under a frothy tan head, the body full, the coffee character pronounced, and the sweetness stays behind a firm hop bitterness that lingers.

ABV
7.5%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter47 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark35
PaceSipper

AWARDS

Gold
World Beer Awards
Imperial Stout
★Gold — World Beer Awards (Imperial Stout)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
roastedcoffeechocolate
roasted
coffee
chocolate
hoppy
caramel
dark fruit
Aroma
The nose is boldly assertive with prominent roasted barley and dark chocolate notes forming the aromatic foundation.
not found:juicy,bready,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Guinness Foreign Extra Stout

◎ Appearance

Deep black color with excellent clarity, topped by a dense and creamy tan head that exhibits impressive retention. The viscous, frothy collar demonstrates the beer's full body and nitrogen carbonation characteristic of the style.

jet blackcreamy tan headdense foamopaque

◌ Aroma

The nose is boldly assertive with prominent roasted barley and dark chocolate notes forming the aromatic foundation. Complex secondary aromas of dried fruit, caramel, and a subtle hoppy character layer beneath, creating a sophisticated and inviting profile.

roasted barleydark chocolatedried fruithoppy

◐ Taste

The palate opens with rich coffee and roasted malt flavors, followed by pronounced chocolate and caramel sweetness in the mid-palate. A firm, lingering hop bitterness emerges to balance the inherent sweetness, creating excellent complexity and preventing cloying characteristics.

coffee-forwardchocolate-richbitter finishwell-balanced

◑ Finish

The finish is long and satisfying, with persistent hop bitterness that gradually transitions to dry roasted notes. The aftertaste remains clean and refined, leaving a pleasant reminder of coffee and dark chocolate.

lingering bitternessdry roastedclean aftertaste
87
hopIQ score
Aroma
86
Taste
88
Appearance
85
Finish
87
Serve at 10–14°C

Slightly warmer than you might expect. 10–13°C lets the roasted malt, chocolate and coffee notes open up fully.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Drink within a year. Standard stouts are best fresh but hold reasonably well for 6–12 months.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Guinness Foreign Extra Stout

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About Foreign Extra Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Foreign Extra Stout?

Stouts are dark ales with roasted barley character, 4–8% ABV and IBU 25–45. Expect coffee, dark chocolate and toast flavors with a creamy body and dry finish.

Finding a similar Foreign Extra Stout

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same roasted, coffee, chocolate character as Guinness Foreign Extra Stout will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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