Guinness Special Export Stout / Antwerpen Stout
Guinness Ltd.

Guinness Special Export Stout / Antwerpen StoutGuinness Special Export Stout / Antwerpen Stout
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From:
Guinness Ltd.
 
Ireland
Style:
Foreign / Export Stout
Ranked #6
ABV:
8%
Score:
91
Ranked #6,155
Avg:
4.1 | pDev: 10.24%
Reviews:
302
Ratings:
652
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 29, 2024
Added:
Jun 28, 2003
Wants:
  165
Gots:
  130
This 8% abv stout has long been a secret pleasure among beer connoisseurs and indeed our Brewers, who value the mouth watering intensity of its roasted malt, smoked wood and dark chocolate notes, not to mention it's excellent and seemingly endless finish. Since 1944 we have been exclusively exporting this same special stout from Ireland into Belgium through the vibrant port of Antwerp. This is the first time we're making it available for general release in America.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Argion:
Photo of Argion
Reviewed by Argion from New York

4.67/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I had a chance to try this beer again while in Greece. The Foreign Extra Stout has become my favorite Guinness in the US so I wanted to have another taste of this guy to see who would win out. I would say no doubt that this is my favorite Guinness stout and rates high overall on the stouts I like. Even though not classified an Imperial stout, the alcohol content is high. It lacks the bitterness of a regular Guinness; it is almost sweet. Pours a dark black colour with no head. I don't know if it is served on tap anywhere but I would like to try it if it is.
Feb 02, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.9 by Supper1

Jan 29, 2024
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Reviewed by tenbeersbold from Germany

4.38/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Really the only Guinness worth drinking...well ok the Foreign Extra Stout is pretty good too!
Deep, dark and full of roasted malt with a killer mouthfeel
This one goes down full bodied and smooth with a sublime long burnt smoky finish
This one actually tastes like all the marketing BS Guinness throws at their mostly watery low alcohol mass brews
Oct 30, 2023
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Reviewed by OlaB from Norway

4.09/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a deep dark color with a medium top of beige head that dissolves slowly.
Aroma is of roasted malts, caramel, chocolate, dark bread, slightly coffee and some dried fruits.
The taste is of roasted malts, allong with with caramel, bready notes and some coffee hints. This is nicely ballanced with dry fruity notes in the flavour. The finish is slightly bitter allong with the roasted notes in the background.
Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy with a medium carbonation and a medium body.
This was actually a really solid and enjoyable stout. A little surprised that it was this nice and enjoyable.
Sep 08, 2023
 
Rated: 4.1 by Curt3 from Ohio

Nov 09, 2022
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Reviewed by misteil from Ireland

4.17/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
a beer ive been wanting to try for a very long time (they don’t sell it in ireland, or at least ive never been able to find it) and it’s quite good indeed, big meaty stout, dark malt flavour, molasses, marmite, liquorice, espresso, dark chocolate, tobacco, a nice dark fruit sweetness to it also, prune, fig, plum, hint of vanilla, slightly oaky, high bitterness on the finish, medium bodied, low carbonation, moderately viscous, a little thin for its strength which is the one drawback, but it is quite nice, happy to have finally tried it
Apr 20, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Aug 25, 2021
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Reviewed by RaulMondesi from California

3.5/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Was pumped like a 1990’s Reebok, but I was letdown like Jordan not being in NBA Jam. It’s ok, and better than regular Guinness, but not by much. Just a lil more taste and body. Like those lip Kardashian’s against Kim.

