The Guinness Family
Guinness isn't one beer - it's a family of stouts, each with its own character. Here's your guide to every member of the Guinness lineup.
The Core Range
Guinness Draught
The flagship product and what most people mean when they say "Guinness."
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| ABV | 4.2% |
| Style | Irish Dry Stout |
| Available | Draft, can (widget), nitro |
| Character | Creamy, smooth, roasted |
Flavour Profile: Roasted barley, coffee, chocolate notes. Dry finish with moderate bitterness. The nitrogen creates signature creamy texture.
History: Guinness began using nitrogen in 1959, which is where the creamy texture comes from. The widget patent was filed in 1969; the Guinness Storehouse dates canned Guinness Draught to 1988 and Wikipedia gives a national launch of March 1989.
Did you know?
Guinness Draught is 35 kcal per 100 ml on the official label, despite its rich appearance. The dark colour comes from roasted barley. See our calorie guide.
Guinness Original/Extra Stout
The recipe closer to Arthur Guinness's original creation.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| ABV | 4.2–4.3% in Ireland and the UK; 5.0% in continental Europe; 5.6% in the US and Canada |
| Style | Irish Stout |
| Available | Bottle |
| Character | Bitter, robust, carbonated |
Flavour Profile: More bitter than Draught. Sharp carbonation. Roasted malt, hints of coffee, toffee finish. Not creamy.
History: This is closer to what Guinness tasted like before the nitrogen revolution. Still popular in some markets.
Guinness Foreign Extra Stout
The strongest and most intense Guinness variant.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| ABV | 7.5% (Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, Asia and the US) |
| Style | Foreign/Tropical Stout |
| Available | Bottle |
| Character | Bold, intense, fruity |
Flavour Profile: Big roasted notes, dark fruit, caramel. More hop bitterness. Warming alcohol. Complex and long finish.
History: Developed for export to tropical countries in the 1800s. Higher alcohol acts as preservative. Hugely popular in Africa and the Caribbean.
Pro Tip
Foreign Extra Stout is excellent for pairing with desserts or as a nightcap. The higher ABV and intense flavour make it a sipper, not a session beer.
Guinness 0.0
The alcohol-free option.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| ABV | 0% |
| Style | Alcohol-Free Stout |
| Available | Can (widget); on draught in a growing number of UK pubs since 2024 |
| Character | Light, approachable |
Flavour Profile: Lighter version of Draught. Sweet notes, less body. Still has roasted character but muted.
History: Announced in 2020, withdrawn almost immediately after launch because of contamination, and back in UK shops from August 2021. Draught 0.0 trials in London pubs were expanded in September 2024. See where Guinness 0.0 is on draught.
Regional & Limited Editions
Guinness West Indies Porter
A revival of historical recipes.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| ABV | 6% |
| Style | Porter |
| Available | Bottle (limited) |
| Character | Smooth, chocolate, toffee |
Flavour Profile: Sweeter than Draught. Rich chocolate and toffee. Smooth despite higher ABV. Subtle bitterness.
History: Based on porter recipes sent to the Caribbean in the 1800s. Released as a limited edition, sometimes returns seasonally.
Guinness Blonde American Lager
Guinness's venture into lighter beer.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| ABV | 5% |
| Style | American Lager |
| Available | Bottle, can |
| Character | Light, citrus, clean |
Flavour Profile: Crisp and light. Citrus hop notes. Clean finish. Nothing like traditional Guinness.
History: Launched to compete in the US craft market. Controversial among traditionalists.
Warning
If you're looking for the Guinness experience, Blonde will disappoint. It's a completely different beer that happens to carry the name.
Guinness Nitro Cold Brew Coffee
A collaboration between two Dublin icons.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| ABV | 4% |
| Style | Coffee Stout |
| Available | Can (widget) |
| Character | Coffee-forward, smooth |
Flavour Profile: Strong coffee flavour. Sweet notes. Nitrogen smoothness. Roasted and caffeinated.
History: Partnership with Dublin's La Colombe coffee. Bridges the coffee and stout worlds.
Guinness Baltimore Blonde
An American-brewed blonde ale.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| ABV | 5% |
| Style | Blonde Ale |
| Available | US only |
| Character | Light, hoppy |
Flavour Profile: American craft style. Citrus and tropical hops. Light malt body.
History: Associated with the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Baltimore County, Maryland, which opened in 2018. Its main production facility closed in June 2023; the taproom and a small on-site brewery remain.
Serving Variations
Guinness Extra Cold
Standard Guinness Draught served at lower temperature.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| ABV | 4.2% |
| Serving temp | About 3.5°C (standard Draught is 6–7°C) |
| Character | Crisper, more refreshing |
Flavour Profile: Same beer, colder serving. Some flavours muted. More refreshing on hot days.
Guinness Surger
The same Guinness Draught, formatted for Surger units.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| ABV | 4.2% |
| Available | Special cans |
| Character | Closest to draft at home |
Discontinued/Rare Variants
Guinness Red
A red ale that was briefly produced.
Status: Discontinued
Guinness Black Lager
A dark lager experiment.
Status: Discontinued in most markets
Guinness 250th Anniversary Stout
A special edition for the 2009 anniversary.
Status: Long discontinued, collector's item
Availability by Region
| Variant | UK/Ireland | USA | Africa | Asia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Draught | Common | Common | Limited | Limited |
| Extra Stout | Common | Common | Limited | Common |
| Foreign Extra | Limited | Limited | Very Common | Limited |
| 0.0 | Common (cans; some draught) | Common | Rare | Limited |
| Blonde | Rare | Common | N/A | N/A |
Did you know?
Guinness is brewed under license in many countries. Nigerian Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, for example, is brewed locally and is slightly different from Irish-brewed versions.
Our Recommendations
For everyday drinking: Guinness Draught (draft or canned)
For special occasions: Foreign Extra Stout
For cooking: Extra Stout or Foreign Extra
For non-drinkers: Guinness 0.0
Avoid unless curious: Blonde variants (they're fine, just not Guinness-like)
Quick Reference
| If you like... | Try... |
|---|---|
| Classic Guinness | Draught |
| Stronger beer | Foreign Extra Stout |
| No alcohol | 0.0 |
| More bitterness | Extra Stout |
| Something different | West Indies Porter |
Whichever variant you prefer, our rating form records whether a pint was Normal, Extra Cold or Zero. Browse the community-rated Guinness pubs near you to find the ones that pour it well.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Guinness — Extra Stout ABV by market; Foreign Extra Stout 7.5%; Extra Cold at 3.5°C, Draught at 6–7°C; 1959 nitrogen; 2020 launch and withdrawal of 0.0
- Wikipedia: Widget (beer) — widget patent 1969; national launch March 1989
- Guinness Storehouse: Story of Guinness — Guinness Draught in a can launched 1988
- Guinness Draught nutrition information — 35 kcal per 100 ml
- The Grocer: Guinness 0.0 back in stores after recall and year-long absence
- Morning Advertiser: Diageo to expand draught Guinness 0.0 trials
- Fortune: Guinness opening first US brewery in 64 years
- WTOP: Guinness is closing Maryland production facility
Curious about the Extra Cold serving? Read our analysis: Guinness Extra Cold: Worth It?
