Guinness Special Export

Review Date 12/29/2011  By John Staradumsky

           

Many years ago, a friend went to Jamaica and brought me back a bottle of the highly sought after Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. At that time, Foreign Extra Stout wasn’t available in the United States, and I was pleased as punch to get some.  The beer is entirely different from bottled Guinness Extra Stout or draft Guinness Stout, had a higher alcohol content, and was a highly popular specialty beer in the Caribbean and Africa. A few years ago, Guinness Foreign Extra Stout finally became available in the United States, although it is brewed under contract by Desnoes & Geddes in Jamaica.

Tonight, I’m going to expound upon another very special Guinness brew, one that once again can’t be found in the USA (or many other parts of the world for that matter). The beer in question is Guinness Special Export, a very unique and delicious brew made by Guinness in Ireland for export to Belgium. Guinness Special Export has been brewed for export to Belgium since 1912, at the request of English brewer John Martin. Today, descendant Anthony Martin is the official importer of the beer.

I got my first taste of Guinness Special Export not long ago when a friend brought back a bottle from a trip to Belgium. The beer comes in a 33cl brown glass bottle with the words “The genuine GUINNESS STOUT. Strong and dark beer, brewed in Ireland.” on the back label. Mine has a Best-By date of 7-20-2012 stamped on the back, though I expect this beer would thrive well beyond that date when properly stored.

Guinness Special Export pours to a jet black color with a creamy tan head formation and a roasty chocolate nose. Sipping the beer, one immediately notices a very robust roastiness; indeed, the beer is much roastier than any Guinness I’ve tasted before. In the palate, I get (besides lots of roasted malt) powdered cocoa, dark fruity raisin esters, a hint of licorice, and warming alcohol in the finish.

Guinness Special Export is not an imperial stout, though it certainly approaches the category in strength. At 8% alcohol by volume, this is indeed a formidable beer. It has a distinct history all its own, however, quite apart from the famous stouts that were shipped to parts further north. This is a beer in a class all its own, surely one of the most memorable beers I’ve ever tasted, and a beer difficult to track down in most of the world. That being the case, when presented with the opportunity to get your hands on a bottle, you should pounce on it for all you’re worth. I know I would.

Glad I tried it?  T

Would I rebuy it??

 

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled, Canned

(D)=Draft





 

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