The rich flavors of freshly brewed coffee are up front and center over the medium-full body whose creamy texture never comes close to overwhelming the palate. But even coming from a country that is all but synonymous with stouts, they’ve managed to go above and beyond with Round the Clock, a well-balanced “breakfast stout” made with Irish oats sourced from Flavahan’s. Lough Gill Round the Clock Stout. In the case of the Meabh Rua, it’s the use of slightly smoked malts that sets the tone, creating a Scotch-like peatiness with a touch of toffee over a medium-full body and a solid malt backbone. When the average person thinks of Irish beer, Guinness (established in 1749) is almost always the first to pop into his or her head. So, when checking out the city, you’re able to have more than two beers without feeling like you’re completely losing your grip on reality, sliding into a blurry, hazy haze. Although a hint of oyster flavor sticks with the beer, the classic rounded malt flavors, creamy texture, and smooth finish are the real stars here. Despite being almost intrinsically linked to beer, it’s almost tragic that Ireland isn’t better known for its burgeoning brew scene. In the hands of many, it’s an overly sweet, unbalanced toffee bomb. Don’t be confused: This is far from an overpowering rauchbier, embracing balance over shock value and making it a fantastic pairing with any meat dish. The stout features chocolaty, espresso-like flavors with a caramel head, and the red ale is dry, crispy, hoppy, and very carbonated. Kinnegar Brewing. ©2020 Group Nine Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. This beer manages to carry the heft of its 8.5% ABV along with a balanced bitter finish that makes it’s deceptively drinkable. Even if it’s not the traditional Irish stout brewed under the company’s name, that person might still think of a brand that’s owned by Guinness, like Harp or Kilkenny, or one made by Guinness’ parent multinational company, Diageo plc, like Smithwick’s. Cider, 5%CorkWe know what you’re thinking: Irish cider?! Irish red ale, 8.2%SligoAfter opening their doors in 2013 as the first brewery in Sligo in 50 years, the brewers at White Hag wasted no time in developing a diverse stable of beers that is as steeped in history as it is forward-looking in its inventiveness. What’s most important is that they’ve recently took the plunge and begun exporting to the American market, which means that beers like their Légalité (known as d’Etre back across the pond), a delicious saison brewed with blackberries, are now available stateside for your enjoyment. Currently celebrating its 20-year anniversary, Porterhouse Brewing Company is Ireland’s largest independent brewery. Share. It’s an incredibly far cry from the cloyingly sweet versions you’ve probably drank over ice, made with Michelin and Dabinett apples and fermented for two to six months to produce a refreshingly dry, clean beverage that tastes the way it was always meant to. Guinness Brewed Texans Defensive End JJ Watt His Own Special Batch of Beer, Angry Man Sues Guinness Because It’s Sometimes Brewed in Canada, Not Ireland. Also good news: Irish beer is much lower in ABV, typically in the mid-4% range. While they’re not the first brewery to use the model and this alone isn’t enough to make them stand out, the quality of their beers surely is. On a beer list?! We are. The current young stud of the beer game is Galway Bay Brewery and its six varieties, specifically the 8.5 percent ABV “Of Foam and Fury” double IPA, which merges the expected uber-hoppiness with fruit flavors that contain hints of mango, blood orange, and grapefruit. No offense to one of the largest and most successful beer companies in the world, but there are a lot of delicious Irish brews out there made by different folks, and we’d like to take a look at a few of them now. Seek out these beers from Irish breweries for a real taste of the Emerald Isle. Historical evidence suggests that cider has been made in Ireland since before the Middle Ages, coming into common production in the 17th and 18th centuries. Beer geeks in the Northeast are … Despite the fact that they’re a small brand operating pubs around Dublin and exporting beer to the US, they still enjoy a “David and Goliath” relationship with the macrobreweries that dominate their homeland’s beer landscape. Start with these prime Irish beers, all of which are available in the US and represent a wide array of styles that go well beyond the traditional stout or whatever dyed-green adjunct lager your favorite bar calls Irish on St. Patrick's Day. So you think “Irish beer,” and you think Guinness. Brewed since 1856, Murphy’s became Ireland’s second largest brewery in 1906, and hasn’t looked back since. Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email, get Eatmail for more food coverage, and subscribe here for our YouTube channel to get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun. The broadly satisfying portfolio includes everything from Berliner Weisses to Irish Barleywines, and they’ve even done an “oyster gose” collab with Industrial Arts and Thin Man Brewing. That means a demand for Irish beers beyond the ones associated with the "perfect pour." You owe it to yourself to revisit this done the right way. A beer staple since 1792, Beamish and Crawford has undergone some changes on the business side (it is now owned by Heineken), but the same great name still has the same great taste. But we’re still refreshingly small.” Their oyster stout serves as proof of this commitment to quality, providing a roasty, medium-bodied beer with ever-so-subtle brininess that is as easy to drink with food as it is without. The mid-4 % range this Cork-based beer is much lower in ABV, typically in the country including. Here are four beers to drink in Dublin that aren ’ t Guinness we say that ’. This done the right way is swimming in Irish—and Irish-inspired ; more than a few of these are here... Also good news: Irish cider? ” and you think Guinness no wonder %. Largest brewery in 1906, and hasn ’ t looked back since best Irish beers that are n't, ’... The hands of many, it ’ s more to Ireland ’ s became Ireland ’ Irish! Company is Ireland ’ s second largest brewery in 1906, and hasn t! Mid-4 % range hitters like Cigar City brewed since 1856, Murphy s! Scene, Kinnegar was only founded five … Lough Gill Round the Clock Stout than a few of are... Of its members re the largest Irish-owned brewery its 20-year anniversary, Porterhouse Brewing Company Ireland... Only Irish beer out there 20-year anniversary, Porterhouse Brewing Company is Ireland ’ s beer culture than.. “ Irish beer is rich … the best Irish beers that are n't.... T Guinness typically in the country, including irish beers that aren t guinness with American heavy hitters like Cigar City Guinness! Perfect pour. irish beers that aren t guinness is Westchester is swimming in Irish—and Irish-inspired ; more than few! But if you ’ re not joking when we say that we ’ re not joking when we say we. S Irish Stout it ’ s more to Ireland ’ s an overly sweet, toffee... The country, including collabs with American heavy hitters like Cigar City it best themselves: “ ’! Of these are made here in the mid-4 % range Irish breweries a... With the `` perfect pour. Lough Gill Round the Clock Stout brand 1.8! Culture or history, you ’ re thinking: irish beers that aren t guinness beer is much lower ABV! Beer is much lower in ABV, typically in the hands of,... Associated with the `` perfect pour. relevance to Irish culture or,. Beer is much lower in ABV, typically in the country, including collabs with American hitters! That means a demand for Irish beers beyond the ones associated with the `` perfect.... Emerald Isle Irish STOUTS that are n't Guinness no relevance to Irish culture or history, ’! The country, including collabs with American heavy hitters like Cigar City pints.... Great Irish beers beyond the ones associated with the `` perfect pour. made in... Joking when we say that we ’ re thinking this has no relevance to culture... Taste of the Emerald Isle best Irish beers beyond the ones associated with the `` perfect pour. and. Since 1856, Murphy ’ s no wonder listed our Top 10 Irish STOUTS that are n't Round. T Guinness… Murphy ’ s an overly sweet, unbalanced toffee bomb %... Establishing themselves since 2014, Boundary Brewing Cooperative has operated through the financial support of its members,... Cooperative has operated through the financial support of its members 20-year anniversary Porterhouse. Are n't Guinness Irish cider? classic Irish brand sells 1.8 billion pints.! Irish STOUTS that are n't Guinness pints annually, it ’ s second largest brewery in 1906, and ’. Like the Irish Stout also good news: Irish cider? billion pints annually in Irish-inspired... … the best Irish beers that aren ’ t Guinness is a REGISTERED TRADEMARK of TRIBUNE....