The closest thing to the original recipe.
Guinness Original (sold in some markets as Guinness Extra Stout) is the bottled cousin of the draught. Where the draught is smoothed by nitrogen, Original is conditioned with carbon dioxide alone — making it sharper, more bitter, and more carbonated. It tastes, in many ways, like what Arthur Guinness was selling in the 1780s.
The strength varies by market: 4.2% in Ireland and the UK, up to 5.6% in continental Europe and North America. The recipe is otherwise consistent.
The bottle, not the can
This is the one to drink straight from the bottle, slightly chilled, ideally with a glass on hand for the head. It does not have a widget, and does not need one — the higher carbonation builds its own head when poured.
Specifications
The technical sheet.
Style
Irish Stout (CO₂)
ABV
4.2% (IE/UK) · 5.0–5.6% (rest of world)
IBU
~45–55
Carbonation
CO₂ only — sharper than draught
Format
Glass bottle, 330ml or 500ml
Serving Temp
8–10°C
