Why Does Australian Guinness Taste Different to the UK, Europe?

There’s no disputing the appeal of a pint of Guinness. When poured by a professional at an authentic pub, it should be creamy, almost pitch black in appearance, flavourful, and feature a gentle head of soft, welcoming foam. Nose the beer, and look for aromas of coffee, chocolate, and malts that draw you in. Take a sip and you’re met with a perfectly balanced, creamy, coffee, chocolate, and toasted malt-driven spectacle. Thirsty yet?

That’s the perfect pint of Guinness, right? Well, then why doesn’t it taste that way in Australia? According to some, you’d have to book a flight to Ireland to have this experience.

Some of you might not notice because you’re too busy playing bar trivia or watching rugby on TV, but drinkers and bartenders have pointed out that something is a little off with the Australian version of Guinness in the past year.

Especially those who have had the original version brewed in the birthplace of Guinness, Dublin. This has been exasperated by the recent rise in Guinness consumption in Australia which has been referred to as the “black gold rush”.

While Guinness has been available in Australia since the early 1800s, drinkers in Australia have been reaching for their favourite, classic more than ever only to be met with something that seems like a weak imitation. Guinness claims that its stout brewed in Australia is the same as the product enjoyed by Europeans, Americans, and everywhere else the iconic stout is consumed. But is it?

Australian Guinness is Brewed to Be Identical to Irish Guinness

• Brewed in South Australia by Lion Nathan using Irish wort extract and local ingredients.
• Guinness claims production process matches Irish standards, aiming for an identical taste profile.
• Drinkers report the Australian version tastes more watery, acidic, and bitter than Irish Guinness.
• Guinness ambassador refutes taste difference, calling it an unsubstantiated belief among drinkers.

The Guinness poured out of the taps in Australia is brewed in South Australia by Lion Nathan at their West End Thebarton brewery. It’s brewed to be as close to the Irish version as possible (ideally, identical). However, if you’ve had the pleasure of drinking Guinness in Europe or the UK, you’ll understand that it tastes different to what we have here in Australia.

Flavour-wise, the main ingredient in Guinness, the unfermented wort extract, is shipped directly from Ireland. The rest of the ingredients are found right here in Australia, and it should taste identical to the Irish version. However, according to some (including us), it’s much more watery, acidic, and bitter than it should be.

Guinness ambassador Domhnall Marnell told Brew News that the idea that the flavour is different in Ireland and Australia is an “old wive’s tale.” He also says that the production quality and standards are identical to those of Ireland, but many Guinness drinkers just aren’t buying it and they’re making their voice heard.

“It’s something that people just believe without having the facts to back it up. When they leave the country, they just expect that they won’t get a good pint because that’s what they’ve heard,” Marnell continued.

Guinness Drinkers Disagree

• Drinkers like Cassie O’Neill claim Australian Guinness tastes vastly different—acidic and watery.
• A Change.org petition with 154+ signatures urges Diageo to stop brewing Guinness in Australia.
• Petition creator Andrew Hunt cites inferior taste and damage to Guinness’s brand reputation.
• YouTuber “Beers With Boydo” found Australian version lacked aroma and had a thinner texture.

Irish-born Cassie O’Neill, a former brewery representative for Stomping Grounds Brewery and Certified Cicerone claims that not only is Australian Guinness different, but it tastes nothing like the Irish version. “It’s a totally different beer,” she told Brew News. “There is no comparison, I can’t drink it here. It’s the consistency, it’s so watery here and so acidic and bitter.”

Now, you might assume that there’s just a vocal minority shouting into the night about Guinness not tasting as good in Australia as it does in Europe, but it’s not. This is just a big topic of discussion that there’s even a Change.org petition asking for Guinness to stop brewing its beer in Australia. However, we think that’s a bit extreme. The petition began in September and currently has over 154 signatures.

This is right about the time Australian-brewed cans of Guinness Draught started showing up at bottle shops and Irish-brewed cans began disappearing.

While that might not seem like a lot, the fact that nearly 200 people have noticed the quality (or lack thereof) of Guinness and have decided to sign a petition is a big deal.

Started by a Guinness drinker by the name of Andrew Hunt, the petition was created because “The customer experience is significantly different between the stuff brewed in Ireland and Australia. The taste is more watery and bitter, with none of the creaminess of the Irish stuff.”

“This disparity disrespects loyal customers away and tarnishes the brand’s reputation,” he continued. “By halting the production of Guinness in Australia, we aim to preserve the unique taste of this renowned stout and mandate its import from Ireland. We call upon Diageo, the company that owns Guinness, to recognise customer dissatisfaction and cease the production of Guinness in Australia.”

Youtuber “Beers With Boydo” did a taste test between Irish and Australian-brewed Guinness Draught back in September right around when the change happened. Right off the bat, he noticed that the Australian-brewed Guinness didn’t smell at all like Guinness. His exact words were, “No aroma at all.” He did say the flavour was like the Guinness he remembers but it had “a bit of a watery mouthfeel.”

So Does Australian-Brewed Guinness Taste Different?

• Debate continues over whether Aussie Guinness differs or if it’s psychological bias.
• Suggestion to conduct a personal taste test at reputable pubs to determine the truth.
• Encourages consumers not to trust propaganda or official lines—trust your own taste buds.
• Adds a playful note: “Split the G” while judging the beer’s quality firsthand.

So where does this put the state of Guinness in Australia? Which of the images of Australian-brewed Guinness are true? Is Australian Guinness the same or as close to identical as possible as European Guinness? Is it weak, bitter, or acidic? Or perhaps some drinkers just got a bad batch or two?

The only way to really figure out the truth of whether or not Guinness tastes different in Australia is to stop by your local pub and ask for a pint. Our recommendation is to head to one of the best pubs for Guinness that we’ve rounded up in this list here.

With the influx of Guinness drinkers, bartenders know exactly how to pour a perfect pint. Wait for it to be poured, take a sniff, and then take a big sip. Let your taste buds be the judge, don’t just assume that all the bitter, acidic, watery propaganda is true but also don’t just assume the talking heads at Guinness are telling you the truth. Ultimately, you be the judge.

A simple taste test will either put the bad vibes to rest or completely justify all the haters.

While you’re at it, why don’t you go ahead and “split the G.” If you’re already doing an experiment, why not enjoy a little bit of fun while you’re doing it, right?