Guinness Nitro Cold Brew 4Pk Cans

Guinness Nitro Cold Brew 4Pk Cans is a nitrogen-charged coffee stout from Dublin, Ireland, brewed at 4.0% ABV and sold as a four-pack of cans. The beer merges Guinness's signature nitrogenated pour with real cold brew coffee, producing a creamy, surge-and-settle cascade in every glass — an effect made possible by the iconic widget inside each can.

Quick Facts: ABV: 4.0%  |  Origin: Dublin, Ireland  |  Style: Nitro Coffee Stout  |  Brewery: St. James's Gate

Production & Heritage

Guinness has brewed at St. James's Gate in Dublin since Arthur Guinness signed his famous 9,000-year lease in 1759. Nitro Cold Brew is made from just eight ingredients — water, malted barley, barley, roasted barley, hops, nitrogen, yeast, and coffee — with barley roasted in house at the brewery before cold brew coffee and natural coffee flavors are added to the finished beer. Each can contains the round plastic nitrogen widget Guinness pioneered, which releases a burst of nitrogen when the can is opened, replicating the creamy draught-style head and velvety mouthfeel that defines the brand.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Sweet and distinctly coffee-forward, with roasted barley and a rich espresso nose. Underneath the coffee, light chocolate and caramel malt tones emerge as the beer warms slightly.

Taste: The entry is smooth and creamy, carried by the nitrogen's fine-bubble texture. Mid-palate flavors of roast coffee, bittersweet chocolate, and caramel develop in balanced layers, striking a careful line between bitter and sweet. The coffee character reads more like a well-pulled espresso than a heavily sweetened mocha.

Finish: Medium in length with a dry, roasty close and lingering coffee bitterness. The nitrogen-driven creaminess persists, softening any sharp edges and leaving a clean aftertaste.

How to Drink Nitro Cold Brew

Pour the entire can hard into a pint glass in one smooth motion — this activates the widget and produces the trademark cascading surge and settled creamy head. Serve chilled, ideally around 42–44°F.

• Espresso Martini Riff: Combine with vodka and coffee liqueur; the nitro body adds a pillowy texture no shaken espresso martini can match.
• Black Velvet: Layer with dry sparkling wine for a classic pairing where the coffee notes add modern complexity to the traditional Guinness float.
• Beer Float: Pour over a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for a dessert serve where the roast coffee and chocolate notes shine against the cold sweetness.

Best For

• Coffee lovers exploring the intersection of craft beer and cold brew
• Hosting a casual tasting night with friends who enjoy stouts
• Pairing with a weekend brunch spread alongside hearty dishes
• Gifting to a Guinness fan looking for something beyond Draught Stout

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Guinness Nitro Cold Brew taste like? It delivers rich roast coffee and espresso up front, followed by bittersweet chocolate and caramel malt, all wrapped in a creamy, nitrogen-smoothed body. The balance leans more bitter than sweet, keeping the coffee character honest.

How does Nitro Cold Brew compare to Founders Breakfast Stout? Founders Breakfast Stout is a fuller-bodied oatmeal stout at 8.3% ABV with prominent chocolate and oat richness alongside its coffee, while Guinness Nitro Cold Brew sits at a sessionable 4.0% ABV with a lighter body and stronger cold-brew coffee emphasis. The nitrogen widget also gives Guinness a distinctly creamier mouthfeel compared to the carbonated pour of Breakfast Stout.

Is Nitro Cold Brew good for people new to stouts? Yes — the 4.0% ABV keeps it approachable, and the nitrogen-driven creaminess softens any aggressive roast bitterness, making it one of the gentler entry points into the coffee stout category.

Where is Guinness Nitro Cold Brew made? It is brewed at the St. James's Gate Brewery in Dublin, Ireland, where Guinness has operated since 1759. The barley used in the brew is roasted on site at the brewery.

What foods pair well with Nitro Cold Brew? Dark chocolate brownies complement the espresso and cacao notes; smoked brisket or barbecue ribs match the roast character; a full Irish breakfast with black pudding and sausage mirrors the malt depth; sharp aged cheddar provides savory contrast to the coffee bitterness; and tiramisu echoes the cold brew flavors for a dessert pairing.

What sizes does Nitro Cold Brew come in? The primary retail format is a four-pack of cans, and single cans may be available depending on market.

Is Nitro Cold Brew worth the price? It positions as an accessible, everyday coffee stout rather than a premium limited release, and the nitrogen widget technology adds genuine textural value that most canned coffee stouts in its price tier do not offer.

Why Nitro Cold Brew?

Guinness essentially invented nitrogenated beer in 1959, and Nitro Cold Brew is a direct extension of that legacy — applying widget technology to a coffee stout rather than just repackaging the classic Draught recipe. The low 4.0% ABV makes it unusually sessionable for the style, letting the cold brew coffee and roasted barley flavors come through without the alcohol heat that heavier coffee stouts carry. Rated 84 by Beer Connoisseur and holding a 3.8 on Untappd across more than 33,000 ratings, it has found a reliable audience among drinkers who want genuine coffee intensity in a lighter format. For anyone who drinks cold brew in the morning and stout in the evening, this beer collapses the distance between the two.