REVIEW 60: GUINNESS DRAUGHT

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  Ireland

BREWERY:  Guinness Ltd.

STYLE:  Dry Stout

ABV:  4.2%

PURCHASE:  Draught (pint), $6.00

SERVING:  Pint glass--sadly, not a Guinness-branded one. 3/4-inch head from the tap. Excellent head retention.

APPEARANCE:  Ultra-dark brown, almost black*. Beige-tinted, dense head. Good lacing, though it was initially more like blotches.

BOUQUET:  Clean aroma for a stout. Toffee-like notes are traceable, as is a touch o'molasses. (See what I did there?) Somewhat floral--not the most expected thing with a stout, but it works. Dig deeper and you'll find accents of coffee, chocolate, and oats** and other malted grain.

PALATE:  Light, easygoing body for a stout. Carbonation is almost nonexistent. Semi-creamy yet thin mouthfeel; in fact, in some ways, this is like an English bitter or mild ale. The toffee that seemed evident in the aroma is absent in the taste. The front palate takes on the taste of iced coffee doused with a little bitter chocolate**. Toasted grain--mainly oats** and possibly barley--characterizes the aftertaste above all else. Finish is actually somewhat yeasty, like some adjuncts. Also evident at the end with this one? Hops. Just a little. Not the first thing you think of with a stout. But again, it works. 

MUSINGS AND METAPHORS:  By now, Guinness has been surpassed on the stout front many times over. That said, it remains a solid choice even for a discriminating beer snob like myself. It has a smoothness and an "everyday beer" quality to it that, in my experience, most other stouts lack. Foodwise, it goes with practically anything, and is also used in the preparation of many dishes (ever have a Guinness steak?). By itself, it's a beer that serves more than one purpose: It contains anti-oxidants that fight cholesterol and aid in maintaining a healthy heart, according to various studies. Though the company itself shies away from making any medical claims. 




GRADE:  B-


*Turns out it's actually very, very, very dark ruby. Seriously.

**None of these things are actually in the beer. It only gives that impression. Guinness is made with roasted barley malt, brewer's yeast, water, and hops. That's it.