Guinness may be the most well-known Irish beer on the market, but that doesn't mean it's the best. Now I'm not knocking it — I'll still grab a pint every now and again! — but there's so much more to Irish beer than this. Why limit yourself?
St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner, so step away from the green beer, and consider expanding your palate outside of Guinness. These five awesome Irish beers are a great place to start.
PORTER: Riasc Black (West Kerry Brewery)
Alcohol by volume: 6.1%
Riasc Black is a great seasonal beer that comes out in fall/winter, because it's so nice when the weather's kind of crappy. It's brewed with fresh blackberries, which gives it a rich color and flavor.
RED ALE: Bay Ale (Galway Bay Brewery)
Alcohol by volume: 4.2%
Killian's is probably the most famous Irish red ale, but Galway Bay's is a lot better, IMO. It's not that high in alcohol so you can go back for a second or third and still stand upright. It's not too hoppy, so the bitterness won't overwhelm you, and hey, it pairs great with food!
India Pale Ale: Hurricane IPA (Eight Degrees Brewing)
Alcohol by volume: 5.8%
If an IPA is brewed in Ireland, does that make it an Irish Pale Ale? Perhaps! Eight Degrees describes it as a "fruity hop bomb," which sounds pretty good to me. The brewery first started making Hurricane in 2013 and it quickly became a fan favorite.
IMPERIAL STOUT: Two Hundred Fathoms (Galway Bay Brewery)
Alcohol by volume: 10%
This one-and-done imperial stout is aged in whisky barrels, so it's pretty damn strong. But delicious! It has a perfect rating on ratings website RateBeer, which speaks a lot to the quality. Also, how cool is the label?
SOUR: Aul Bruin Bagger (Brown Paper Bag Project)
Alcohol by volume: 6.4%
Brewed by Brown Paper Bag Project in conjunction with Belgian brewery ’t Hofbrouwerijke, Aul Bruin Bagger is a Flemish brown ale that pours reddish brown and smells (and tastes) really fruity — like, dark cherries and cranberries, and it's very refreshing.
*BONUS*: Guinness Foreign Extra Stout
Alcohol by volume: 7.5%
Let's face it, Guinness is still *the* go-to Irish beer, so if you're going to pick a Guinness, make it a Foreign Extra Stout. It's a lot more complex than you standard Guinness, which means it's much easier to drink — so it won't feel as heavy in your stomach.
Aaaaand Happy St. Paddy's Day ;)
