At long last, Diageo has announced that Guinness Foreign Extra Stout will be returning to the United States. Discontinued after Prohibition in 1920, it’s been 90 years since it was legally available here. Thanks to Beer Advocate for the tip.
From the press release:
Tuesday, September 28th is National Drink Beer Day! As if you didn’t already have reason to raise a pint, GUINNESS Irish Stout is proud to announce its U.S. launch of GUINNESS Foreign Extra Stout (FES) on October 1st. The fullest in flavor of the GUINNESS brand variants, GUINNESS FES is carbonated unlike the nitrogenated GUINNESS Draught with which most Americans are familiar. The specialty beer is 7.5% ABV and possesses strong, roasted aromas followed by a unique bittersweet taste. Foreign Extra Stout is already a favorite of many around the world, making up 45% of GUINNESS sales globally, and is sure to be a favorite of beer aficionados here in the U.S.
GUINNESS Foreign Extra Stout (FES) is brewed with the highest hop rate of all the GUINNESS variants. The generous hop additions express fully the beers distinctive character and flavor while also prolonging shelf life in warmer climates, as hops are the best natural preservative for beer. GUINNESS FES is uniquely different from GUINNESS Draught both in taste profile, color and ritual.
Brewed for more than two centuries, GUINNESS FES dates back to 1801. Known as West India Porter until the mid nineteenth century, FES was an export beer brewed with extra hops, giving the beer a more intense flavor and higher alcohol strength. The extra hops also acts as a natural preservative for beer, allowing it to survive long journeys overseas.
It’s nice to see a good decision by Diageo on behalf of the Guinness brand instead of gimmicks like Guinness Extra Cold or Guinness Red.
Sad to see they don’t know their own history. Or they mis-briefed their PR people. Anyway, Foreign Extra stout was not brewed stronger than regular Guinness: they were both the same until about 1916.
I’d say Guinness Special Export edges FES as the fullest in flavour, but not by much. And they probably don’t like recognising its existence since it’s brewed for someone else.
Still, good news: FES is a great beer. Now ask them to start shipping the American 6% ABV Extra Stout over to us 🙂
This is good news. FES is an excellent beer, and to me anyway, is the “real” Guinness. It will be nice to be able to buy it locally and not have to wait for an overseas trip or bottles brought back by friends.
This is so exciting, my lady and I just drank a bottle we brought back from Ireland 2 years ago and were searching the web to see what countries sold it and if we knew someone there to send it to us. I am calling the one store I know will get it and have a case put on hold!
Strange. In the local liquor stores here, there is a Guinness called Foreign Extra Stout. It doesn’t look like that above bottle at all but it is 6%. ( I believe this is the brew that the Beer Nut mentioned). It is contract brewed out of Canada by Moosehead, I believe.
Guinness has sooo many versions brewed around the world of stouts.