Guinness Beer Abv: The Strongest Brews Revealed

Guinness is a stout beer that originated in Dublin, Ireland, in the 18th century. It is one of the most successful alcohol brands worldwide, brewed in almost 50 countries and available in over 120. The alcohol content in Guinness beers varies, typically ranging from 4.2% to 7.5% ABV. The standard Guinness Draught has an ABV of around 4% to 4.2%, while the Guinness Foreign Extra Stout has a higher ABV of around 7.5%. Other variants include the Guinness Over the Moon Milk Stout (5.3% ABV), Guinness Blonde (4.2% to 5% ABV), and Guinness Extra Stout (5.6% ABV). The alcohol content in Guinness beers influences their calorie count, with beers having higher ABV generally containing more calories.

Guinness Antwerpen ABV

Guinness Antwerpen, also known as Guinness Special Export Stout, is a beer with an ABV of 8%. It has been brewed and exported from Ireland to Belgium via the port of Antwerp since 1944. It is produced using a lower hop rate, resulting in a less bitter taste and a light and creamy texture. The higher alcohol content of Antwerpen, compared to other varieties, contributes to a higher number of calories derived from alcohol.

Guinness Antwerpen has long been a well-kept delight among beer enthusiasts and brewers alike. Its mouth-watering intensity of roasted malt, smoked wood, and dark chocolate notes, complemented by an excellent and seemingly endless finish, make it a sought-after beverage. The lower hop rate gives it a unique flavour profile that sets it apart from other beers in the Guinness lineup.

The history of Guinness Antwerpen dates back to 1944 when it was first exported to Belgium. For decades, it remained exclusive to the Belgian market, but in recent years, it has been made available in other countries, including the United States. The special export stout has a dedicated following, with some enthusiasts sharing their experiences of finding and savouring this variety.

The flavour profile of Guinness Antwerpen is characterised by its roasted malt, which lends a deep dark colour and a full-bodied taste. The lower hop rate contributes to a less bitter flavour, allowing the malt character to shine through. The combination of flavours creates a complex and indulgent drinking experience.

Guinness Antwerpen, with its 8% ABV, stands out as the variety with the highest alcohol content among the different types of Guinness beers. The higher ABV contributes to a more substantial alcohol-derived calorie count. A 12-ounce (355-ml) serving of Antwerpen contains approximately 157 calories from alcohol alone.

Guinness Extra Stout ABV

Guinness Extra Stout is a pitch-black beer with a strong bittersweet flavour. It has an ABV of 5.6%, which is higher than the average beer ABV of 5%. This makes it a notably stronger beer. The higher alcohol content also means it has more calories than some other beers. A 12-ounce serving of Guinness Extra Stout has 149 calories, compared to 145 for Budweiser, 142 for Heineken, and 125 for a standard bottle of Draught Guinness.

Guinness Extra Stout is made from barley, hops, malt yeast, and water, and also contains cereal. After blending, roasting, and fermenting, the mixture is pressurized with carbon dioxide, which gives the beer its crisp taste.

Guinness Extra Stout has a luxurious, dark colour and a full-bodied, creamy head. It has hints of coffee, caramel, and toffee, and a distinctive fruitiness from fermentation. It is smooth at first, with bold flavours that develop on the tongue, and a mild, boozy bite with a dry finish.

Guinness Extra Stout is brewed at the St. James's Gate brewery in Dublin, using the finest quality malt, hops, and Irish barley. It is based on a beer first brewed in 1821 by Arthur Guinness II, who set down precise instructions for brewing his Superior Porter.

Guinness Draught ABV

Guinness Draught, the standard draught beer sold in kegs, has an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 4.1% to 4.3%. It also comes in a texture-like version in widget cans and bottles, with an ABV of 4.2%. The Extra Cold version is served through a super cooler at 3.5 °C (38.3 °F).

Guinness Draught was first brewed in 1959 to celebrate the 200-year anniversary of Arthur Guinness signing a 9,000-year lease on St. James's Gate Brewery. It has been the top-selling Guinness beer ever since.

The beer has a distinctive black colour and a smooth and velvety feel on the palate. It has a rich and creamy taste with a perfect balance of sweetness and bitterness, giving it a coffee-like flavour. It has a malty scent that is not overpowering.

Guinness Draught is primarily made from malted and unmalted barley, which gives the beer its dark hue and coffee-like taste. The barley is then blended and fermented with hops, yeast, roast malt, and water. The mixture is pressurised with nitrogen and carbon dioxide to create the beer's signature creaminess.

The recommended way to pour a draught Guinness is to use the famous "two-part" pour. First, the glass should be tilted at a 45-degree angle and filled three-quarters full. Then, the surge is allowed to settle before filling the glass completely.

Guinness Draught has a lower alcohol content than the average beer, making it a light beer. It has 125 calories per standard bottle, with 78 of those calories coming from alcohol.

Guinness Blonde ABV

Guinness Blonde is an American-style lager with an ABV of 5.0%. It was first released in 2014 and is brewed in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, using a combination of Guinness yeast and American ingredients. The beer is described as having a crisp, golden appearance with a lingering malt and biscuity finish. It achieves its unique flavour by switching out the regular Mosaic hops for Citra hops, resulting in a refreshing, citrusy taste.

Guinness Blonde is no longer being produced by the brewery, although some sources indicate that it is still available in certain locations. It has been replaced by "Baltimore Blonde", which is brewed in Baltimore, Maryland, and features an adjusted grain mixture and added Citra hops for a more pronounced citrus flavour.

The ABV of Guinness Blonde is lower than that of other Guinness beers such as Guinness Extra Stout (5.6% ABV), Guinness Foreign Extra Stout (7.5% ABV), and Guinness Antwerpen (8% ABV). However, it is higher than the ABV of Guinness Draught, which typically ranges from 4.1% to 4.3% ABV.

Guinness Blonde combines the Irish and American brewing traditions, resulting in a refreshing and flavourful lager that is well-balanced and easy to drink. While it is no longer in production, it continues to be a popular choice among beer enthusiasts.

Guinness Foreign Extra Stout ABV

Guinness Foreign Extra Stout (FES) is a stout with a strong flavour and a fruity palate. It is the Guinness variant with the highest ABV, at around 7.5%, although this can vary by region. For example, it is sold at 5% ABV in China, 6.5% ABV in Jamaica and East Africa, 6.8% ABV in Malaysia, and 8% ABV in Singapore.

FES was first brewed in 1801 and was designed for export, with extra hops added as a preservative during long journeys by ship. It is the most popular variant of Guinness in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean, and accounts for almost half of Guinness sales worldwide.

FES is brewed with generous hops and roasted barley, giving it a bittersweet balance and a full-flavoured, natural bite. It has a distinctive black colour with a frothy head, and coffee notes balanced with subtle sweetness.

The Irish version of FES is brewed with pale malt, 25% flaked barley, and 10% roasted barley, which gives the beer its dark hue. It uses bitter Galena, Nugget, and Target hop varieties, and contains about a third more hops and nearly double the amount of roasted barley than Guinness Draught.

FES is produced at Diageo-owned breweries in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Seychelles, Malaysia, and Jamaica, and is also produced under licence in 39 other countries. It is the oldest variant of Guinness still available, although its ingredients and production methods have changed over time.

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