-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Guinness Draught
Guinness Ltd.
- From:
- Guinness Ltd.
- Ireland
- Style:
- Irish Dry Stout
Ranked #102 - ABV:
- 4.2%
- Score:
- 82
Ranked #25,327 - Avg:
- 3.6 | pDev: 19.44%
- Reviews:
- 2,523
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Yesterday at 07:14 PM
- Added:
- Feb 02, 2001
- Wants:
- 192
- Gots:
- 2,903
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by angrybabboon:
Reviewed by angrybabboon from Massachusetts
3.81/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.81/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Review based on notes taken 9/19/15
Note 1: This is my 1000th full beer review.
I saved Guinness Draught for #1000 because it has a strong significance in my personal beer history. It was one of the first beers I ever tried, and it was the first beer I had on my 21st birthday. This beer has popped up at various points in my life, and I will mention those in the course of this review, prefaced with asterisks***.
Note 2: On-tap, nitro (of course)
A: Seemingly jet black from a distance, but it is really more of a dark, deep brown upon inspection - comes off the nitro with a medium-large, dense, solid, light tan head, with the characteristic cascade - small bubbles occasionally break the soft surface of the head that can only really exist thanks to nitrogen - the head does slowly fade to a small, but solid cap, but that does stick around indefinitely - leaves a wall of lacing - if nothing else, Guinness Draught on nitro is pretty to look at
***In middle school, I heard from a friend that bubbles in Guinness sink to the bottom of the glass instead of float to the top, and that this phenomenon could not be explained by science. I never bothered to look this up, as dial-up internet was too slow for anything.
S: Markedly unexciting, but charming for what it is - a straight-up whiff of nitro carbonation, which should not actually be an aroma, but I smell it every time I have anything on nitro - more stout-like aromas underneath the haze of gas, but it is very mild - dry, roasty malts - chocolate malts and roasted grains - a general graininess - dark chocolate and some hints of Tootsie rolls - lightly burnt, perhaps a touch smoky - light sweetness, with some light caramel
***In high school, I heard from a friend about how brewers at Guinness, many years ago, were cleaning out the tanks and found a dead rat. They cleaned the tank thoroughly, but then they could not get the next few batches to taste right. So since then, a rat is included in each batch for a consistent flavor. I never believed this one... I also have never detected rodent in Guinness Draught.
T: A decade ago, I thought this was rather complex, but now I realize that it is a rather simple brew - mild chocolate malts and roasted malts - lightly roasted grains, hint of medium to dark roast coffee - dark chocolate, baker's chocolate, semisweet chocolate, hints of Tootsie rolls - light touches of caramel - lightly grainy, with some straight-up un-malted barley - light astringency and touch of acidity - some minerality - very light hint of English hops with a touch of grass - low to medium bitterness - clean finish, extremely dry as the style should be
***In college, I learned in a class (a food science course about beer) that Guinness Draught should be slightly sour. A lot of homebrew clone recipes include some souring technique or acidulated malt. Personally, I have never really noticed it other than a light acidity.
M: Light but very creamy - the bizarre result of nitro, which leads many novice drinkers to describe this as anything heavier than "light" - high carbonation, finishes clean
***In grad school, I drank a lot of beer. (I don't have a Guinness-related anecdote.)
O: Always a lovely day for a Guinness
Guinness Draught is the quinntessential example of an Irish Dry Stout. It's not exciting, but it really isn't supposed to be. I have definitely had more complex and objectively superior examples of the style, but this is really the template. Definitely mild, but classic nonetheless.
Sep 20, 2015Note 1: This is my 1000th full beer review.
I saved Guinness Draught for #1000 because it has a strong significance in my personal beer history. It was one of the first beers I ever tried, and it was the first beer I had on my 21st birthday. This beer has popped up at various points in my life, and I will mention those in the course of this review, prefaced with asterisks***.
Note 2: On-tap, nitro (of course)
A: Seemingly jet black from a distance, but it is really more of a dark, deep brown upon inspection - comes off the nitro with a medium-large, dense, solid, light tan head, with the characteristic cascade - small bubbles occasionally break the soft surface of the head that can only really exist thanks to nitrogen - the head does slowly fade to a small, but solid cap, but that does stick around indefinitely - leaves a wall of lacing - if nothing else, Guinness Draught on nitro is pretty to look at
***In middle school, I heard from a friend that bubbles in Guinness sink to the bottom of the glass instead of float to the top, and that this phenomenon could not be explained by science. I never bothered to look this up, as dial-up internet was too slow for anything.
