Guinness Special Export Stout / Antwerpen Stout | Guinness Ltd.




Brewed by:
Guinness Ltd.
Ireland
guinness.com
Style: Foreign / Export Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
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.
Added by TheLongBeachBum on 06-28-2003
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers
Ratings: 562 | Reviews: 270
3.73/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.82/5 rDev -7.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A 330ml bottle with a BB of Aug 2018. Purchased a while back from Tesco. The label states that Guinness have been exporting this stout to Belgium since 1944 via the port of Antwerp.
A: Poured into a tulip. A very dark reddish-brown that appears pitch black in the glass. Yields a huge head of creamy tan foam that lasts for a while before slowly reducing to a thick surface layer. Some lacing.
S: Aroma of rich dark malt with hints of roasted grain, mild molasses, subtle dried fruit, ale yeast, faint earthiness and a whisper of booze in the background. Lovely.
T: Tastes of dark malt with notes of roasted grain, burnt barley, mild coffee, subtle molasses, a hint of dried fruit, ale yeast, vague earthiness and a touch of alcoholic heat on the finish. Slightly sweet, followed by a robust malty bitterness upon swallowing.
M: Mouthfeel is smooth, tingly and dry, with spritzy carbonation and decent body. Could be a shade thicker given the strength. Lightly astringent. Aftertaste of dark malt, roasted grain, mild molasses, ale yeast and a touch of booze.
O: Nice - a rich, balanced stout. Looks great, while the aroma and flavour are replete with dark malt and yeast notes. Good body; perhaps a tad thin. Goes down a treat, though I reckon I still prefer their regular Extra stout. Well worth sampling if you come across it.
1,334 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A 330ml bottle with a BB of Aug 2018. Purchased a while back from Tesco. The label states that Guinness have been exporting this stout to Belgium since 1944 via the port of Antwerp.
A: Poured into a tulip. A very dark reddish-brown that appears pitch black in the glass. Yields a huge head of creamy tan foam that lasts for a while before slowly reducing to a thick surface layer. Some lacing.
S: Aroma of rich dark malt with hints of roasted grain, mild molasses, subtle dried fruit, ale yeast, faint earthiness and a whisper of booze in the background. Lovely.
T: Tastes of dark malt with notes of roasted grain, burnt barley, mild coffee, subtle molasses, a hint of dried fruit, ale yeast, vague earthiness and a touch of alcoholic heat on the finish. Slightly sweet, followed by a robust malty bitterness upon swallowing.
M: Mouthfeel is smooth, tingly and dry, with spritzy carbonation and decent body. Could be a shade thicker given the strength. Lightly astringent. Aftertaste of dark malt, roasted grain, mild molasses, ale yeast and a touch of booze.
O: Nice - a rich, balanced stout. Looks great, while the aroma and flavour are replete with dark malt and yeast notes. Good body; perhaps a tad thin. Goes down a treat, though I reckon I still prefer their regular Extra stout. Well worth sampling if you come across it.
1,334 characters
4.39/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Pours opaque, blaack in color with 1/2 inch head. Taste is Tootsie Roll and peat. Medium-heavy bodied, low carbonation, smooth, creamy,sweet and roasty. Chewier, smoother Guinness. Really liking this variation. Worth seeking out.
234 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Pours opaque, blaack in color with 1/2 inch head. Taste is Tootsie Roll and peat. Medium-heavy bodied, low carbonation, smooth, creamy,sweet and roasty. Chewier, smoother Guinness. Really liking this variation. Worth seeking out.
234 characters
4.23/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.14/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.76/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A slightly weird tang and wet wood char that is interesting but strays from basic stout aspects a tad. Ok enough.
113 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A slightly weird tang and wet wood char that is interesting but strays from basic stout aspects a tad. Ok enough.
113 characters
3.91/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 ounce bottle into a snifter. Had 1/31/18.
