Subjective ramblings about beer, pubs and associated topics

A Dublin family

Visits to Ireland and the Low Countries (well, only one low country, but the lowest of them..) meant that I had a bouquet of Guinness varieties to sample and compare, and I invited Per Christian over to do some tasting.

The can of the standard stuff they are pushing across the globe wasn't very interesting, so we went fairly quick for the bottles. The Guinness Extra Stout has much more character than the standard draft version. It looks the same, but it has a fine aroma of roasted malt. The Foreign Extra Stout was my favourite. Even more robust, this has elements of coffee and liquorice. It has a smoky and almost sour finish and a warming aftertaste. IMHO they should push this as their premium product, not the Extra Cold!

The Special Export, a version brewed for the Belgian/Dutch market, is rounder than the Foreign Extra, more like an English old ale. The various elements are smoothed out, and I miss the complexity, the coffee and the smoke do not stand out as clearly. It is on the sweet side, too. Note: This beer is registered at ratebeer as brewed in Belgium by Anthony Martin, but the label clearly states that it is brewed in Ireland for Anthony Martin.

Posted by: KnutAlbert at 07:27 | link | comments (6)
beer, ireland, stout

Comments:

#1  14 December 2006 - 22:27

 

hi. I would be interested to know if they have any real ales in Ireland? I have only had those bitters like Smithwicks and Caffreys etc. There must be some cask conditioned products around surely? be gratefu if anyone knew as I'm moving there in the New year and am gonna have to brew my own I guess!

Anonymous

#2  15 December 2006 - 10:22

 

There is nothing. Zero. The Porterhouse has one bottle conditioned stout, the rest is pasteurized. There are a few micros around the country that might have cask, but not in Dublin. And Northern Ireland is similar, though there are a few Wetherspoons up there, a few micros, and better bottle shops, too.

Set up a brewpub when you move there, I'm sure there is a market!

KnutAlbert

#3  16 December 2006 - 00:23

 

Umm, so what about Messrs. Maguires? 1/2 Burgh Quay.
The huge brewpub ?

Anonymous

#4  17 December 2006 - 16:41

 

I found their beer boring, and I didn't like the athmosphere, either.

Anonymous

#5  18 December 2006 - 20:22

 

Thanks Knut for the info about Cask conditioning in Ireland. I'll be in Kerry, near Tralee, so once my micro is up and running I'll drop you a line!

Anonymous

#6  26 January 2007 - 23:19

 

Hi, I found a real ale in Ireland after all now i'm here!
It's called Molings Celtic ale and its lovely! You can see it here.
http://www.pierheadwines.co.uk/web/home/?te=product&pt=74

Brian

Anonymous

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