What you should be drinking on March 17th
by Justine Jane Taft
St. Patrick’s Day is a time of celebration, and what better way to celebrate than over a pint or two? Many bars and pubs will offer special “green beer” on March 17th, which is really just food colouring added to your favourite beer. But which beers should you be drinking, and what if you’re not a beer drinker? OTD gives you our top 10 St. Patrick’s Day drinks.
#10 Harp Lager
Harp is a golden, pale lager with 5.0% alcohol content. Harp beer includes water from the Cooley Mountains in Dundalk, Ireland.
#9 Caffrey’s
This is 4.0% ale brewed by Coors UK, and is the first beer to be available in an aluminium bottle.
#8 Smithwick’s Ale
This ale is amber with 5.0% alcohol, made of all-natural ingredients. Founded in 1710, this ale recently celebrated its 300th birthday.
#7 Murphy’s Irish Stout
Using dark roasted barley malt, this beer stands out with a unique 4.1% alcohol content. Founded in County Cork, Ireland, the company keeps strong ties to the community by hosting “Murphy’s Little Big Nights”. This series of events showcases the best that County Cork has to offer including music, sports, and films.
#6 Kilkenny Cream Ale
This ale has 4.3% alcohol with a claimed 50% less carbonation than other beers, perfect for those who find most beer a bit too carbonated. The brewery that Kilkenny is brewed in is the oldest operating brewery in Ireland.
#5 O’Hara’s Irish Stout
This is a dark stout with 4.3% alcohol. Unfortunately, this beer is only available for home use if you buy a whole keg. The baby of Irish beer, having started in 1996, it has gone onto make a name for itself, wining two gold medals at the International Brewing awards in 2000.
# 4 Bailey’s Original Irish Cream
At 17% alcohol, this packs more of a punch than any beer. Added to coffee or tea or just done in shots by itself or with milk over ice, Bailey’s offers a wide range of flavours including coffee, caramel and mint chocolate.
#3 Carolan’s Irish Cream
Like Bailey’s, Carolan’s contains 17% alcohol, however unlike Bailey’s it is gluten-free —perfect for celiacs. Carolan’s is named after Turlough O’Carolan, a 17th century Irish harpist. He was famous for performing a piece that became to be known as “Carolan’s Dream”, which you would recognize as the opening riff from Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven.
#2 Jameson Irish Whiskey
For those of you who find beer and cream liquors too weak, we recommend Jameson’s. Triple distilled whiskey, at 40% alcohol content, it’s at the top of the list for strong drinks. Jameson’s also has a unique label bearing the signature of its founder John Jameson.
#1 Guinness
Founded more than 250 years ago, Guinness comes in a variety of forms in both the pubs and in the store. Perhaps one of the most well-known Irish beers, it is OTD’s definite must-try for St. Patrick’s Day.
