Guinness 200th Anniversary Export Stout

From the famous Guinness Brewery, established in 1759 at St. Jame's Gate, Dublin, Ireland, comes this 6.0% ABV take on their Export Stout, to celebrate 200 years of sending it to America. They used a recipe from 1817. 

The beer pours black, with a tall, thick, foamy, somewhat creamy head of tan. The aroma is dark roasted malt, smokey ashes and char, black licorice, star anise, with a creamy sweetness. The taste follows the aromas, very dark roasted, rich, smokey. There is sweetness, but the finish is dry, with a light bitterness. The beer is smooth, with a tingling of carbonation at the back of the throat. This is well done and delicious.