Pours a dark cola color, somewhat opaque, with a one inch foamy head and foamy lacing. Aromas of malt, hops- a bit floral and herbal, caramel, some chocolate, smoke, light vanilla. The taste mostly follows along: malt, chocolate, floral hops, vanilla, caramel- more as it warms, light molasses, a touch of bitterness on the finish. Mostly smooth, slightly dry, a good medium body, well carbonated but a little fizzy.
Good representation of a foreign stout, although I liked their Foreign Extra Stout more. Drink this one warm, it grows on you and is definitely worth a try.
625 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 ounce bottle into a snifter. Had 1/31/18.
Pours a dark cola color, somewhat opaque, with a one inch foamy head and foamy lacing. Aromas of malt, hops- a bit floral and herbal, caramel, some chocolate, smoke, light vanilla. The taste mostly follows along: malt, chocolate, floral hops, vanilla, caramel- more as it warms, light molasses, a touch of bitterness on the finish. Mostly smooth, slightly dry, a good medium body, well carbonated but a little fizzy.
Good representation of a foreign stout, although I liked their Foreign Extra Stout more. Drink this one warm, it grows on you and is definitely worth a try.
625 characters
3.54/5 rDev -13.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
A - Pitch black pour with an uneven, soapy toffee lacing ring.
S - Dark chocolate and light smoke aroma.
T - Some chooclate, that's it.
M - Medium body and a little watery up front.
O - I don't see how or why this beer is scoring high, it doesn't have much flavor and it's thin for the style. The bottle has a stamp with "023/17" which tells me this was possibly bottled on January 23rd, 2017? If so, our local store is screwing us and I'll definitely re-visit this beer when I find one bottled more recently.
516 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
A - Pitch black pour with an uneven, soapy toffee lacing ring.
S - Dark chocolate and light smoke aroma.
T - Some chooclate, that's it.
M - Medium body and a little watery up front.
O - I don't see how or why this beer is scoring high, it doesn't have much flavor and it's thin for the style. The bottle has a stamp with "023/17" which tells me this was possibly bottled on January 23rd, 2017? If so, our local store is screwing us and I'll definitely re-visit this beer when I find one bottled more recently.
516 characters
4.21/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Strong and dark...good stout
28 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Strong and dark...good stout
28 characters
3.25/5 rDev -20.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
4.13/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Guinness beer #1 for St. Patty's day, 2018.
This was good. Black and a heavy pour with a dark and dense head that left some lacing.
Kind of a faint aroma for a beer so big but could pick up the dark malts and hits of sour.
This drinks like a amped up version of their classic stout. Moderate + feel. Nice dark roast that shy's away from being too bitter. Hits of sour. Chocolate and smooth roast. Nicely carbonated without going too big.
Drinks smaller than 8% but satisfies more than smaller version.
Nice beer and willing to buy again.
545 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Guinness beer #1 for St. Patty's day, 2018.
This was good. Black and a heavy pour with a dark and dense head that left some lacing.
Kind of a faint aroma for a beer so big but could pick up the dark malts and hits of sour.
This drinks like a amped up version of their classic stout. Moderate + feel. Nice dark roast that shy's away from being too bitter. Hits of sour. Chocolate and smooth roast. Nicely carbonated without going too big.
Drinks smaller than 8% but satisfies more than smaller version.
Nice beer and willing to buy again.
545 characters
4.21/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This beer pours a super dark brown color that lets no light through. The head is massive, creamy and mocha with excellent retention. There are sheets and webs of lacing left all over the glass.
The smell is rich roasted malts and chocolate.
Taste is the same with more flavor and another layer of complexity that I can't quite articulate the flavor of.
Feel is medium, smooth and very creamy. Ridiculously drinkable for the abv.
Overall this is the best beer by Guinness that I've had. Excellent robust flavors, but still so smooth and easy drinking.
554 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This beer pours a super dark brown color that lets no light through. The head is massive, creamy and mocha with excellent retention. There are sheets and webs of lacing left all over the glass.
