Guinness The 1759. Limited Edition Amber Ale (American Strong Ale) Dublin, Ireland 9% ABV.
To wrap up my St. Paddy's Day 3 part series, I wanted to review the newest release from Guinness: The 1759. This is a monster imperial amber ale at 9% ABV and served in a beautiful opaque black bottle, which also came in a black box. I received this as a gift for Christmas, and could think of no better time to crack it open and write than for today. Thanks again to my parents for the bottle!
Served chilled from a 75cL bomber and poured into an oversized snifter. Pours a dark brown to nearly black with a monster tan frothy head. Smells are of dark fruits, caramel, and medium, but not heavily roasted malts. Carbonation is moderate with a medium body. Actually, it was a much lighter body than I expected, especially given the aging and 9%. Taste was sweet and malty, with hints of raisins, figs and perhaps a bit of peat. There was an earthiness to it, and definitely reflected the character of the Irish countryside while still trying to be an American Strong/Imperial Amber. Aftertaste was somewhat boozy and sweet, with hints of the earthy peat/whiskey.
The reviews on this were overall on the weaker side. Many claimed that for the price, it was not worth buying. If this beer were $10/bottle, I would said it would be a definitely regular purchase. $20 is pushing it. $30-35 is a bit excessive. I thoroughly enjoyed this beer, and am reviewing solely based on the quality of the beer rather than the price. Personally, I believe the lower BA score is related to the price point, which really is not fair. Given that it was a one time thing, I am thrilled that I had the chance to try it, and hope they consider selling in smaller bottles without the lavish packaging. Should bring down the price significantly and entice more beer drinkers to buy and sample.
Happy St Paddy's Day all!
Slainte
94/100
81/100 BA
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