Guinness Original XX
Guinness Ltd.

Guinness Original XXGuinness Original XX
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From:
Guinness Ltd.
 
Ireland
Style:
Irish Dry Stout
Ranked #117
ABV:
4.2%
Score:
80
Ranked #26,285
Avg:
3.39 | pDev: 20.65%
Reviews:
13
Ratings:
31
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 14, 2024
Added:
Jun 30, 2015
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  9
If you were in a pub sometime between 1821 and 1970, chances are this is the Guinness you would have been drinking. Originally brewed as the XX version of our Porter, it’s hoppy, roasty, and crisp, with a bittersweet finish.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ArtZan:
Photo of ArtZan
Rated by ArtZan from New Jersey

3/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Feb 01, 2016
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.53 by Dethark from England

Feb 14, 2024
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.77/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
2004: I too prefer the draught version (nitro can incl.) - but still the original is very, very good! Try it with bacon and eggs - makes you want to eat breakfast all day. Later sampled on numerous occasions, still decent.
May 05, 2021
Photo of JonnoWillsteed
Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England

3.63/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
L- Almost black, just a glint of deep chestnut/ruby when held right by a halogen lamp. Clear, pours with pillowy pale tan fine-bubble head.
S- Any aroma is reaally mild to me - I likely have winter congestion. Just a light roasty/toasty scent, plus a touch of light coffee.
T- Well roasted taste and some coffee notes. Balance is good. The bitter/over-carbonated taste of UK brewed Guinness is entirely absent. - Serve/drink chilled, it gets a bit too bitter as it warms.
F- A hoppy edge seems to comes through at the finish, after the roasted + coffee notes have subsided. Again the balance seems good.
O- This can was a gift bought in Dublin and given to me in London. I've never been a fan of UK brewed Guinness, so by extension over say 30 years I avoided stout in general. UK-Guinness and the arguably more insipid Mackeson's stout seemed the only choices back then. Then about 20 years ago I visited Dublin and had local-brewed Guinness hand-pumped in pints. That was when I had a bit of an epiphany re: how stout could be brewed. Now I'll try other stouts/porters and have found several that have been great (examples: Tynt Meadow and Harvey's Imperial Extra Double Stout. Oh and the legendary Icelandic Lava Beer! ). So these days I would drink a great stout/porter, though I'd likely consider it more of a winter beer for me, when my palate is craving beer with impact.

500ml can. BB: 25/05/20. ps 15mins after pouring and half way through, head is still a complete 3mm cap + lacing down the sides. Impressive for a can with no CO2 widget in it.
Dec 15, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by NightINgale from Russian Federation

Sep 21, 2019
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Reviewed by Snowcrash000 from Germany

3.34/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Pours a pitch black coloration with a large, creamy head. Smells of light roasted, caramel malt, brown bread and coffee, although the aroma is rather faint. Taste follows the nose, with some very faint notes of roasted, caramel malt, brown bread, coffee and herbal hops. Finishes with a medium bitterness and some roasted malt and coffee notes lingering in the aftertaste. Thin mouthfeel with a light body and medium carbonation.

This does feel a bit thin and watery, but does still have some nice roasted malt and coffee notes to it, even though they feel a bit watered down. It's not terrible, but there is much better stuff available at a similar price point.
Apr 09, 2019
 
Rated: 3.48 by Eychung from New York

Jun 24, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by Darrin_Smith from Massachusetts

Mar 22, 2018
 
Rated: 5 by OzmanBey from Massachusetts

Dec 23, 2017
Photo of Jugs_McGhee
Reviewed by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado

3.4/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Nabbed as part of a variety 12 pack at a Total Wine & More. 11.2 fl oz brown glass bottle with a pry-off crown cap.

Brief initial impression:

B- / WORTHY
Dec 10, 2017
Photo of RonaldTheriot
Reviewed by RonaldTheriot from Louisiana

4.73/5  rDev +39.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Guinness Original has a thick, creamy, beige head, a dark brown, with red highlights, appearance, and some spiderweb glass lacing. Aroma is of dark-roasted malt, cream, coffee, and brown bread crust. Taste is of those elements, with some acrid char, but no burnt qualities. Mouthfeel is light to medium, and Guinness Original finishes very dry.

RJT
Oct 22, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by paulish from New York

Sep 26, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by ArkyVaughan from New Jersey

Jul 10, 2017
Photo of Fine-Ale-Countdown
Reviewed by Fine-Ale-Countdown from Ireland

4.12/5  rDev +21.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
poured from a pint bottle from the fridge. Looks black, maybe a bit red when held up to the light but what are you doing holding it up to the light? Thin head with carbonation dancing merrily on top. Doesn't smell like much but I like it cold. Maybe a bit muted and thin tasting compared to other stouts but it is eminently swampable. Perfect with a packet of crisps on a Sunday afternoon
Apr 26, 2017
Photo of Spike
Reviewed by Spike from England

2.41/5  rDev -28.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
From a 440ml can.
L: Very dark brown with a ruby tinge. Thin, off-white head that reduces to a smear but leaves lots of lacing.
S: Some low-key, rather bland, roasted malt.
T: Thin, weak caramel.
F: Watery & dry.
O: Incredibly disappointing. Lack of flavour. Lack of body. No coffee, no chocolate, no fruit. Thin & metallic. Dreadful.
Mar 17, 2017
Photo of Beerucee
Rated by Beerucee from Texas

2.5/5  rDev -26.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Too fizzy. At Beshoff for fish and chips, Dublin.
Mar 12, 2017
 
Rated: 4.16 by clarknova from Germany

Feb 13, 2017
Photo of Vader444
Reviewed by Vader444 from Scotland

1.89/5  rDev -44.2%
look: 2.75 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Bottle pour into nonic pint glass.

Wow, this is a really bad beer. I try not to be too critical, after all I have never brewed a thing in my life but this smells and tastes of almost nothing. The closest I can think of is Perrier. Way too gassy for a stout. Maybe I've been spoiling myself with too many RIS style beers and my expectations have changed. I respect that this is a tribute to a historical beer style but thank god I wasn't alive back then if this was the norm. Cheers
Jan 09, 2017
 
Rated: 2.93 by Macamah from England

Jan 06, 2017
 
Rated: 3.69 by DownyIsHungry from Minnesota

Nov 11, 2016
Guinness Original XX from Guinness Ltd.
Beer rating: 80 out of 100 with 31 ratings