Guinness Foreign Extra

mardybumbum

Is there anywhere in Dublin apart from the storehouse that stocks foreign extra?

Prenderb

Try a Superquinn, I've seen it in their branches.

mikep

Try Dunnes...they have it in Thurles! AFAIK is not too dear either...

BeerNut

Tesco also does it. Most of the specialist beer offies have it, and lots of convenience stores around the city centre too.

rubadub

Yeah, my tesco has it too, quite easy to get I would have thought.

oblivious

Its common in Dunnes Stores

mardybumbum

rubadub wrote: »

quite easy to get I would have thought.

Really?
I've never seen it in any of the off licences I'd frequent. But I shall keep an eye open next time I'm in Tesco's.
Thanks

rubadub

mardybumbum wrote: »

But I shall keep an eye open next time I'm in Tesco's.

Very little is sold so do not expect big pallets of it. In my tesco it is not even with the other guinness I think. It is up with some "world beers" and bottles of cider, it would be easily missed I think it is only 2 bottles on display, i.e. 2 across on the shelf going backwards has more.

There is some other bottled guinness which is much harder to get, think it has export in the title.

BeerNut

rubadub wrote: »

There is some other bottled guinness which is much harder to get, think it has export in the title.

Special Export. A fair bit better than Foreign Extra, IMO. Not seen it in Ireland for ages.

sunnyjim

I don't think I've come across Special Export. Is it still done? I've seen Guinness Extra Stout, and Extra Smooth though.

I'm getting big into Foreign Extra these days. Had a few the other night, just to see how I felt after them. Got better by drink 3, must look into getting a few more in.

Most dunnes should have it. My local has had it for ages.

BeerNut

sunnyjim wrote: »

Is it still done?

Yes, it has been made under contract for John Martin's of Belgium since (I think) the 1920s. You see it all over the place in Belgium and the Netherlands, but only rarely here. It's like a smoother, stronger, altogether more Belgian version of Foreign Extra.

Con Con

BeerNut wrote: »

Special Export. A fair bit better than Foreign Extra, IMO. Not seen it in Ireland for ages.

They stock it in an off license around Camden street near Whelans. The name has slipped my mind. Saw it about 3 weeks ago.

MoonCommando

BeerNut wrote: »

Yes, it has been made under contract for John Martin's of Belgium since (I think) the 1920s. You see it all over the place in Belgium and the Netherlands, but only rarely here. It's like a smoother, stronger, altogether more Belgian version of Foreign Extra.

Some offies can get it in, Redmonds in Ranelagh in particular get it in from time to time. If you want the REAL foreign extra there is a place called Decency Restaurant up off Bolton St that sells the proper Nigerian stuff. Its far better than the crap Guinness sell here as a substitute. Also I hear they sell Nigerian Harp there as well, but any time I've dropped in they've not had any..

oblivious

MoonCommando wrote: »

Redmonds in Ranelagh in particular get it in from time to time.

Very rarely

BeerNut

MoonCommando wrote: »

If you want the REAL foreign extra there is a place called Decency Restaurant up off Bolton St that sells the proper Nigerian stuff.

Guinness in Dublin have been brewing Foreign Extra, to more-or-less the same gravity, since at least 1820. The Nigerian brewery opened in the early 1980s.

MoonCommando wrote: »

Its far better than the crap Guinness sell here as a substitute.

The sorghum-based Nigerian Foreign Extra may taste better, but it's definitely not the original version.

grenache

Odbins on Baggot St did stock it a while back. Fine Wines in Rialto and Malahide Road certainly do it.

slavedave

Have to chip in here and lay my cards on the table - I tasted beer on a daily basis for Uncle Arthur for 13 years, the latter 10 concentrating on brewery production overseas (QC/QA role). Nigerian FES is an "acquired taste". Personally, I would recommend benchmarking against Irish produced FES since, when brewed properly, it is THE reference for overseas markers but, like many taste-orientated products, an individual will enjoy something that you may not. I would recommend trying them all! If you like fruity, pear-drop like FES then you can't beat the Caribbean breweries if you can ever find one (a motto used to be "Bananas from the Bahamas" at tasting sessions).
Of course, a caveat here - I haven't worked there for 4 years or so so much may have changed.
I think FES may well be the best product from Guinness worldwide but it is a robust drink flavour-wise and is not everyone's tipple. Get a good one on a warm summer's evening with good company and you will be hard pressed to beat it. Don't drink it too cold either 'cos you will mask a lot of the richness of the product.

MediaTank

Con Con wrote: »

They stock it in an off license around Camden street near Whelans. The name has slipped my mind. Saw it about 3 weeks ago.

Jack Carvills

MediaTank

BeerNut wrote: »

Guinness in Dublin have been brewing Foreign Extra, to more-or-less the same gravity, since at least 1820. The Nigerian brewery opened in the early 1980s.

The sorghum-based Nigerian Foreign Extra may taste better, but it's definitely not the original version.

There's also the Kenyan version to try, made with sorghum and unmalted barley too.

BeerNut

The variant that really intrigues me is the 6% ABV "Guinness Extra Stout" made in Canada. Anyone ever had that? FES isn't sold in continental North America, presumably because it's too close to this.

BeerNut wrote:

The Nigerian brewery opened in the early 1980s.

Before someone pulls me up on this, I should point out that the brewery dates from the 1960s, not the 1980s

the beer revolu

BeerNut wrote: »

The variant that really intrigues me is the 6% ABV "Guinness Extra Stout" made in Canada. Anyone ever had that? FES isn't sold in continental North America, presumably because it's too close to this.

Before someone pulls me up on this, I should point out that the brewery dates from the 1960s, not the 1980s

You just pulled yourself!!!:D

sunnyjim

slavedave wrote: »

Have to chip in here and lay my cards on the table - I tasted beer on a daily basis for Uncle Arthur for 13 years, the latter 10 concentrating on brewery production overseas (QC/QA role).

You were a tech house man?