Guinness Draught 0.0
1 log on Brewskipotatoes
Tasting Notes
The aroma leads with roasted barley, dark bread, and a faint coffee note — impressively close to the full-strength original. On the palate, flavors of bitter chocolate and light espresso come through, though the body is noticeably thinner and the roast character less sustained than its alcoholic counterpart. The finish is short and mildly bitter, with the creamy nitro texture doing real work to compensate for what the alcohol normally contributes to mouthfeel. It's a more faithful non-alcoholic stout than most in its category.
About the Brewery
Guinness has been brewing at St. James's Gate in Dublin since 1759, making it one of the oldest continuously operating breweries in the world. The brewery is synonymous with Irish dry stout and is responsible for popularizing the nitro-pour format globally. Their core draught stout remains one of the best-selling beers on earth, and the 0.0 release reflects a broader push into the non-alcoholic category that has become a significant commercial priority.
Food Pairings
Oysters are a classic pairing because the briny minerality sharpens the roasty bitterness rather than fighting it. A beef stew works well here too, since the dark malt character mirrors the fond and caramelized notes in a long-braised dish. Aged cheddar or a sharp Irish farmhouse cheese holds its own against the bitter finish without being overwhelmed. Dark chocolate desserts echo the cocoa undertones in the beer, making the bitterness feel intentional rather than harsh.
Style Guide
Irish dry stout is defined by its use of unmalted roasted barley, which produces a sharp, coffee-like bitterness and a distinctively dry finish — setting it apart from sweeter English stouts or the fuller milk stout category. The style typically runs low in alcohol, historically 4–5% ABV, and is often served on nitro to create a dense, creamy head and smooth mouthfeel. It originated in Ireland and was shaped largely by Guinness, though several Irish and international breweries produce credible versions. Compared to imperial or oatmeal stouts, Irish dry stout is leaner, less sweet, and built around bitterness rather than richness.