Guinness Special Export (Belgian version)

Brewed by St. James’s Gate (Diageo)
Style: Foreign Stout
Dublin, Ireland

I was running out of steam after a weak long run in Krefeld/Dusseldorf, Germany and Ieper/Poperinge, Belgium, so I need to get back to this one, because it may have been better than what I make of it. In any event, it poured a nice dark black color with a head that was initially nice, but not overly impressive. The aroma was really vinous along with the chocolate base (very interesting). The flavor was much of the same and something about the combination of the bitterness (chocolate) with this level of alcohol just didn’t strike the flavor or mouthfeel fancy. In fact, I missed the nitro mouthfeel, as this seemed to be on C02.

Black body, huge staying light brown head, no laces; Quite big soft nose, that could be deeper and more complex: mostly buttery malt, soft English licorice, very soft coffee, very pleasant but lacks complexity; Nice carbonation a little sharp though, soft and quite bitter body; Into evolving bitter medium full finish with coffee, licorice and candied sugar, quite bitter a bit thin, becomes dry with length.

Daek brown/black in color with a large light tan head. Aroma of chocolate,coffee,sweet malt and caramel. Fruity, bitter/sweet flavor.

Bottle... Black ale with a mid-sized, creamy, beige head. Chocolaty, smoky nose with coffee, caramel, molasses and alcohol. Chocolaty, burnt flavor with mild sweetness and medium bitterness. Full-bodied and creamy with medium carbonation. Finishes chocolatey, bitter and dry. Thanks go out to Brian at Westridge Liquor in Frederick, MD for providing the bottle!

(Bottle BB 04/07/07) Roasted malty, caramel and slightly hoppy aroma. Black colour and large, light brown, mostly lasting head with fair lacing. Roasted malty (even burned), moderately bitter, liqueur and slightly fruity flavour. Slightly carbonated, light alcoholic, warming and medium to full-bodied palate. Very good stout but slightly too alcoholic! 12/05/06

Top beer. Strong dark flavours, bitter toffee chocolate aftertaste. Really enjoyed this one

Big thanks to Saarlander for bringing a bottle back from Europe and sending it my way in a recent trade!!!

33cl bottle, and no annoying little nitro ball. almost black on the pour with a big frothy light brown head. lace that lasts to the bottom of my snifter. aroma is of dark roasted malt, raisins and a bit of alcohol. mmmm... this is more full-bodied than the Guinness served here in North America. flavors are more roast malts, licorice, raisins and some chocolate and nuts thrown into the mix. very nice, I could get used to this! Thanks a bunch for the gem Aaron.

Bottle at the Criterion, Leicester 18/03/2006 Black and slightly rich on the palate with some fruit and roast aromas. Bitter and slightly dry. Lasting coffee roast flavoured finish.