Review: Guinness Fonio Stout

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Ready for something a little off the beaten path? Rather than trying to Split the G with your traditional Guinness Stout, check out this special edition, a collaboration with Brooklyn Brewery that is made with the inclusion of fonio, a West African grain similar to quinoa. (This was technically a late 2024 limited release, but there appears to be plenty of it still on the market out there.)

Guinness and Brooklyn Brewery have just announced the launch of Guinness Fonio Stout, a limited-edition beer brewed in support of the Brewing for Impact campaign – a collaborative initiative inspired by Brooklyn Brewery Brewmaster Garrett Oliver’s pioneering work with ancient West African grain fonio. Now available in select locations in the greater New York area, this beer celebrates the rich global history of Guinness, blending their Irish heritage with the vibrancy of West African culture and the creative spirit Garrett Oliver. He’s enjoyed a 30-year journey at Brooklyn Brewery driven by a fearless passion to perfect his craft, which has inspired the Brewing for Impact initiative, rooted in beer’s power to unite people, cultures & traditions.

Together, they dive into new ways to highlight fonio’s versatility in brewing, showcasing how this remarkable ancient grain enhances this Guinness stout with a flavorful combination of roasted coffee, chocolate, and tropical fruits.

“Fonio Stout is an example of the magic that comes from blending the right amount of heritage and innovation, and we’re thrilled about how this collaborative brew has captured the best of both Guinness and Brooklyn Brewery,” said Joyce He, Guinness Brand Director. “Bringing our brewers together with Garrett Oliver and artist Kervin Brisseaux is a celebration that represents our commitment to pushing boundaries of creativity in brewing and cultivating social impact on a global level. Simply put, grab one while you can!”

Designed by Haitian American artist Kervin Brisseaux, the beer’s packaging artwork celebrates Guinness’s centuries-long history in Africa, blended with the cultural heartbeats of Brooklyn. You’ll find several nods to both within the illustrations, from subway cars to fonio grains to the likeness of Garrett Oliver himself.

If you’re a fan of standard Guinness, I don’t see how you’ll find much fault with this expression, though it offers some unique flavors that you won’t find in the original. Up front, the Fonio Stout edition is a little sweeter and quite a bit fruitier, with a brisk apple note providing a hint of fall spice and giving a crisp, tangy quality to the finish. A bitter zippiness late in the game tempers said fruit and evokes a more classic dark chocolate character, along with a hint of coffee. It’s all quite refreshing and surprisingly well-balanced, ending on a cleansing but lightly nutty character. A lot of that is due to the fact that this beer is not offered in a nitro can, which makes it drink a lot more closely to a porter than a classic nitro stout — and without the classic creaminess that canned Guinness provides.

6.2% abv.

A- / $14 per four-pack of 16 oz cans

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