The smell is rich roasted malts and chocolate.
Taste is the same with more flavor and another layer of complexity that I can't quite articulate the flavor of.
Feel is medium, smooth and very creamy. Ridiculously drinkable for the abv.
Overall this is the best beer by Guinness that I've had. Excellent robust flavors, but still so smooth and easy drinking.
554 characters
3.67/5 rDev -10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -8.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.55/5 rDev +10.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
3.25/5 rDev -20.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
4.17/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A: Pours a pitch black color with 2 fingers of head that fades down to a thin cap that leaves decent lacing
S: Roasted malt, caramel, dark chocolate, dark fruit and a touch of smoke up front. Some earthy hops in the back
T: Follows the nose. Starts off with the roasted malt, dark chocolate, and caramel and then picks up some of the smoke, molasses, and dark fruit on the back end. Finishes with lingering roast, dark chocolate, and smoke
M: Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation
O: A great stout with a touch of smoke that drinks extremely well. Definitely worth a try
581 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A: Pours a pitch black color with 2 fingers of head that fades down to a thin cap that leaves decent lacing
S: Roasted malt, caramel, dark chocolate, dark fruit and a touch of smoke up front. Some earthy hops in the back
T: Follows the nose. Starts off with the roasted malt, dark chocolate, and caramel and then picks up some of the smoke, molasses, and dark fruit on the back end. Finishes with lingering roast, dark chocolate, and smoke
M: Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation
O: A great stout with a touch of smoke that drinks extremely well. Definitely worth a try
581 characters
4.61/5 rDev +12.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
11.2 oz bottle
Pours a solid black body with a tan head. Lots of tiny carbonation bubbles. Exceptional retention,Great thin lacing on every sip. Gotta give it a (rarely given) 5.
My initial impression was dark chocolates first, then I started smelling a toffee/coffee thing that gave it an overall smokey effect . Only thing better would be if it smelled more prominent (fresher!).
Taste followed with the addition of cherries. Nice dry slightly bitter finish Only a little of the (8.0) noticed.
Medium slightly thin feel... interesting for a Guinness.
Value; (Does not affect score) As part of the 200th anniversary 12 pack for $12.49 this was an exceptional value.
My favorite from the 200th anniversary 12 pack. Really enjoyed the taste !
752 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
11.2 oz bottle
Pours a solid black body with a tan head. Lots of tiny carbonation bubbles. Exceptional retention,Great thin lacing on every sip. Gotta give it a (rarely given) 5.
My initial impression was dark chocolates first, then I started smelling a toffee/coffee thing that gave it an overall smokey effect . Only thing better would be if it smelled more prominent (fresher!).
Taste followed with the addition of cherries. Nice dry slightly bitter finish Only a little of the (8.0) noticed.
Medium slightly thin feel... interesting for a Guinness.
Value; (Does not affect score) As part of the 200th anniversary 12 pack for $12.49 this was an exceptional value.
My favorite from the 200th anniversary 12 pack. Really enjoyed the taste !
752 characters
3.71/5 rDev -9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Compared to the standard Extra Stout, this offering is lighter and not as roasty. The Belgian style yeast comes through on the nose and in the flavor.
I'd never guess this was 8% based upon the way it drinks. However, it paired well with a few anise cookies for a nice late night snack.
288 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Compared to the standard Extra Stout, this offering is lighter and not as roasty. The Belgian style yeast comes through on the nose and in the flavor.
I'd never guess this was 8% based upon the way it drinks. However, it paired well with a few anise cookies for a nice late night snack.
288 characters
Guinness Special Export Stout / Antwerpen Stout from Guinness Ltd.
Beer rating:
4.11 out of
5 with
562 ratings
0 characters. We love reviews! Turn your rating into one with ≥ 150 characters.
In English, explain why you're giving this rating. Your review must discuss the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) and your overall impression in order to indicate that you have legitimately tried the beer. Nonconstructive reviews may be removed without notice and action may be taken on your account.