The Best Beers To Buy For Your St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
Celebrate St. Patrick's day with one of the best Irish beers!
This article is more than 2 years old
St. Patrick’s Day is one of those lovely times during the year that gives individuals an excuse to get together with friends and family and celebrate some of life’s finer indulgences. Good friends, good food (corned beef and cabbage anyone!?), and of course good beer all equate to some memorable good times. Here in the United States, we partake in displays of celebration by donning an array of green hues accented with gold tinges paying homage to Ireland’s leprechaun lore. Parades and parties abound characterize the day. New York City and Boston’s parades are two, in particular, not to be missed! However, in order to get the festivities just right, you have to make sure you’ve equipped yourself with the best types of St. Patrick’s Day beer.
It almost goes without saying that you’ll want your decided St. Patrick’s day beer to have Irish roots. However, therein lies the problem. There is a slew of delicious Irish-born beers well worthy enough to grab to ring in the emerald holiday. Hence, in order to help you out on your St. Patricks day search, we put our tastebuds to the test and narrowed down some of the best beers to serve at your St. Patricks Day party.
MURPHY’S IRISH STOUT
WHY IT’S THE BEST – Murphy’s Stout has been being brewed at Lady’s Well Brewery in Cork, Ireland since 1856. It is a dry brew with a medium body that is just dense enough. It will deliver notes of both toffee and coffee to your palate with a finish that is akin to a smooth milkshake. It is infused with nitrogen in order to maintain the integrity of its body and finish.
This St. Patrick’s day beer is brewed from a combination of water, malted barley, barley, and hop extract. It is packaged in 500 ml cans. It has an ABV of 4%.
Prices vary by State, however, it is available nationwide. Click here to find a vendor near you.
O’HARA’S IRISH STOUT
WHY IT’S THE BEST – As Irish stouts go, this is about as authentic as they get. It has been being crafted by Carlow Brewing Company in Ireland since 1999. This is a very earthy tasting beer with a roasted nut aroma and flavor with an essence of espresso at the finish. It is a robust full-bodied beer made possible by its stout Fuggle hops and barley components. Its color is akin to that of an enticing Hershey’s chocolate bar.
This St. Patrick’s Day beer is bottled, however, it is recommended that to really get the best flavor/drinking experience, you pour it into a glass when it has been chilled to between 45 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit. ABV is 4.3%.
Since this beer is strictly imported you might have to do a bit of searching at your local liquor outlets to find it. However, it is available on Drizly and at Total Wine & More. Prices vary.
SMITHWICK’S RED ALE
WHY IT’S THE BEST – Not in the mood for a heavy robust Irish stout and instead have the hankering to celebrate with a St. Patrick’s Day beer on the lighter side of things? Then giving Smithwick’s Red Ale a try is a good idea. This beer is one that has truly stood the test of time and has been in production ever since John Smithwick founded the brewery in 1710. The original brewery has since been converted to a museum of sorts but the Ale itself remains one of Ireland’s most beloved.
Smithwick’s Red Ale is characterized by its ironic red hue that exudes aromatic notes of sweet caramel and toasted toffee. Overall, it is on the sweeter more refreshing side but still finishes with a dash of bitter hoppy-ness. It’s the perfect blend of light and refreshing meets strong and robust. Its ABV is 5% and is best served chilled at around 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Prices and availability once again vary by state so it’s best to check your well-stocked local liquor outlet. However, it is available for purchase on Drizly as well as Total Wine & More.
PORTERHOUSE RED IRISH ALE
WHY IT’S THE BEST- Porterhouse did everything right and then some with this intoxicating St. Patrick’s day beer. It is full-bodied while at the same time being light and fruity, while not at all tasting too sugary or sweet. Its malts include pale ale malt, crystal malt, wheat malt, and black malt. Its hops are Galena, nugget, and East Kent Goldings. Drinking this ale, you’ll get aromas of various woods, herbs, and spices, and your palette will taste every bit of its malt and hops makeup. It has a 4.2% ABV.
The thing is with the Porterhouse Red Irish Ale is that you might have some trouble locating it in the United States. It is strictly an import so it’s only available via a small number of select vendors in the states. It’s worth it to try your local specialty craft beer store or a well-stocked larger liquor outlet. You may also find it available near you for delivery via Drizly. Prices vary by location.
HARPOON CELTIC RED ALE
WHY IT’S THE BEST- Harpoon’s Celtic Red Ale has been being brewed since 1987 and is a great St. Patrick’s day beer that has its roots right at home in the United States in the great city of Boston, Massachusetts. This is the ideal beer to choose for your St. Patrick’s Day festivities if you are one who really likes to savor the flavor of your beverage. This is a medium-bodied ale that has a good balance of maltiness and sweetness. Harpoon likens the flavor to the advent of Spring’s imminent arrival. Its flavor portfolio combined with its mid-level hoppy-ness gives this beer some extra personality that will have it lingering on your palette for just a little longer than most other ales.
Locate a Harpoon Celtic Red Ale carrier near you by clicking here. Prices vary by location.
THE CONCLUSION
Get your green garments on and get the party started with one of these great St. Patrick’s Day beers! Also don’t forget, if you want to celebrate like true Irish folk you should invest in some genuine Irish pints from which to drink your beer. As a reminder, please drink responsibly, and should you need a refill of St. Patrick’s Day beer supplies during the festivities consider ordering from a local alcohol delivery service. Happy St. Patrick’s Day! And as they say in Ireland, Sláinte! Cheers!
