The Irish have a long and deep relationship with alcohol. Of course, they have their whiskey, which is the generic name for a strong liquor that contains grain, water, and yeast that has fermented and aged. However, while Irish whiskey is quite well-known, their beer is probably even more popular, especially outside the country. Many Americans enjoy drinking Irish beer, particularly on St. Patrick’s Day (despite the fact that he wasn’t Irish, or named Patrick, or a beer drinker per se), but many of the bottled brews consumed in the U.S. of A. are not entirely from the land of Erin.
There are two kinds of beers, in general: lagers and ales. Basically, lagers or lighter and ales are darker or heavier. Stout, which is the type of beer that Guinness is, is probably one of the more popular kinds of beer in Ireland. Stout is a type of ale, in a manner of speaking. Here are some of the most popular Irish beer brands.
BEAMISH STOUT
Compared to Guinness, Beamish is similar with its dark, chocolaty texture. However, it has a bit of a lighter body and a little more spice in the bite. With sweet flavorings of caramel and even hints of coffee, there is definitely a balance to the bitter, hoppy finish, which is quite characteristic of all good stouts.
GUINESS DRAUGHT
Often called the “milkshake of beers” and a “meal in a bottle,” this, the most famous Irish beer of all, has a distinctively sweet and creamy flavor that is incomparable and inescapable. The roasted malt flavor lends to a hint of chocolate in a rich and creamy, full-bodied brew that is best when served straight out of the chilled bottle. The “perfect pint” is a pouring technique that the company claims should take exactly 119.53 seconds, if you like your beer off the tap.
MURPHY’S IRISH STOUT
Rounding out Ireland’s “Big Three,” Murphy’s is the lightest and sweetest of the most popular Irish beer brands. The flavor is best described as: frothy chocolate milk topped with a double shot of espresso and finished with a one-inch thick head of caramel-infused cream. Because of its lighter and sweeter essence, it is commonly considered to be the “dessert” to the aforementioned “meal in a bottle.”
HARP LAGER
You can easily find this one in pubs and bars across the world. If you are looking for an Irish beer with similar integrity as the hefty stouts, but with a much more forgiving presence, this could be the one for you. It is a crisp, summery lager that is slightly bitter on the tongue but finishes smooth and solid. Harp Lager is often the “tan” ingredient in a “black & tan.”
KINSALE IRISH LAGER
Named for the town in which this Irish beer is brewed, Kinsale Irish Lager boasts a relationship to one of the oldest breweries in the country. Golden in color with a fast-fading bitterness at the start, the light floral undertones of this well-carbonated lager might take you back to another time in history; the 17th century to be exact.
