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Guinness Special Export

Guinness
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🌍 Ireland · Foreign Extra Stout · One of 15 Foreign Extra Stouts in hopIQ

Commissioned in 1912 by a Belgian importer and shipped from Dublin to Antwerp ever since; it was also the first Guinness to be pasteurised, in 1930. At eight per cent it is the strongest beer in the range. The aroma is dense with roasted malt, dark chocolate and a smoky, woody edge. The palate is thick and mouth-filling, the roast bitterness firm, and the finish runs long without turning harsh. In the United States it has been sold as Antwerpen Stout.

ABV
8%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter52 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark35
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Full body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Firm bitter edge.
mildbitter
Texture
Somewhat creamy mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

The weight carries the beer on its own, leaving the aromatics free to lead.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Foreign Extra Stout.
Malt character
roasted
chocolate
coffee
Distinctive notes
smoky
dark fruit

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Guinness Special Export

◎ Appearance

Deep black pour with a dense, creamy tan head that persists impressively throughout the glass. The clarity is opaque as expected for the style, with a rich, oily sheen that speaks to its full-bodied nature. Excellent head retention and minimal carbonation create an elegant, refined presentation.

deep blackcreamy tan headopaqueoily sheen

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with prominent roasted malt and dark chocolate notes, accented by a distinctive smoky, woody character. Secondary aromas of coffee and charred grain emerge with time, while subtle dark fruit undertones provide complexity. The aromatic profile is dense and inviting without being overpowering.

roasted maltdark chocolatesmoky-woodycoffee

◐ Taste

The palate is thick and luxuriously mouth-filling, with the roasted bitterness arriving firm and well-integrated at mid-palate. Flavors of dark chocolate, coffee, and subtle dark fruit weave seamlessly through the body, supported by the warming presence of 8% ABV. The roast character dominates without turning acrid or harsh.

thick bodyroasted bitternesschocolate-coffeewarming alcohol

◑ Finish

The finish runs long and persistent, leaving a pleasant roasted grain and dark chocolate aftertaste that gradually fades. The bitterness lingers without becoming astringent, demonstrating excellent balance and refinement.

long lingeringroasted aftertastebalanced
87
hopIQ score
Aroma
88
Taste
87
Appearance
85
Finish
86
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Guinness Special Export

Serve at 10–14°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

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

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

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.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Guinness Special Export

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, chocolate, bitter character as Guinness Special Export will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Foreign Extra Stouts in hopIQ

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