5 Best Irish Beers to Drink
this St. Patrick’s Day

(When we say Irish Beer, We mean made in Ireland)

If your beer is green, then you’re not Irish!

St. Patty’s day is almost upon us, and everyone is “feeling their Irish.” Like the old saying says, “Everybody is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.”

Well, if you’re going to be Irish, then maybe you should drink some real Irish beer. I will introduce you to some beers that came straight from the motherland and into the American marketplace for us to enjoy.

I found most of these beers at Total Wine & More or at Drizzly.com. So let’s jump right in and see what’s on the list first.

GUINNESS® FOREIGN EXTRA STOUT

I figured we should start with the company whose name is synonymous with St. Patrick's Day. Guinness is the most sought-after beer this time of year. As a good Irish boy myself, I always make sure I have mine purchased way ahead of time so I don’t miss out. I have to be honest; I don’t go for the regular Guinness beer. Instead, I go straight for Foreign Extra Stout. This smooth flavored stout has all the delicious qualities of the original but with a much higher ABV of 7.5%. Let’s look at her stats.

TASTING NOTES

Aroma: Strong, with pronounced fruity and roast character

Flavor: A full-bodied palate of roast, fruity character

Palate: Initial tingling impact, bittersweet leading to a dry finish

ABV: 7.5%

Appearance: A rich dark liquid with a frothy head

O'Hara's Irish Stout

Next on the list is O’Hara’s Irish Stout. This stout has a robust roast flavor complemented by a full-bodied and smooth mouthfeel. The generous addition of Fuggle hops lends a tart bitterness to the dry espresso-like finish. This stout beer is filled with rich, complex coffee aromas mingled with light licorice notes. The combination of traditional stout hops with an extra pinch of roast barley allows us to stay true to Irish tradition, recreating a taste so often yearned for by stout drinkers.

Located in Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow, Ireland, Carlow Brewing Company, also known as O’Hara’s Brewery, is an independent, family-owned business established in 1996 and one of the pioneers of Irish craft brewing. I would say that this beer is worth a try. If you want to get away from the stereotypical "Guinness beer on St. Patty's Day Beer," then this one may be the one to buy.

Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale

First brewed in 1710, Kilkenny is now owned and produced by the makers of Guinness. It’s a red ale that pours a clear reddish-brown color. A sweet, creamy aroma of roasted caramel malts, barley, and wheat with a creamy yet slightly bitter taste of caramel malts and buttery, toasted grains. Finishes with a nice nutty flavor.

Hop House 13 Lager

Guinness does it again! This modern pale ale is entirely different from anything else you’ve tasted. It’s a double-hopped lager with complex flavors and hints of apricot and peaches. You would never know from the label that this beer is part of Guinness's experimental brewery known as the Brewers Project.

Aroma: Light and hoppy with floral and citrus notes

Flavor: Flavorful lager, hoppy and citrusy on the nose

Palate: Lively palate, crisp and refreshing

ABV: 5%

Appearance: Dense head on a golden amber-colored beer

Hops: Galaxy, Topaz, Mosaic

Murphy's Irish Stout

This dark, rich beer has been brewed in Cork, Ireland, since 1856. Thanks to its smooth coffee and chocolate flavors, it has almost no bitterness. Like most of these beers, it has a low ABV of 4.0% so that you can drink it all (St. Patty’s day) long.

5 Best Irish Beers to Drink this St. Patrick’s Day

(When we say Irish Beer, We mean made in Ireland)

5 Best Irish Beers to Drink
this St. Patrick’s Day