S: Markedly unexciting, but charming for what it is - a straight-up whiff of nitro carbonation, which should not actually be an aroma, but I smell it every time I have anything on nitro - more stout-like aromas underneath the haze of gas, but it is very mild - dry, roasty malts - chocolate malts and roasted grains - a general graininess - dark chocolate and some hints of Tootsie rolls - lightly burnt, perhaps a touch smoky - light sweetness, with some light caramel
***In high school, I heard from a friend about how brewers at Guinness, many years ago, were cleaning out the tanks and found a dead rat. They cleaned the tank thoroughly, but then they could not get the next few batches to taste right. So since then, a rat is included in each batch for a consistent flavor. I never believed this one... I also have never detected rodent in Guinness Draught.
T: A decade ago, I thought this was rather complex, but now I realize that it is a rather simple brew - mild chocolate malts and roasted malts - lightly roasted grains, hint of medium to dark roast coffee - dark chocolate, baker's chocolate, semisweet chocolate, hints of Tootsie rolls - light touches of caramel - lightly grainy, with some straight-up un-malted barley - light astringency and touch of acidity - some minerality - very light hint of English hops with a touch of grass - low to medium bitterness - clean finish, extremely dry as the style should be
***In college, I learned in a class (a food science course about beer) that Guinness Draught should be slightly sour. A lot of homebrew clone recipes include some souring technique or acidulated malt. Personally, I have never really noticed it other than a light acidity.
M: Light but very creamy - the bizarre result of nitro, which leads many novice drinkers to describe this as anything heavier than "light" - high carbonation, finishes clean
***In grad school, I drank a lot of beer. (I don't have a Guinness-related anecdote.)
O: Always a lovely day for a Guinness
Guinness Draught is the quinntessential example of an Irish Dry Stout. It's not exciting, but it really isn't supposed to be. I have definitely had more complex and objectively superior examples of the style, but this is really the template. Definitely mild, but classic nonetheless.
More User Ratings:
Rated by BeerMan247 from New York
4.84/5 rDev +34.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.84/5 rDev +34.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
The best beer there is, the only down side is low ABV
Yesterday at 06:50 PMReviewed by MutuelsMark from Kentucky
3.75/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours creamy tan that gently releases under itself into a dark beer. Nose is creamy as is the taste. Smooth drinking, easy beer. Not great, but not horrible
Sunday at 10:49 PMReviewed by ManicMadgod from Connecticut
3.73/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.73/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
One of the first beers I bought and drank legally about a decade ago. Almost certainly is the reason for my affection towards darker beers. I don't know if it tasted so good because I was drinking it in contravention to my school's rules against alcohol on campus, or if it was really that good. What I do know, is that it's one of the smoothest beers I've ever drank, with heavy chocolate notes. I should come back to this beer sometime.
Mar 07, 2024Rated by T_M
4.74/5 rDev +31.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.74/5 rDev +31.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
In the absence of Foreign Extra Stout I take no real issue falling back on Guinness Draft Stout. It is a good smelling and tasting beer.
Mar 06, 2024Rated by WarsawFrost
4.25/5 rDev +18.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +18.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Took awhile for me to warm up to it. But a total classic
Mar 02, 2024Reviewed by Lanoke12 from Michigan
3.62/5 rDev +0.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.62/5 rDev +0.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Look is black with a foamy white head. Smell is thin and inoffensive. Taste is light with smooth nitrogen cream. Feel is light bodied. Overall, a solid stout when you want something simple. Easily available and found at a good price for a stout.
Feb 23, 2024Reviewed by Chandler6680 from California
4.75/5 rDev +31.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.75/5 rDev +31.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Very good beer for a rainy day. Not over powering actually smooth. Has the traditional plastic piece inside I suppose to mix the nitrogen and flavors when ot’s opened. I wouldn’t drink a lot of these at one time, it should be more appreciated on the score chart because it is easily available, good tasting, and helpful to just relax on.
Feb 05, 2024
Guinness Draught from Guinness Ltd.
Beer rating:
82 out of
100 with
8788 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!