Every 17 March, our de facto beer is Guinness Draught, the classic stout pulled in a “two-part” pour to achieve its signature creamy head. About 13m pints of the “black stuff”, as it’s sometimes called, are sold worldwide on St Patrick’s Day alone. That’s an 819% increase over a usual day.
However, plenty of other Irish beers – not to mention lots of styles other than stouts – are worth enjoying out there. Irish brewing tradition goes back at least 5,000 years, and while the country’s brewing scene thrived in the early 1800s (around 200 breweries), about 70 breweries still operate across Ireland now, a recent report says.
Guinness is by far the most popular (and brews more stout than any other brewery in the world), but anyone interested in trying different brews from the Emerald Isle can fairly easily find a bit of variety, even across the pond. Interestingly enough, stout isn’t even the most popular beer style consumed in Ireland. That honor belongs to the easy-drinking lager.
As a beer journalist, I’ve had the luck to knock back plenty of Irish pints both here and abroad. From a lager to a renowned red ale, here are a few of my favorite Irish-brewed alternatives, each one generally available at most US beer shops or grocery stores. Even better: with fairly low alcohol content, it’s hard to go overboard with any of them.
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At a glance
The famous red ale:
Smithwick’s Irish Ale
A coffee-like stout:
O’Hara’s Irish Stout
A crisp lager:
Harp Lager
A citrusy golden ale:
Sullivan’s Irish Gold Golden Ale
A lighter stout:
Murphy’s Irish Stout
Our favorite nonalcoholic pick:
Guinness 0
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Why you should trust me
I’ve been writing about the craft beer industry for a decade for the Washington Post, Food & Wine, Good Beer Hunting, Civil Eats, Craft Beer & Brewing, San Diego Magazine and many more. In 2023, I published my first book, The Beer Lover’s Guide to Cider. I’ve also been interviewed as a beverage expert for BuzzFeed and KPBS, and spoken at multiple Beer Summit conferences and CiderCons.
Since I live in San Diego, California – the craft brewing capital of the US and a hot spot for some of the world’s best India Pale Ales (IPAs) – I drink my fair share of hoppy beers when I choose to imbibe (and plenty of nonalcoholic ones for when I don’t).
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<em>The famous red ale:</em> Smithwick’s Irish Ale (4.5% ABV)
Founded in 1710 in Kilkenny, Smithwick’s is one of Ireland’s oldest operating breweries. In 2013, production moved to Dublin, but the iconic red ale remains a staple of Irish culture to this day, as well as an easy-drinking beer pretty much anyone (of legal drinking age) can enjoy. The smooth, medium-bodied red ale balances a nice malty sweetness and light hop bitterness with a creamy head and beautiful ruby red color that’s as pleasing to look at as it is to drink. Personally, I prefer Smithwick’s on draft over cans or bottles, so if you see it on tap at your local pub, opt for a fresh pour, ideally with a plate of fish and chips on the side.
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<em>A coffee-like stout:</em>O’Hara’s Irish Stout (4.3% ABV)
For something with a bit more oomph than your go-to Guinness, O’Hara’s Irish Stout packs in a lot of flavor. This full-bodied, roast-forward, deliciously complex stout finishes dry, but leaves you wanting more, making it a fantastic option for stout lovers who prefer beers that lean more toward rich espresso rather than cocoa. As a bona fide coffee fiend, I find myself ordering an O’Hara’s instead of a Guinness on occasion and am always satisfied with my choice. And in true Irish stout fashion, this award-winning brew still remains under 4.5% ABV.
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<em>A crisp lager:</em> Harp Lager (4.5% ABV)
Ireland is famous for quite a few things: Celtic heritage, rugged emerald landscapes and its abundance of pure water from rainfall, lakes, rivers and more than 4,600 miles of coastline. That pristine spring water is part of what makes Harp Lager world-famous, giving the pale lager a clean, crisp taste and finish that pairs well with pretty much any type of food. Of course, on St Paddy’s Day, you can’t go wrong with a pint of Harp alongside a plate of corned beef and cabbage or a bowl of Irish stew (but I’ve been known to enjoy a cold Harp at many a summer barbecue or sporting event as well).
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<em>A citrusy golden ale:</em>Sullivan’s Irish Gold Golden Ale (5.2% ABV)
Golden ales are one of those perfect Goldilocks beer styles that don’t come across as too hoppy or too malty – they fall in that just-right sweet spot between both. Sullivan’s Irish Gold Golden Ale hits the ideal balance with a mix of lightly roasted Cara malt, Irish ale and Vienna malts, plus Admiral hops for bittering and First Gold hops for aromatic complexity, making this light-to-medium-bodied beer incredibly quaffable for any occasion. (Cara malt gives it a bit of caramelly sweetness, while Irish ale and Vienna malts add that signature toasty malt flavor and body. Admiral and First Gold are both English hops that lend this golden ale its recognizable citrusy scent.)
Sullivan’s also makes a well-regarded red ale and Irish stout, so if you’re keen on sampling a trio of Irish alternatives and can find all three, give each of this Kilkenny-based brewery’s offerings a try.
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<em>A lighter stout:</em> Murphy’s Irish Stout (4.0% ABV)
After brewing the same recipe for 160 years, it’s fair to say the brewers making Murphy’s Irish Stout (often just called “Murphy’s”) have the process pretty well dialed in. The dry Irish stout isn’t meant to be a Guinness clone – rather, it’s a less bitter, lighter alternative for those who want to enjoy a malt-forward beer, but without experiencing the heavy feeling that can come with having a few too many. Given its notes of chocolate and roastiness and a signature inch-thick foam head, the folks in Cork remain fiercely proud of this local brew (and right well they should). It’s a consistently reliable choice for all stout lovers, Irish or otherwise.
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<em>Our favorite nonalcoholic pick:</em> Guinness 0 (<0.5% ABV)
Of course, you can always still reach for a Guinness … but leave the hangover behind. Unlike so many nonalcoholic versions of full-strength beers, Guinness’s NA take of the “black stuff” actually mimics the original so closely it’s hard for even stout aficionados to tell the difference. (When I did a blind taste test, I certainly couldn’t.) So if you want the same creamy head, dark red color, notes of chocolate and roasted malt and fairly light-to-medium body with a lusciously dry finish, but with none of the after effects, Guinness 0 will get the job done. Happy St Patrick’s Day and sláinte!
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Beth Demmon has written about the craft beer industry for a decade for publications such as the Washington Post, Food & Wine and Good Beer Hunting. She wrote the book The Beer Lover’s Guide to Cider
