As an Irish person, I have had my fair share of Guinness over the years, including its variations, such as the Nigerian version, which has a higher ABV of 7.5%, and the Special Export, which comes in at 8% ABV instead of the usual 4.2%. However, usually I will drink the standard version of the world-famous stout. Although I don't drink it every time I go out, it is a drink I do enjoy. I have also never found a stout that compares to it when travelling.
I recently attended Jeremy Clarkson's Great British Farm Fest on behalf of Express, and this also gave me my first ever opportunity to taste his beers, including his stout, which is called Hawkstone Black. At £7.50, it was far more than you would usually pay for a pint of Guinness. However, this was festival prices, and apparently it costs £7 in his pub The Farmer's Dog. This is still pricy for a stout in my opinion, as Guinness is typically a cheaper beer in Ireland despite being a premium product.
Jeremy Clarkson's Hawkstone Black: A Taste Test
Being a festival, it was also served in plastic glasses. I appreciate this affects the experience, but it was all that was on offer, although it did mean it wasn't as visually appealing as it would have been in a proper glass.
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 does mean less waiting, but I could also see immediately that it was not as creamy as Guinness.
Taste and Texture
Taste-wise, it was a nice stout. It was lighter than Guinness, and that isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, 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 Guinness. Its texture is more watery, and while it was an easy drink, it didn't feel as satisfying as the legendary stout.
It was a nice stout, and I would drink it again if I happened to be in the vicinity of Jeremy's pub. But it wasn't more-ish which is definitely one of the key things about Guinness.
Final Verdict
Obviously, Guinness is dependent on the pour, and if you get one that isn't pulled properly, you will have a bad experience. Particularly in the UK I have seen numerous barmen 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.
