Most people only know the smooth Draught pint, but Foreign Extra Stout is where Guinness gets serious. Originally brewed strong and heavily hopped to survive long sea voyages, it is a 7.5% powerhouse with a big, intense, tangy roast character. It is a completely different beast to the everyday pint, and for my money it is the most interesting beer Guinness makes. I picked up a bottle for this guide.
Guinness Foreign Extra Stout at a glance
| Style | Foreign extra stout |
| ABV | 7.5% |
| Calories | Around 230 per 12 fl oz |
| Brewery | St. James’s Gate, Dublin, Ireland |
| Character | Intense roast, dark fruit, tang, bitterness |
| Best served | Lightly chilled, in a glass, sipped |
How it tastes, by the numbers
This is a big, intense, tangy stout, far stronger and bolder than the everyday Guinness.
The full review
It pours a deep, dense black with a lasting tan head. The aroma is intense and complex, sharp roasted barley, dark fruit and a tangy, almost sour edge that comes from a small addition of aged beer in the blend.
The flavour is huge compared to the Draught. There is a powerful roasted-barley bitterness, layers of dark fruit and molasses, and that distinctive tang running through it all. At 7.5% it is warming and full bodied, a proper sipping stout rather than an easy pint.
That tangy, sour-edged character is the signature and it is what makes it so interesting. It is a stout with real depth and a bit of funk, a world away from the clean, smooth Draught. It rewards slow drinking.
It is brewed and enjoyed all over the world, and it is arguably closer to what old, strong export stouts tasted like than anything else you can easily buy. A genuinely characterful beer.
Foreign Extra is where Guinness gets serious, a tangy, intense 7.5% stout a world away from the smooth everyday pint.
- The boldest, most intense Guinness
- Distinctive tangy, complex character
- Full bodied and warming at 7.5%
- A characterful sipping stout
- Too intense for casual Guinness drinkers
- The tang divides opinion
Who it is for
If you love Guinness but want something with far more depth, intensity and character, Foreign Extra Stout is the one to seek out. A must for serious stout fans.
Guinness Foreign Extra Stout FAQs
What is the difference between Guinness Foreign Extra and Draught?
Draught is the smooth 4.2% nitro pint. Foreign Extra Stout is a 7.5% bottled stout, far stronger, more roasty, more bitter and with a distinctive tang from a small amount of aged beer in the blend. They are very different beers.
How strong is Guinness Foreign Extra Stout?
It is 7.5% ABV, by far the strongest of the everyday Guinness range, so it is a sipping beer.
Why does Foreign Extra Stout taste tangy?
It contains a small proportion of aged, soured beer blended into the mix, a nod to old brewing traditions, which gives it its distinctive tangy, complex character.
Where to buy Guinness Foreign Extra Stout
Guinness Foreign Extra Stout is available in bottles across much of the US and internationally. Buy it using the button above and sip it slowly.
The verdict
Foreign Extra Stout is the most characterful beer Guinness makes, intense, tangy and full of depth. If the Draught pint is too tame for you, this is the Guinness to reach for.
FAQs
Who makes Guinness Foreign Extra Stout?
Guinness Foreign Extra Stout is brewed by St. James’s Gate (owned by Diageo).
What kind of beer is Guinness Foreign Extra Stout?
Guinness Foreign Extra Stout is a Foreign extra stout, at 7.5% ABV.
How much alcohol is in Guinness Foreign Extra Stout?
Guinness Foreign Extra Stout has an ABV of 7.5%.
How many calories are in Guinness Foreign Extra Stout?
Guinness Foreign Extra Stout has Around 230 per 12 fl oz, based on the brewery’s published nutrition information.
Is Guinness Foreign Extra Stout gluten free?
No. Like most traditional beers, Guinness Foreign Extra Stout is brewed from barley and/or wheat, both of which contain gluten.
How can I make Guinness Foreign Extra Stout taste better?
Serve it at the right temperature and in the right glass (see below), or use it as the base for a beer cocktail. Our beer cocktails guide has recipes worth trying.
Where is Guinness Foreign Extra Stout made?
Guinness Foreign Extra Stout is brewed by St. James’s Gate in Dublin, Ireland. For more from that country, see our best Ireland beers guide.
How do I open Guinness Foreign Extra Stout without a bottle opener?
A lighter, a sturdy key, a spoon, or the edge of a table all work in a pinch. See our full guide on opening a beer without a bottle opener for 8 methods that actually work.
What glass should I use for Guinness Foreign Extra Stout?
Lightly chilled, in a glass, sipped. See our beer glassware guide if you want to match the glass to the style exactly.
