Programs: FB Silver, BD*S, SPG Corp Pref, UA, Hertz Gold, National Car, BBuy Silver, and Hallmark Plat :)
Posts: 130
Guinness Foreign Extra Stout
Anyone tried it? Anyone know where to find it in the US? Anyone know if it's worth finding in the US? I want to get some for my good friend's birthday over Thanksgiving -- he was the one who first introduced me to the goodness of Guinness -- but the best I can find is £120 (so $200+) and shipped from the UK for 24-33cc bottles.
Programs: BMI Silver, BA Blue and Jersey European Passport to Freedom
Posts: 1,930
There are different Foreign Extra stouts brewed under license all over the world. The most famous ones are Nigeria, Dublin and Far East (prob Singapore). They are delicious and I particularly like the Nigerian version. You have probably already discovered this vendor, but just in case you haven't: http://www.onlyfinebeer.co.uk/beer/530/
They can sort you for both large and small Nigerian bottles and Dublin bottles. Postage will be a killer and you may have to phone them to arrange. Plus you'll have to pay import duty, etc.
Guinness Foreign Extra Stout is not exported to the U.S. Any you might find in the States will be bootleg beer. The nearest places you might find F-E-S would be in the Caribbean, and it would probably have been brewed in Jamaica.
Here's a list of the various versions of stouts made and sold under the Guinness label and where in the world they're available.
__________________
"The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." -- St. Augustine
Programs: CX, OZ, KE (+AY, JL), Shangri-La, Hilton
Posts: 3,723
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr H
There are different Foreign Extra stouts brewed under license all over the world. The most famous ones are Nigeria, Dublin and Far East (prob Singapore). They are delicious and I particularly like the Nigerian version. You have probably already discovered this vendor, but just in case you haven't: http://www.onlyfinebeer.co.uk/beer/530/
For any FT'er visiting Cologne, Germany: The African Drum Nigerian restaurant and bar features Guinness Foreign Extra Stout in reasonably priced bottles. Great Nigerian food by a real female chef to be had as well. Open late afternoon to early morning.
Unless you can insure the beer is fresh, and transported well, I'd vote no. This includes many specialty beers sold in the US turnover isn't big enough to keep them in decent shape.
I've had the Malaysian version I believe (purchased in Indonesia). I'm a big fan of dark beers but it was unpleasant, dark, thin body, an odd sweet sour taste.
Programs: BMI Silver, BA Blue and Jersey European Passport to Freedom
Posts: 1,930
Going through Singapore en route from India to Melbourne, I had a layover of five hours. I decided to forego the lounge and headed into town for a banana leaf biriani and a bottle of Guinness Foreign Extra:
It was fantastic - just what the doctor ordered. I agree that the Guinness is strong and very bitter (with a lactic sweetness too) and this is not going to be to everyone's taste. But it certainly isn't thin.
Unless you can insure the beer is fresh, and transported well, I'd vote no. This includes many specialty beers sold in the US turnover isn't big enough to keep them in decent shape.
I've had the Malaysian version I believe (purchased in Indonesia). I'm a big fan of dark beers but it was unpleasant, dark, thin body, an odd sweet sour taste.
Not necessarily. The Guiness foreign extra has a lot more in common with IPAs and Imperial Stouts. Specifically they are brewed with high alcohol content, partly because that makes them hardier and more able to tolerate the variances in conditions they are subjected to when are transported and stored in Third-world countries.
The Nigerian version for example has about 7% alcohol, which almost double that of the watery pap that Guiness markets in the UK and US (at about 4%).
The higher alcohol of course changes the bitterness levels but they add other things to the mix to offset that. The Nigerian version is brewed from a grain called Sorghum which is locally available there and results in a sweeter flavour.
I love the foreign extra. I actually would never buy or drink the regular guinuess, but the foreign extra is more interesting. The local variances in flavours and and ingredients make it even more interesting. That aspect of it alone is probably worthy of an HBS branding case study.....
Its better if you forget all preconceptions that come with the "Guinness" brand baggage. before you drink this. And no it's nothing remotely to do with "dark lager" or "dark ale" or any such. The proper context for this particular brew is to think of it as a microbrewed imperial stout or strong milk stout that happens to be owned by the same people that own Irish Guineness.
