From County Clare to The Cobblestone, Brazen Head, Kyteler’s Inn, and Mutton Lane Inn, I’ve tasted Guinness from kegs on the floor at room temperature in the late ’70’s to the 21st Century “chilled” stout, I never developed a taste for Guinness until I tasted Foreign Stout here in my own backyard.
A bit of Guinness background should be noted.
While there is no exact, real-time count, almost all of the roughly 7,000+ pubs in Ireland serve Guinness Stout on tap. It is the biggest-selling beer in the country, and draught Guinness is ubiquitous in both rural and city pubs, as well as being a staple in almost every Irish pub.
Enough said.
But what about the origin of Foreign Stout?
Guinness introduced the precursor to Foreign Stout, originally known as “West India Porter,” in 1801. Developed by Arthur Guinness II, this stronger, heavily hopped beer was designed to survive long sea journeys to international markets, becoming a popular staple in the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia.
On January 1, 1801, the “Act of Union” officially went into effect, merging the Kingdom of Ireland with Great Britain to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. This dissolved the Irish Parliament in Dublin, with representation moving to Westminster in London, marking a major loss of political autonomy.
Back to the key details about the introduction of Foreign Stout:
- Original Purpose: The high hop content was intended to act as a preservative for the long, four-to-five-week journey to tropical locations.
- Evolution: The name evolved from West India Porter (1801) to Guinness Foreign Extra Stout.
- Strength: It remains a high-ABV stout, typically around 7.5%.
- Global Reach: While it arrived in the U.S. early on, by the 1820s, it was being shipped to places like Barbados and Sierra Leone.
About Guinness Foreign Stout
- Style: Stout
- ABV: 7.5%
- IBU: 45-65
- Appearance: Deeply dark and almost black-ruby with a thick and creamy khaki-colored long-lasting head.
- Flavor Profile: Dominant notes of roasted malt, bittersweet chocolate, and espresso-like coffee. Bold, bitter, and delightfully complex.
- Aroma: Prominent notes of dark chocolate, coffee, and caramel.
- Hops: Primarily Kent Goldings.
- Mouthfeel: Full-bodied and creamy with a “vibrant bitterness” and a dry, lingering finish.
- Overall Impression: I don’t know why it has been almost 16 years since this rendition was introduced to the US and I haven’t lifted a glass but I’m glad that I have finally gotten around to enjoying this iconic brew for the first time (actually I’ve enjoyed a few four-packs over the past two weeks). Thoroughly impressed with this stout and highly recommend it to those of you, like me, who have been in the dark for so long.
Hopinionated Rating 4.50/5.0
Sip or Skip – Sip
Community Reviews & Comments
- LIMPD: The Foreign Extra was more like a Founders Breakfast Stout or a Snake River Brewing Zonker Stout. This was Guinness all dressed up and ready to go out, with more depth and complexity than the original.
- ramsyed4: This is solid. It’s from a bi brand but it’s great.
- The_Snow_Bird: Pours dark black with a medium frothy caramel head on top. Has a roasted malt smell with a small hint of something sweet. Earthy and roasted coffee taste with a caramel aftertaste.
- Spankyrightus: The hops bitterness profile is outstanding, surprisingly well balanced. The mouthfeel is lite to medium, and the tangy finish with the roasted malty aftertaste is very enjoyable. I haven’t had one of these in years, and have forgotten how good it was.
- Dools9: Taste follows the nose. Bittersweet chocolate, molasses, dark fruit, raisins, brown bread. Nice bitterness. Medium bodied, slick, creamy. Dry finish with a lingering bitterness. Very nice beer.
- LiquidAmber: The finish was completely unexpected with a noticeable bitterness that is hoppy, but also reminiscent of strong coffee, a great combination. A fine export stout from a legendary brewery. Quite enjoyable and interesting.
- highdesertdrinker: I heard this was the class of the Guinness stout family and I would tend to agree. It has that Guinness taste with a little extra complexity and the 7.5 is plenty of heft.
- Beer Brackets YouTube review.
Explore Similar Beers To Guinness Foreign Stout
- Lion Stout (Lion Brewery, Sri Lanka): A top-tier 8.8% ABV export stout that mirrors the rich, dried-fruit and chocolate profile of Guinness Foreign Extra. It is widely considered one of the best mass-market examples of the style.
- O’Hara’s Leann Folláin (Carlow Brewing Company): An authentic Irish-made extra stout (6.0% ABV) that provides a fuller, more complex body than standard stouts, with a distinctive roast and dark chocolate finish.
- Dragon Stout (Desnoes & Geddes, Jamaica): A 7.5% ABV stout that is very popular in tropical markets. It is often described as slightly sweeter and heavier than regular Foreign Extra, with a “rum-like” quality.
- Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout (North Coast Brewing): If you enjoy the “kick” and intensity of Foreign Extra, this 9.0% ABV stout is a classic upgrade. It offers deep coffee and bitter dark chocolate notes with a warming finish.
- Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro (Left Hand Brewing): For those who like the smoothness of Guinness but want the “hoppiness and slight sour notes” found in Foreign Extra, this is a highly recommended craft alternative.
Have you tried Guinness Foreign Stout? If so, let us know what you think about it and we’ll include your comment in our Community Reviews and Comments section.
Send us an email at justabeerblogger@gmail.com.
Cheers!
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