5 Perfect St. Patrick’s Day Beers

[BABY1]

TweetThere’s more to St. Pat’s than green Coors Light and car bombs. Whether you prefer light-bodied session brews, or dark-as-night stouts, we’ve got the beer you should be toasting.



Conway’s Irish Ale
Great Lakes Brewing Co., 6.5%

Named after the brewery founders’ grandfather—a policeman that directed traffic near the Cleveland brewery for 25 years—this American take on the dry Irish red ale is a little bigger and bolder (and be warned, more alcoholic). Great Lakes uses a mix of traditional hops, along with a subtle U.S.-Euro hybrid to balance the clean, toasty malts.



O’Hara’s Irish Red
Carlow Brewing Co., 4.3%

You’ll be hard pressed to find a more perfect and authentic example of the Irish red. Lucky for you, it’s slowly replacing Killian’s taps at better Irish bars across the country. This easy-drinking ale—only 4.3% ABV—is ideal for washing down corned beef and cabbage, and holds a subtle fruit character that most Irish reds lack. Mild, spicy hops and a touch of roasted barley round out a beer worth hunting down.



Skull Splitter
Orkney Brewery, 8.5%

St. Patrick may be an Irish patron, but consider raising a beer that honors his Scottish birthplace (though some believe he was born in Wales). Skull Splitter, thankfully, doesn’t refer to the beer’s morning-after carnage, but rather an ancient Viking Earl of the Scottish Orkney Islands. The 8.5% ABV wee heavy-style ale brings rich and smooth caramel malt, backed by dry fruit and an herbal hops kick.



Beamish Irish Stout
Heineken International, 4.1%

Guinness may be a St. Pat’s classic, but the more flavorful Beamish is actually brewed in Cork, Ireland (our Guinness comes from Canada). Beamish uses the same nitro carbonation for a super smooth body, but uses a touch more roasted barley for a more satisfying, chocolate-rich stout. Pick up a case of cans on your way home from work this week and don’t worry about leftovers. This beer deserves to be enjoyed beyond St. Patrick’s Day.


Old #38 Stout
North Coast Brewing Co., 5.6%

End your night with a pint of Old #38. Named after a local steam engine, North Coast Brewing amps up the cocoa and coffee malts for a substantial, but not too heavy, Irish dry stout. The bitterness is slightly subdued as the Fort Bragg brewers used a traditional amount of hops with an extra helping of barley, the extra sugar makes a stout more balanced that most.

[tilltheend]

TweetI don't drink but nice beverages.

[Dzone]

TweetBeer, any way you package it, color it, flavor it , market it, it will always taste horrible...LOL

[whitetail]

TweetI love craft beers but i keep drinking to a minimum. Once a week max.

[jipped genes]

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I love craft beers but i keep drinking to a minimum. Once a week max.

me too. i asked my wife to pick me up a 6 pack of some irish beer. i told they had a big sign in front of the irish beers. she bought me newcastle. ENGLISH beer. i love it but it aint irish. she said whats the difference................i left it alone and drank one

[whitetail]

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me too. i asked my wife to pick me up a 6 pack of some irish beer. i told they had a big sign in front of the irish beers. she bought me newcastle. ENGLISH beer. i love it but it aint irish. she said whats the difference................i left it alone and drank one

It's the thought that counts...you have to be pretty specific when asking people for beers. The always think the company name is the beer.

Just built a Yard House in Boston. Over 100 different beers on tap from all over. Place is like heaven to me when I give myself a pass.

[F E]

TweetI love Guinness Stout and want to try the new Guinness Black. Wondering if it will taste like Shiner Black.

We don't drink much, so it might be a month before I try it.

We like to drink all the Shiner Bock beers and you can only buy them here in Texas. The brewery is 2 hours from me and what is funny is that all the sporting events, bars and such sell it at imported prices, which is usually two dollars more than domestic.

FE

[skinnyman]

Tweetunfortunately at the pub i was at, they did not carry those in particular. I will put them on my list