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Guinness West Indies Porter

Guinness
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🌍 Ireland · Porter · One of 84 Porters in hopIQ

Released in 2014 from the Brewers Project and reconstructed from an 1801 entry in the brewery diaries describing the forerunner of Foreign Extra Stout. It pours opaque ebony under a thick ivory head. The aroma carries chocolate, molasses, raisin and mocha coffee with cut grass and pine from the hopping. The palate sets dark chocolate, caramel and coffee against oak and vanilla, and a resinous, grassy bitterness lingers well past the swallow.

ABV
6%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter50 IBU
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
dark28
See all Porter alternatives →

AWARDS

World's Best Strong Porter
World Beer Awards
Ireland's Best Strong Porter
World Beer Awards
World's Best Strong Porter — World Beer Awards
Ireland's Best Strong Porter — World Beer Awards
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
Substantial body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Firm bitter edge.
mildbitter
Texture
Balanced mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

A frame with real heft — the palate has plenty to hold onto through the finish.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Porter.
Hop character
resinous
piney
grassy
Malt character
chocolate
coffee
caramel
roasted
Distinctive notes
oakvanilla

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Guinness West Indies Porter

Appearance

This porter presents an opaque ebony hue that exemplifies the style's dark character. A thick, creamy ivory head crowns the glass with excellent retention, creating an inviting visual presentation. The deep black color with minimal light transmission demonstrates the high roast level of the grain bill.

opaque ebonythick ivory headcreamy foamjet black

Aroma

The nose opens with prominent dark chocolate and molasses notes, followed by raisin and mocha coffee that reflect its historical brewing origins. A supporting cast of cut grass and pine from the hopping adds complexity and prevents the aroma from becoming one-dimensional. These aromatic layers suggest both malt-forward character and thoughtful hop selection.

dark chocolatemolassesmocha coffeegrassy pine

Taste

The palate delivers a sophisticated interplay of dark chocolate and caramel sweetness against oak and vanilla undertones. A resinous, grassy bitterness emerges mid-palate, balancing the malt-derived sweetness with notable hop presence. The 50 IBUs manifest as a firm, lingering bitterness that defines the finish without overshadowing the rich malt complexity.

dark chocolatecaramel sweetnessresinous bitternessoak vanilla

Finish

The finish is dry and persistent, with the grassy, resinous bitterness extending well past the swallow. This lengthy aftertaste reinforces the beer's hop character while allowing subtle roasted grain notes to linger on the palate.

lingering bitterdrypersistent
85
hopIQ score
Aroma
86
Taste
87
Appearance
88
Finish
82
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Guinness West Indies Porter

Serve at 10–13°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 10–13°C. Too cold mutes the roasted complexity that makes a good porter worth drinking slowly.

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 6–12 months for best results. Baltic Porters can be aged longer.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Guinness West Indies Porter

About Porter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Porter?

Porters are dark ales with 4–6.5% ABV and IBU 18–35. Roasted malt brings chocolate, caramel and toffee — medium body with a clean finish.

Finding a similar Porter

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

Other Porters in hopIQ

Compare with another beer →Explore all Porter beers in hopIQ →New to Porter? Read our guide →Browse Ireland beers →