I am Irish, so over the years I have had my fair share of Guinness, including the Nigerian version at 7.5% ABV and the Special Export at 8% ABV, compared to the usual 4.2%. Although I do not drink it every time I go out, I enjoy it and have never found a stout that compares.
But I recently attended Jeremy Clarkson's Great British Farm Fest, which gave me my first opportunity to taste his beers, including his stout called Hawkstone Black. At £7.50, it was far more than you would usually pay for a pint of Guinness. However, this was festival pricing, and it apparently costs £7 in his pub, The Farmer's Dog. This is still pricey for a stout in my opinion — Guinness is typically a cheaper beer in Ireland despite being a premium product.
Pouring and Presentation
Being a festival, it was served in plastic glasses. I appreciate this affects the experience, but it was all that was on offer. Unlike Guinness, which is pulled in a two-part pour and left to settle before topping up, this was pulled through in one pour by the barman. This means less waiting, but I could immediately see it was not as creamy as Guinness.
Taste and Texture
Taste-wise, it was a nice stout. It was lighter than Guinness, which is not necessarily a bad thing. But my instinct that it was not as creamy as Guinness was proved correct. It lacked the velvety texture that is one of the defining traits of the Irish stout. Its texture is more watery, and while it was an easy drink, it did not feel as satisfying as the legendary stout.
It was nice, and I would drink it again if I happened to be in the vicinity. But it was not more-ish, which is definitely one of the key things about Guinness.
Final Verdict
Guinness is dependent on the pour, and if you get one that is not pulled properly, you will have a bad experience. I have seen this happen at numerous bars, as staff pull Guinness right through, leading to a watery and flat pint. Poured correctly, though, Guinness really is a taste sensation, while Jeremy's stout is nothing extraordinary. Given the choice, I would pick Guinness any time.
