Guinness to offer new stout for limited time

MILWAUKEE - The makers of Guinness are touting a new stout beer in the U.S., a maltier, fizzier version of its older, creamier sibling, the world's best-selling stout.

"This is more about refreshment and zing," said Guinness master brewer Fergal Murray, who created the new carbonated brew.

The limited-edition Guinness 250 Anniversary Stout celebrates Arthur Guinness' signing of a 9,000-year lease in 1759 at St. James's Gate Brewery in Dublin, still the company's flagship brewery.

When it arrives in U.S. bars and stores April 24, the anniversary brew will be the first new stout Guinness has exported to the U.S. since it brought over Guinness Draught in the mid 1960s.

Guinness Draught, first brewed after Arthur Guinness decided to stop making ales and start making porters in 1779, became synonymous with Ireland over the centuries. More than 1.8 billion pints are consumed in 150 countries each year.

The anniversary stout will be available only in the U.S., Australia and Singapore, according to Diageo PLC, owner of Guinness and the world's largest liquor producer. The company's other brands include Johnnie Walker and Baileys.

The beer is expected to be available for about six months, said Patrick Hughes, brand director for Diageo Guinness USA. A big marketing campaign, complete with advertisements and promotions at bars, launches late this month.

Drink up

Here's a look at Guinness' new brew, Guinness 250 Anniversary Draught, and its elder sibling, Guinness Draught: Guinness 250 Anniversary Draught Alcohol: 5 percent by volume Calories: 136.3 per 11.2 ounces Brewing: Made with a double brew stream that combines two types of malts, ale and stout. Carbonated. Uses Guinness yeast, triple hops and roasted barley. Pour: A one-part pour, at an angle. Date: Launches in the U.S. April 24, in Australia and Singapore later. Guinness Draught Alcohol: 4.2 percent by volume Calories: 126 per 12 ounces Brewing: Roasted, malted barley, hops, yeast and water. The beer is nitrogenated, meaning that nitrogen and carbon dioxide combine to give it a thick, white head. Pour: Two parts, where three-quarters of glass is filled at an angle, the pourer lets the surge of foam settle, then glass is topped off. Date: First made some time after 1799, when Arthur Guinness decided to stop making ales and start making porters. Came to the U.S. in the mid-1960s.

"The brand is one of sort of strength, staying power and authenticity," Hughes said. "We think consumers are really going for brands with that strength and trusted authenticity."

They also want something new to taste, which this new beer delivers with carbonation, two types of malt and triple hops, Murray said.

Drinkers like to sit back and enjoy the flavor of Guinness Draught, he said, while the anniversary stout uses carbonation, rather than a combination of nitrogen and carbon dioxide, which is used by Guinness Draught. The result? More zing.

The taste is different, too, although it retains the rich flavor of Guinness Draught. Guinness 250 Anniversary Stout also has more alcohol, at about 5 percent by volume, compared with 4.2 percent for Guinness Draught.

Pouring will be simpler, too. This anniversary stout is poured only one way, at an angle, in contrast to Guinness Draught's famous two-part process, which involves filling the glass about three-fourths of the way at an angle, letting the surge of foam settle, then pouring the rest.

The anniversary comes in a rocky year for Diageo. As the global recession deepens and consumer confidence remains low, the London-based company has been cutting costs and shedding jobs to protect its profits.

In January, it said it may change or abandon $1.1 billion plans to reform production in Ireland and open a new state-of-the-art brewery.

Guinness accounts for about 70 percent of stout volume in the U.S., dominating a category that makes up less than 1 percent of total U.S. beer volume, according to research firm Nielsen Co.

Guinness sales volume slipped about 3.9 percent in the U.S. in the 52-week period that ended March 7, according to Nielsen, while dollar sales fell 1.7 percent to $127.2 million in food, drug, liquor and convenience stores.

Nick Lake, vice president of beverage alcohol for Nielsen, said the introduction of the new beer "has the making of a very successful initiative," citing the brand's heritage and a trend of U.S. consumers increasingly wanting fuller, tastier beers like stouts. Lake also said consumers want more variety, and brewers are providing more seasonal and limited-release beers in response. The category was up 27.6 percent in sales volume in the latest 52-week period.

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