Guinness Chocolate Mint Stout 4Pk

Guinness Chocolate Mint Stout 4Pk is a bourbon barrel-aged imperial pastry stout brewed in Baltimore at 10.8% ABV, sold as a four-pack. Scoring 90 on BeerAdvocate across 67 ratings, this seasonal release from the Guinness Open Gate Brewery layers dried mint, cacao, and bourbon barrel character into a rich, dessert-worthy stout.

Quick Facts: ABV: 10.8%  |  Origin: Baltimore, Maryland  |  Imperial Pastry Stout  |  Brewery: Guinness Open Gate Brewery

Production & Heritage

The Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Baltimore, Maryland, operates as the brand's U.S. experimental brewing facility, producing limited and seasonal releases distinct from the classic Dublin stouts. This Chocolate Mint Stout is brewed with dried mint leaves, then aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels before being conditioned with pure cacao — a three-stage flavor-building process designed to keep each ingredient's character intact. The result is categorized as an imperial pastry stout, a high-gravity style that emphasizes sweetness, body, and layered dessert-like complexity.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Mint arrives first on the nose, followed by waves of English toffee and cacao. Bourbon and oak linger underneath, adding warmth and woody depth to a notably confectionery bouquet.

Taste: The entry is sweet and full, with rich toffee and dark chocolate dominating the front palate. Mint pushes through at mid-palate, never overpowering the roasty malt backbone. Caramel, vanilla, and light bourbon notes weave together as the beer warms, with a slight coconut quality emerging alongside candied red apple undertones.

Finish: Medium-long with noticeable bitterness that counterbalances the sweetness, plus lingering oak and a roasty, slightly drying close. Faint whiskey warmth persists, a reminder of the bourbon barrel aging.

How to Drink Chocolate Mint Stout

Serve at 50–55°F in a snifter or tulip glass to let the complex aromatics open fully; the higher ABV benefits from a slow, contemplative pour rather than a cold, rushed one. As a standalone sipper, it needs nothing added — though a Stout Float made with vanilla or mint chocolate chip ice cream amplifies its dessert character. A Chocolate Mint Russian uses this stout in place of a traditional stout to add barrel depth to the classic vodka-and-coffee-liqueur formula. For a creative highball riff, combine a short pour with cold brew coffee and a dash of chocolate bitters for a caffeinated after-dinner drink.

Best For

• A post-dinner dessert course replacement on a winter evening
• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who collects seasonal barrel-aged releases
• Sharing among friends during a guided imperial stout tasting lineup
• Pairing with a holiday cheese and chocolate board

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Chocolate Mint Stout taste like? It delivers rich dark chocolate and English toffee up front, with a distinct but balanced mint note and underlying bourbon-barrel warmth. The finish is roasty and moderately bitter, keeping the sweetness in check.

How does Chocolate Mint Stout compare to New Holland Dragon's Milk? Both are bourbon barrel-aged stouts scoring 90 on BeerAdvocate, but Dragon's Milk is a year-round offering at 11% ABV with a more straightforward vanilla-bourbon-chocolate profile. The Guinness release is seasonal, adds dried mint and cacao conditioning, and leans further into pastry stout territory.

Is Chocolate Mint Stout good for sipping neat? Absolutely — at 10.8% ABV with layered toffee, cacao, and barrel flavors, it is built for slow sipping at cellar temperature rather than casual drinking.

Where is Chocolate Mint Stout made? It is brewed at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Baltimore, Maryland, which serves as Guinness's U.S. innovation brewery for experimental and limited-edition releases.

What foods pair well with Chocolate Mint Stout? Dark chocolate truffles complement the cacao and mint directly. Blue cheese or aged Gouda stands up to the stout's sweetness and barrel character. Smoked brisket echoes the roasty malt notes. Crème brûlée mirrors the caramel and vanilla flavors, and pecan pie aligns with the toffee and bourbon undertones.

What sizes does Chocolate Mint Stout come in? It is commonly available as a four-pack, released on a seasonal basis through the Guinness Open Gate Brewery program.

Is Chocolate Mint Stout worth the price? It positions as a premium seasonal craft release, priced in line with other limited bourbon barrel-aged imperial stouts. The multi-step production process — dried mint brewing, bourbon barrel aging, and cacao conditioning — justifies its place above everyday stouts.

Why Chocolate Mint Stout?

The distinguishing factor here is the three-stage flavor layering: dried mint leaves in the brew kettle, aging in Kentucky bourbon barrels, and a final conditioning on pure cacao. That deliberate sequencing produces a stout where mint, chocolate, and barrel character each register clearly rather than collapsing into a muddy sweetness. A 90-point BeerAdvocate score and nearly 9,000 Untappd check-ins confirm that the approach resonates with serious craft beer drinkers. As a seasonal release from a brewery known for experimentation, it occupies a genuine niche — a barrel-aged pastry stout from one of the world's most recognized brewing names, made with a distinctly American craft sensibility.