Beer Styles

What is Foreign Extra Stout? A strong, dark, top-fermented beer with a bold roasted character. The word stout originally just meant strong. Stout Porter, a robust London porter, was later shortened to simply stout. Ireland made the style famous, though it didn't invent it.

Foreign Extra Stout carries the word Export in its name. Guinness states that the style was created in 1801 as West India Porter for the Caribbean and has, since the 1960s, also been brewed locally in warm countries, including Jamaica. In Kingston, Desnoes & Geddes brews Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. Dragon Stout is the island's own brand within this style.

The difference from Irish Stout lies in strength. An Irish Stout has 3.8 to 5 percent ABV, a Foreign Extra Stout 6.3 to 8. It tastes fuller, sweeter and denser, with more bitterness in the background. One more note on context: the figures here come from the beer judges' style guidelines, a competition reference. They describe a range within which many beers of this type fall, and don't apply to every single bottle on the island. Exact figures appear only on the label or from the brewery.

Its counterpart is the island's lager. Red Stripe belongs to the international pale lager category: golden, slightly sweet, lightly hopped and best enjoyed well chilled. This style group brings together pale lagers from around the world, from Mexico to Japan, and sits at 4.5 to 6 percent ABV.