Guinness 250 Anniversary Stout

Beer: Guinness 250 Anniversary Stout
Brewery: St. James's Gate Brewery
ABV: 5%
Style: Irish Dry Stout
Sample Medium: Bottle
Size: 12 oz

Impression:I went into Guinness’s 250 Anniversary Stout without expectations. OK well perhaps that is a bit of an untruth, I expected this beer to be bigger and better than Guinness Stout in every way. I mean you have had eons to perfect this follow up recipe. So given this expectation I was obviously biased going into the tasting. All that aside, I still think it is safe to say that Guinness 250 Anniversary was somewhat underwhelming. It certainly lacks the distinct creamy silkiness of the original. It is also notably more carbonated and the head bubbles up in a much looser weave, which doesn’t provide that enjoyable frothy Guinness mustache. Overall this beer has a much lighter body and mouth feel as well. But, enough comparison as I think it is prudent to evaluate this beer on its own merit. The aroma entices the senses with mild roasted caramel and a hint of malt. While breaking across the palate I experienced a supple toastiness, but the finish yields a sustained metallic dullness. The off finish doesn’t make for a deal breaker, but being honest Guinness 250 Anniversary Stout won’t make it into my top 10 list. On balance a grade of ‘B’ seems reasonably appropriate. I will sum it up this way: I am glad I tried it, but I won’t buy it again.

World Wide Stout

Beer: World Wide Stout
Brewery: Dogfish Head, Milton Delaware
ABV: 18%
Style: Imperial Stout
Sample Medium: Bottle
Size: 12 oz

Impression: This Goliath certainly demands your attention and respect right out of the gate. I am not sure I would refer to this so much as a beer, but rather an experience. The label pretty well sums things up, "a very dark beer brewed with a ridiculous amount of barley." In fact Dogfish Head used so much barley in this brew that at 18% ABV it is a barley wine and not really a beer at all. I think the name may be a bit of a misnomer as it requires some tenacity to acquire this bold brew, but certainly worth the trouble. That is of course if you enjoy fierce dark beer that you could stand a knife upright in. To refer to this drink as rich would be a bit of an understatement. The bold roasted elements and strong coffee notes are omnipresent making a most enjoyable stout. The finish boasts deep dark sugars of raisin or possibly fig but settle nicely on your palette and quickly invite you back for another sip. However, one of these joys is certainly enough to satiate your senses and at the $11/bottle price tag it damn well better. If you enjoy stout and bold brew begin your search now for the World Wide Stout and your persistence will be rewarded.