Guinness and Other Irish Stouts

When you think of Irish Drinks, one name dominates the conversation: Guinness. But while Guinness is the king of Irish stouts, it’s not the only contender in the game. For me, a tall glass of Guinness (and possibly a shot of Tullamore Dew) seem to symbolize the party side of St. Patrick’s Day. On a general night out, I will typically order a Stella or Peroni, but on March 17, Guinness just seems to make sense.

Even though Guinness is probably the most well known of the Irish Beers, there are actually quite a few similar beers that would be equally fitting for the occasion. If you have ever been to Ireland, you can find a bunch of local beers or even popular options that you won’t find often (or at all) in the United States. Beers on tap like Hop House 13, Beamish and Wicklow Wolf are almost impossible to find in the US, but fairly common in Irish Pubs. Also, for some reason, the Irish beers in Ireland seem to taste better, but maybe it just has something to do with the environment.

While you may not be able to find some amazing Irish brews, there are quite a few great options that you can find at a lot of Irish Bars in San Francisco. As far as Irish Stouts go, here are some great options that you should try on St. Patrick’s Day.

What Makes an Irish Stout?

Irish Stout has a specific brewing process just like any type of beer like Lager, Pilsner, IPA, etc. Here are some key features:

Dark Appearance: Almost black in color but actually a deep ruby red when held up to the light.
Roasted Malt Flavor: Slightly bitter, with hints of coffee, chocolate & caramel.
Creamy Mouthfeel: This is from the nitrogen carbonation, which gives Irish stouts that smooth, velvety texture.
Lower Alcohol Content: Typically 4-5% ABV. It’s not quite as low a typical light beer, but much lower than most India Pale Ale and Belgian beers

Irish Stouts you should try:

Guinness

Founded in 1759 (Dublin)
ABV: 4.2%
Flavor Profile: Roasty, creamy, slightly bitter with hints of coffee and chocolate.

The gold standard of Irish stouts, Guinness is smooth, balanced & easy to drink. Its signature nitrogen pour creates a thick, creamy head that sets it apart from other beers. However, despite its dark appearance, it’s surprisingly light-bodied and low in calories. If you haven’t tried Guinness, make sure your first experience is poured from a proper tap at a pub. The cans that have a small nitrogen cannister inside are OK, but it won’t give you the full experience.

Beamish Irish Stout

Founded in 1792 (Cork)
ABV: 4.1%
Flavor Profile: Roasty, malty, with a more traditional Irish stout taste.

This is the closest thing to old-school Irish stouts from the 1800s. It has a stronger roasted malt flavor than Murphy’s or Guinness and is a little bit drier and more bitter. I wouldn’t recommend this one for your first Irish Stout experience since it has a strong taste. It kind of reminds me of the bitterness of an IPA. This one can be difficult to find, so you may have to search around.

O’Hara’s Irish Stout

Founded in 1996 (Carlow)
ABV: 4.3%
Flavor Profile: Roasty, chocolatey, with a slightly hoppy finish.

This beer has a more robust flavor than Guinness due to extra roasted malt and a touch of hops. This is more of a “craft Irish Stout” and one of the best small batch stouts from Ireland. I would choose O’Hara’s when you want a beer to drink with foods like oysters of BBQ. It also goes great with chocolate.

Murphy’s Irish Stout

Founded in 1856 (Cork)
ABV: 4.0%
Flavor Profile: Creamy, mild, slightly sweet with hints of caramel and chocolate.

Murphy’s is even smoother than Guinness, thanks to extra nitrogen carbonation. It is also slightly sweeter than Guinness, with less bitterness.

Porterhouse Wrasslers 4X Stout

Founded in 1996 (Dublin)
ABV: 5.0%
Flavor Profile: Deep, dark chocolate &coffee

This has a higher ABV than most Irish stouts, so it packs more of a punch (but not by much). The taste is much bolder than Guinness, so it feels a bit heavier.

What Irish Stout is best for you?

Choose Guinness if: You want the classic Irish stout experience—smooth, iconic & widely available.

Choose Murphy’s if: You prefer a smoother, slightly sweeter stout with less bitterness.

Choose Beamish if: You want a stronger roasted malt flavor and a more traditional Irish stout taste.

Choose O’Hara’s if: You like craft beer and want an Irish stout with extra depth and hops.

Choose Porterhouse Wrasslers if: You want a stronger, more intense stout with a little extra ABV.

If you are heading out the the St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl or just cruising to your local Irish Pub, make sure to check out some great Irish Beers.