How To Brew Irish Extra Stout: Dublin’s Rich Roasts and Celtic Charms!

Irish Extra Stout, as Gordon Strong once said, is the Irish Stout’s older brother. The history of Irish extra stout is actually the story of Arthur Guinness.

The beer was first brewed in 1821. Guinness’ set out to brew his superior porter as the story goes. 

St. James Gate Brewery 

Arthur Guinness started brewing in 1759 at the St. James Gate Brewery in Dublin, Ireland. He leased the brewery for 9000 years.

With only four acres of space and with only very little brewing equipment, Arthur Guinness built successful trades and was able to export his beer to Great Britain by 1769. 

It was the extra stout that really put Guinness on the world stage. 

Extra Superior Porter

Arthur Guinness II took over the role as owner after his father’s passing. By the 1830s, St. James Gate Brewery became the largest brewery in Ireland. Under Arthur II, the recipe for a type of porter was written down.

This beer was known as Extra Superior Porter. It was a slightly stronger bee designed for the British market.

This beer is still brewed today and is known as Guinness Extra Stout. Guinness describes the beer as a “more full-bodied beer with a deeper characteristic roasted bitterness and a rich mature texture.”

Style Profile for Irish Extra Stout 

Appearance

The color is jet black and rather opaque.  A creamy-soft, long-lasting tan to brown head is expected for this style.

Aroma

Aromas of coffee coming from the roasted barley is common for the style. A slight chocolate, cocoa, and a slight graininess is present too. Esters are low to medium, but usually not present at all. The same can be said about the hops. 

Mouthfeel

The mouthfeel is smooth despite the high hop bitterness and high amount of darker grains. There should be a creamy quality to the palate with low carbonation and a full mouthfeel. Astringency might be present but should be low. 

Taste

Moderate to moderately high dark-roasted malt flavor with medium to high hop bitterness. Dry finish with coffee-like balance with moderate caramel or malt sweetness.

Typically the style has roasted coffee-like flavor as well as dark chocolate that lingers on the palate in the finish.

More complexity is added with the background notes of mocha, biscuit, and vanilla flavors. Medium-low to no fruitiness. Medium to no hop flavors.

Food Pairing

Irish stouts possess some wonderful tones of chocolate, coffee, and malt that pair greatly with rich foods.

Pork (or any protein) with mole sauce, Kansas City-Style spareribs with barbecue sauce, a burger, beef and stout pie are all great ways to pair an Irish stout with food.

Baked macaroni and cheese and barbecued baked beans also pair wonderfully with an Irish stout. Desserts are a common pairing when considering an Irish stout; think chocolate, coffee. 

Tips for Brewing your own Irish Extra Stout

Grain

When considering the grain that you should use for an Irish stout, think about the unfermentable or complex sugars that might be added to the grist. Single and two molecule sugars are easily fermented. Some complex sugars can be broken down to simple sugars.

However, the more complex sugars that are added in your mash, the more unfermentable sugars are likely to be left. Try avoiding crystal/caramel malts, Munich, Vienna, any Carapils, or dextrin malts. High quality pale malts and Golden Promise should be considered.

Achieving the dark color and roasty quality of this beer. Consider dark chocolate, roasted malts, and black patent all can give you the darkness and roastiness you need in an Irish Stout.   

Hops

English hops, such as Fuggle and East Kent Goldings (EKG) should be considered when brewing an Irish Stout, with Fuggles at bittering and EKG for aroma and flavor.

The main objective when hopping an Irish stout is to find that balance between the roasty malt and the bitterness of the hops/ 

Yeast

An Irish yeast will have the nice low ester profile you are looking for in this beer. If you want to go the English yeast route, then pick one that has a low ester profile. Be forewarned, many English yeasts have a high ester profile.

White Labs WLP004 Irish Ale and Wyeast 1084 Irish Ale are good choices. Follow the temperature recommendations with any yeast that you pick. 

Mash Temperature

Mash temperature is very important to achieve a good dry stout. The right mash temperature will convert the complex sugars into simple sugars that can be fermented out.

A mash temperature between 140°F and 150°F (60°C – 65°C) will give you the most beta amylase activity. 

 Irish Extra Stout the By the Numbers

• Color Range: 25 – 40 SRM
• Original Gravity: 1.052 – 1.062 OG
• Final Gravity: 1.010 – 1.014 FG
• IBU Range: 35 – 50
• ABV Range: 5.5 – 6.5%

Irish Extra Stout Recipe

Grain

• 75%        9 lbs     Maris Otter
• 17%        2 lbs     Flaked Barley    
•   8%        1 lb       Roasted Barley

 Hops

• 1 oz          Target – Boil 60 min
• 1 oz          Fuggles – Boil 10 min

Yeast

• 1.0 pkg   Irish Ale Yeast Wyeast 1084

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Extra Stout Beer?

Extra Stout beer is a type of stout that is known for its robust flavor and higher alcohol content when compared to other stout varieties.

The term “extra” in Extra Stout denotes a stronger, more full-bodied flavor profile. This beer is often associated with a rich, roasted malt character, and sometimes a slightly bitter taste due to the higher hop content.

The Irish Extra Stout recipe shared in the article is an excellent way to explore this unique and hearty style of beer.

What is the Ideal Temperature to Serve Guinness?

Guinness, being a type of stout, is traditionally served at a slightly warmer temperature than other beers, typically around 6-8 degrees Celsius (43-46.5 degrees Fahrenheit).

This temperature helps to enhance the rich flavors and smooth texture of the beer. In Ireland, it’s common to serve Guinness at this temperature range to ensure the optimal tasting experience.

What Kind of Beer is Guinness?

Guinness is a renowned brand of stout originating from Ireland. It’s known for its distinctive dark color, creamy head, and unique roasted flavor.

There are various types of Guinness, but the most famous is Guinness Draught, a dry stout. However, Guinness also offers Extra Stout and Foreign Extra Stout, which have a stronger flavor and higher alcohol content.

What Does “Extra Stout” Mean in a Guinness Extra Stout Recipe?

In a Guinness Extra Stout recipe, the term “Extra Stout” signifies a beer that is stronger in flavor and alcohol content compared to traditional stouts like Guinness Draught.

The recipe for Irish Extra Stout shared in the article is inspired by the hearty and robust nature of Guinness Extra Stout, capturing the essence of this bold beer variety.

What Ingredients Can be Mixed with Stout in Homebrew Recipes?

In homebrew recipes, stout can be mixed with a variety of ingredients to create unique flavor profiles. Some popular additions include coffee, chocolate, vanilla, or even fruits like cherries or raspberries.

For instance, a Vanilla Stout recipe might include vanilla beans or extract to give a sweet, aromatic flavor to the robust and malty character of the stout.

The Irish Extra Stout recipe provided is a great base to experiment with different ingredients and create a personalized brew.