Peace.
Aug 09, 2021
 
Rated: 3.5 by NickMunford from Wyoming

Jul 18, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by doctorgary from New York

Apr 13, 2021
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Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England

3.94/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
#1746 - Blind-tasted except for the beer's name and brewery/country, zero reviews below read (yet!)...
L- 330ml bottle marked on main front lable as 'Guinness Special Export'.
Superficially black, held up to a halogen actually ultra deep ruby-red. Clear, pours with a 5mm deep tan head (of fine bubbles suggesting it'll stick around). ps It does, and forms lacing, still lingering 20mins later...
S- Toasty-roasty-fireplaces... + some hints of fruit I believe, dark raisons?
T- Here the fruit/raisons... almost a wine-like aspect to it comes first. It's pungent but has a deep + sliiightly sour fruit aspect. It is nothing less that INCREDIBLY different from the swill you would get if you asked to be poured a pint of CO2-forced draft under-license black stuff you'd find in almost all UK pubs
F- It's pretty pungent and somewhat rich. The pungent/rich+slightly sour is a clever interplay.
O- The beer I just had earlier was a Nigerian brewed Guinness. This is different, nothing stands out of place as unblanced or 'wrong [or WTH is this facet]'. It's pungent yet refined, very easy drinking. Expensive but good and an experience, not likely something most will be buying frequently as a specialist import
As I understand it this is brewed in Ireland (shows what they CAN actually brew in Dublin!) and is exported under a special commission contract for the style to Belgium.
I'm not a born Guinness drinker, most UK brewed Guinness is rough. Now if it tasted anything like this I'd happily drink it!
Review/scoring all done, now the reveal, I get to read the bottle lables to see what I missed!
330ml bottle £4.15 BB: 18/06/2021 8% Bought from TremblingMadness, York/UK as part of a large pick-your own consignment to London.
At this shop^ it is described thus: 'Export Stout // 8.0% Abv // 330ml Commissioned by John Martin of Belgium in 1912. The first variety of Guinness to be pasteurised, in 1930.'
Apr 13, 2021
 
Rated: 4.28 by micada from New York

Mar 18, 2021
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Rated by JWChamberland from Maine

4.75/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Delicious
Nov 02, 2020
 
Rated: 3.93 by DucksFan16 from Tennessee

Aug 20, 2020
 
Rated: 4.25 by Velivolus1 from Vermont

Aug 02, 2020
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Reviewed by Scoopdogg_ from Pennsylvania

4.9/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This was my favorite beer for a long time until I tried Focal Banger by Alchemist brewery. I've then tried Heady Topper by Alchemist, the former KING #1 ranked beer on Beer Advocate (currently #5). So how has my opinion of this much lower ranked beer changed? Well, I still consider this a MASTERPIECE and the best Guinness on the market!
It goes down unbelievably smooth for a beer, let alone an 8% ABV beer. It gives you that Guinness, Stouty, Irish flavor you've come to know and love but at the same time, it tastes more refined. If you like Stouts, this beer is in a class of its own and it truly stands up to any beer in enjoyability of flavor!
Jun 16, 2020
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Reviewed by josanguapo from Spain

4/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
De Hipercor. En vaso de pinta inglesa de Ikea. Jugando a Spiderman. Se bebe pasmosamente bien para el abv que lleva, y tiene unas agradables notas a frutas oscuras, con quizás algo de regaliz. También tiene un toque ligeramente metálico que no llega a molestar
Jun 16, 2020
Photo of Specialmick
Reviewed by Specialmick from Connecticut

3.59/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Look.. Again the very nice stout look. One of the first brands of stout(like many of my generation) I ever tried 30 years ago.
Smell...eh not much. roasty
Taste...Similar start to the on I had last night sour bitter malt in that order (The Foreign Stout) but on the back end very nice sweetness ,choc, roast, mmm
Feel..kinda thin but very like many of the stouts from Guinness
Overall... I like. good not great but still really solid. Nothing I would not finish gladly
May 13, 2020
 
Rated: 4.56 by wisrarebeer from Wisconsin

Mar 24, 2020
 
Rated: 4.5 by Bitburger from Vermont

Mar 23, 2020
Guinness Special Export Stout / Antwerpen Stout from Guinness Ltd.
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 652 ratings