Ünnecessary Ümlaut

It’s been stateside for a couple months but just now poppin’ up at your average grocery and liquor stores.

Many non-beer geeks are unaware there’s different types of Guinness. Let alone eight. Most of us are familiar with the classic Guinness Draught and even Extra Stout found in bottles. Though new to the U.S. Guinness Foreign Extra is 200 years old and makes up for 40% of all Guinness sales in the world. The bulk of which in Africa.

GUINNESS FOREIGN EXTRA STOUT

ABV: 7.5%  11.02 oz bottle

The extra in Foreign Extra is hops. And malted barley. Hops stand up better in warmer climates. Like the origin of India Pale Ale, the bonus hops were added to help the beer survive the long journey at sea. In this case, from Ireland to Africa.

The good news? You can really taste the hops. The bad news? It’s freakin’ delicious. Which means how you handle your hankering for “a Guinness” just became an even tougher decision.

Foreign Extra coats your tongue with creamy bitterness. Hits you with a sharp flavor that’s toasty and almost cola-like. And all goes down with the characteristic smoothness you expect from Guinness. Well worth the 200-year wait.

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