15C Irish Extra Stout

Question 1

15C Irish Extra Stout - Overall Impression

Answer 1

A fuller-bodied black beer with a pronounced roasted flavor, often similar to coffee and dark chocolate with some malty complexity. The balance can range from moderately bittersweet to bitter, with the more balanced versions having up to moderate malty richness and the bitter versions being quite dry.

Question 2

15C Irish Extra Stout - Aroma

Answer 2

Moderate to moderately high coffee-like aroma, often with slight dark chocolate, cocoa, biscuit, vanilla and/or roasted grain secondary notes. Esters medium-low to none. Hop aroma low to none, may be lightly earthy or spicy, but is typically absent. Malt and roast dominate the aroma.

Question 3

15C Irish Extra Stout - Appearance

Answer 3

Jet black. Opaque. A thick, creamy, tan head is characteristic.

Question 4

15C Irish Extra Stout - Flavor

Answer 4

Moderate to moderately high dark-roasted grain or malt flavor with a medium to medium-high hop bitterness. The finish can be dry and coffee-like to moderately balanced with up to moderate caramel or malty sweetness. Typically has roasted coffee-like flavors, but also often has a dark chocolate character in the palate, lasting into the finish. Background mocha, biscuit, or vanilla flavors are often present and add complexity. Medium-low to no fruitiness. Medium to no hop flavor (often earthy or spicy). The level of bitterness is somewhat variable, as is the roasted character and the dryness of the finish; allow for interpretation by brewers.

Question 5

15C Irish Extra Stout - Mouthfeel

Answer 5

Medium-full to full body, with a somewhat creamy character. Moderate carbonation. Very smooth. May have a light astringency from the roasted grains, although harshness is undesirable. A slightly warming character may be detected.

Question 6

15C Irish Extra Stout - Characteristic Ingredients

Answer 6

Similar to Irish Stout.

Question 7

15C Irish Extra Stout - Style Comparison

Answer 7

Midway between an Irish Stout and a Foreign Extra Stout in strength and flavor intensity, although with a similar balance. More body, richness, and often malt complexity than an Irish Stout. Black in color, not brown like a porter.

Question 8

15C Irish Extra Stout - Comments

Answer 8

Traditionally a bottled product. Consumers expect a stout to always have a black color; the flavor intensity from whatever made it black is what consumers expect in their beer. Not all breweries make a dry, roasty version typical of Guinness; a more balanced and chocolaty version is equally acceptable.

Question 9

15C Irish Extra Stout - History

Answer 9

Same roots as Irish stout, but as a stronger product. Guinness Extra Stout (Extra Superior Porter, later Double Stout) was first brewed in 1821, and was primarily a bottled product. Described by Guinness as a “more full-bodied beer with a deeper characteristic roasted bitterness and a rich, mature texture. Of all the types of Guinness available today, this is the closest to the porter originally brewed by Arthur Guinness.” Note that in modern times, Guinness Extra Stout has different strengths in different regions; the European version is around 4.2% and fits in the Irish Stout style.

Question 10

15C Irish Extra Stout - Commerical Examples

Answer 10

Guinness Extra Stout (US version), O’Hara’s Leann Folláin, Sheaf Stout

Question 11

15C Irish Extra Stout - OG

Answer 11

1.052-1.062

Question 12

15C Irish Extra Stout - FG

Answer 12

1.010-1.014

Question 13

15C Irish Extra Stout - ABV

Answer 13

5.5-6.5

Question 14

15C Irish Extra Stout - IBU

Answer 14

35-50

Question 15

15C Irish Extra Stout - SRM

Answer 15

25-40