On St. Patrick’s Day 2017, more than 13 million pints of Guinness were consumed worldwide. We’re not Guinness haters here – when there’s no craft options, Guinness is always our go-to. While Guinness is Ireland’s most well-known stout, there are lots of other brilliant stouts being brewed by craft breweries North and South so why not try one of the beers below this St. Patrick’s Day?
Yardsman – Double Stout
Brewed by Hercules Brewing Co in Belfast, the Yardsman Double Stout is our pick of the bunch. Inspired by the breweries based on Hercules Street around 1845, this stout is based on a recipe their master brewer found from back then. It’s filtered through Irish linen, the way beer would’ve been made in those days. It’s one of the creamiest, smoothest stouts you’ll ever try. We’re not sure why it’s called a Double Stout though, it’s only 4.3%. Maybe because it’s impossible to only have one?
Porterhouse – Oyster Stout
The Porterhouse has three locations in Dublin – and while you may find their beers in bottles, you need to go to the bar to have a proper pint on draught of this wonderful Oyster Stout to truly appreciate it. It’s a creamy, thick, velvety sweet stout derived from fresh oysters in the conditioning tank.
The White Hag x Kinnegar – The Hare and the Hag
If you spot this on nitro, you have to try it. It’s another level. A thick, luxurious, creamy Irish coffee stout. Incredibly easy to drink and full of flavour. A great beer made in collaboration by two of Ireland’s best craft breweries.
Galway Bay – Buried at Sea (also… 200 Fathoms)
Buried at Sea is one of Galway Bay’s core range; you’ll find it in all of their bars and you might even find it bottled in your local shop, making it one of the more easily found beers on the list. It’s a milk stout brewed with chocolate and it’s delicious.
I can’t mention Galway Bay and stout in the same paragraph and not also give a shout out to 200 Fathoms, their annual release, imperial Russian stout aged in whiskey barrels. It’s one of the best Irish beers ever produced – not one to be necking on St. Patrick’s Day, but if you can get your hands on it, you must.
Whiplash – Farami
Whiplash have quickly become one of the most talked about craft breweries in Ireland and the UK but they’re most well known for their amazing IPAs. Farami, their coffee and oatmeal stout – a collaboration with Otterbank Brewing & 3FE coffee – was the first beer we tried by Whiplash at the beginning of 2017, and it blew us away. Coffee for days.
O’Hara’s – Leann Folláin
Carlow Brewing Company, also known as O’Hara’s, is a family-owned business established in 1996. They’re one of the biggest independent brewers in Ireland so their beers are relatively easy to come across. “Leann Folláin” is Irish for “wholesome stout” – and while O’Hara’s do a number of stouts, this is their best.
Boundary x Zapato – You’re Not Getting Any
Our beer of the year in 2017, Boundary’s You’re Not Getting Any was the most appropriately named beer of the year. Originally released in large, sharing bottle size – we still didn’t share it, it was too good. It has since been released in smaller bottles, and at 9.8%, it’s not one to be chugging on St. Patrick’s Day either but this thick, blueberry, imperial oatmeal stout is one you simply have to try if you see it.
Porterhouse – Wrasslers XXX
The only brewery to have two stouts on the list, Porterhouse’s Wrasslers XXX is a stark contrast to their silky smooth Oyster Stout. They say it’s a stout like your grandfather used to drink. It’s a gruff, coffee flavoured stout which packs a real punch. I guess that’s why it’s called Wrasslers.
Whitewater – Belfast Black
Whitewater, from Kilkeel, County Down produce Belfast Black. A traditional Irish stout which is available in bottles but has to be sampled on tap to experience it properly. Between this and Yardsman, Belfast has done well with its stouts.
Kinnegar – Flying Saucer
Kinnegar’s Flying Saucer Foreign Export stout is a strong stout, weighting in at 7% ABV. It was brewed by the participants in the 1st Kinnegar Brewing Academy. It’s one of their specials so keep an eye out for it.
What’s your favourite Irish stout? Let us know what you’re drinking this St. Patrick’s Day in the comments below!