If you’re planning a trip to Ireland, then the most obvious beer to drink is Guinness. However, Ireland has a rich heritage in different stouts, ales, and porters as well.
Branching out from the usual pints will give a taste of some of Ireland’s smaller breweries. Another perk? You’ll leave your trip with some impressive beer knowledge to share with your friends in the pub back home.
Stout
Stout refers to a particular way of making beer, which involves the use of dark malts. It’s this that gives stout its particular black, or dark brown colouring. Stout originates from the 1720s, and was invented with the purpose of creating a stronger beer that was therefore less likely to spoil. Stouts are generally dry, and tend to taste a bit like coffee (with a high alcohol content).No trip to Ireland is complete without a journey into the world of stout.
While Ireland is famous for its stout, the vast range of stouts available across the country may surprise you. Contrary to popular myth, Guinness is actually not a stout. However, in every pub you will be able to find a proper stout that suits your taste.
The most popular stouts in Ireland are Beamish and Murphy. Give them a try, but also check with the barman to see whether they’re offering a special guest stout.
Ale
If you fancy something different than the traditional lager, then ale is the best place to start. Ale is one of the most traditional forms of beer, and contains hops, as well as malt. Originally, British and Irish drinkers used to drink ale because it was safer than drinking water (it’s probably safe to say this is not the case any more!). Ales are often known for their humorous names, as well as the fact that they are pumped by hand.Ale has perhaps the widest range of options for the casual drinker. You’ll find plenty of guest ales touring pubs across the country - so there’s really no need to drink the same ale twice. Most drinking establishments will carry a number of different ales, so the best tactic is to ask the barman which ale he recommends. Varieties such as pale ale and blonde ale are a great way to start your ale-drinking career, offering a lighter flavour that contains some of the bitterness of traditional ale.
For something quite unique, try a ‘cream ale’, such as the famous Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale, which originates from the south western Irish county. Or if you’re looking for nice, full flavour, check out the Brain Blasta ale brewed at Dublin’s most famous microbrewery/pub, The Porterhouse.
Porter
Porter has much the same history as stout, although it tends to be darker. The name porter originates from the fact that brewers used to brew the beer for river porters in London, who preferred the stronger, darker drink to ales or stouts. Porters came into their own in the period preceding the Napoleonic wars, when malt was cheaper, and therefore porters were more common.For most drinkers, particularly those in Ireland, porter is synonymous with Guinness. Arthur Guinness developed his drink in Dublin in the 1750s, and signed a famous 9,000-year lease on the Guinness factory there (the original lease is now embedded in the floor to the factory, and visible to tourist groups).
If you are planning a trip to the Irish capital, then one of the best pints of Guinness you’ll ever taste is waiting for you on the top floor of the Guinness factory (and it comes ‘free’ with the entrance cost). Or, head to the famous Temple Bar area of the city. Although the place is usually heaving with tourists, it’s managed to retain its authentic Irish pub scene.
Ireland has a rich heritage in stouts, ales and porters, so next time you fly to Dublin, make sure that you branch out from your usual drink to try something a bit different. Ireland has a great history of brewing, and no trip across the Irish Sea is complete without sampling a few different brews.
About The Author:
Mikael Johansen is a travel and food blogger currently living with his family in London.
Image Credit:
César Rincón
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