Is there beer besides Guinness...
 

I'm going to Ireland and am ashamed to admit...I just can't stomach Guinness. At home, I drink the following in my order of preference (sort of dark to light): Arrogant Bastard, Victory Hop Devil, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Anchor Steam, with the last being my personal version of what I'd consider to be Coor's Light.

So what do I order at the bar, boys? My husband has no problem...he's been watching his barkeeps pouring Guinness for years and looks forward to visiting the Mothership.

Please don't tell me I'm reduced to wine.

Going from beer to wine is hardly a "reduction" but given your particular tastes in beers you might even venture to teach the locals a thing or two about GOOD taste!

There's a nice light lager called Smithwich. I think you'll like it. ((b))

Oh, the problems of travel. Order a Guinness and shut up!

You can get a nice cold Smirinoff Ice.

A lot pub carry Budweiser. Yuck!! ((b))

How about Harp? Or why don't you try a shandy, which is beer and lemonade (fizzy lemonade), or a black and tan, which is the Guinness, cut with lager. Heck, this is making me thirsty for a pint!

You can do Guinness and cider, which actually tastes pretty sweet. I can't remember, but I think Kilkenny is a (good) beer?

Kilkenny is a bit heavy also. Many Pubs have Heinekin (of the Guinness 'family') or Fosters on draught. As Budman mentioned, Smithwicks (pronounced Smithicks) is another and I have seen many people drinking Bulmer's (cider). Guinness has a light ale called 'brio' (pronounced 'brew').

Murphy's is another choice.

Cider! I can't drink Guinness either, but I love cider.

There is a micro brew pub in Dublin called the Porter House at the end of temple bar on Parliament Street. They may even have anchor steam as well as many beers I think you might like. They also make theri own and its not bad. The most common lagers here are Heneiken and Carlsberg. Don't worry you won't be parched!

Hi Amelia,

In addition to Harp, you can get British, Dutch, Danish, German, Czech and Belgian beers in Ireland.

Amelia, TRY the Guiness in Ireland at least once. I too have always disliked the taste of it but the first time I went to Ireland I simply had to at least try it! It was fantastic! Tastes soo much different from what it tastes like the US. I found myself trying different beers, Smithwicks included, but always coming back to Guiness. If you find you still don't like it you can get all sorts of beers over there as the others have indicated.
Have a wonderful trip!

We just returned from Ireland last week and here are some that we found in the Pubs:
Guinness (definatly dark & heavy)
Murphy's (around Co. Cork Area)
Beamish
Heineken
Fosters
Miller / MGD
Smithwicks
Bud
Harp
Kilkenny
Stella Artois (light lager style)
Ciders: Bulmers or a few small brands

Can you get Caffrey (spelling? could be Cafferties, something like that)? It's a much lighter and smoother Irish beer. We first had it at the Plough and Star in Philadelphia, but also found it at Irish pubs in Brussels. But not recently, alas.

Caffery's - a great brew. Unfortanately, Caffery's was purchased by I believe Coors and taken off the market, at least in the US. Coors want people to buy and drink Killians under the mistaken beleive Caffery's was competitor (In fact Caffery's was a superior drink). Alas, many a poor American orders Killians in the believe it is an Irish brew but it is really brewed in Denver.

I am not sure if they still sell CAffery's in the Ireland but from the list by the recent poster it does not seem likely. But this would definitely fit your tastes.

I'll second the try of Guinness in Ireland. It really tastes better the closer you get to the brewery. I should know I pub crawled there to make sure.

Thanks. I did some web checking and see that Caffrey's (correct spelling) Irish Ale was/is brewed in Belfast, Northern Ireland, so technically I supposed it's British.
The web site for the brewery is currently down, but says to check back later. Who knows. What a shame if it's gone for good.

Beauty is in the eye of the "drinker". Use a notebook, try different beers. Also be aware that some delivery systems are better than others. Is the beer poured from a bottle? Is it pumped from a cask into a glass? Is the glass chilled? Is the system clean? Bring an electronic thermometer, record beer serving temperature. What did you like best? Is the beer pasteurized? How many/much have you had before trying this one? I suggest a check sheet. Show it to the bar man. You will get lots of information. Remember, American beers were lightened up to attract female drinkers. I had a great time in Scotland in a pub. I asked, "What is the best beer?" At closing time the barman locked the door and we continued tasting...........

I was only in Ireland once, and it was way back in 1979 on my first visit to Europe so my memory is hardly fresh, but I seem to recall that, in pubs, almost everyone was drinking either Guinness (or some other dark-colored beer.) I wonder what kind of market share Guinness had in Ireland back then and whether it has less now.

It pains me to see that you cant stomach Guiness. I absolutely love the stuff. I just came back from Ireland and the Guiness there is even better than in the states. It is like the difference between tap water and Evian. I dont know what makes it taste so much better, but you should at least try it once. My girlfriend isnt a Guiness drinker but she liked Smithwicks (pronounced Smitticks)...not as dark.

I am not a Guinness lover either. But my son, who was living there at the time, said a lot depended on how it was poured. It should take around ten minutes to pour properly. Half a glass, let it settle, then another quarter and let it settle, and then the same repeated. That made it eminently drinkable.

GSteed: Your point is the one factor I worry about as I attempt to find my drinking beer for the trip--"dark" and "light" are not great cues as to the actual relative taste of any beer. Going back to my beer list, the darker Arrogant Bastard is a much broader-tasting, almost mellower beer than are the lighter in color but very edgy and hoppy Victory Hop Devil or Anderson Valley IPA.

It's so much a matter of individual taste,isn't it? And even my own marked preferences have exceptions. I hate sweetness in a beer (Michelob tastes like cotton candy to me). Ironically, Arrogant Bastard hits the sweet edge of the palate, but it's such a balanced beer that I enjoy it.

Anyway, I have written down your excellent suggestions, all of you, and will certainly give true Ireland Guinness a try before I move to the other taste tests.

GSteed, our kids and I have kidded my husband for years that his first question of any waiter has not been about the special or the menu but is always, "What is your hoppiest beer on tap?" He won't be there the first part of this trip, so I'm going to be the one having to ask that question. Have sworn the kids to secrecy.

That reminds me of a joke that goes somehthing like....

Group of Beer salesmen met at a resturant for dinner. When the waiter asked for their drink orders each ordered their respective companies Beer...all except the Guinness Salesman, he ordered a glass of "White Wine".
When asked why he ordered 'Wine" he smugly stated ..." Well if you guys are not going to drink beer why should I?"

John

When in Ireland, my main beer is Carlsberg, after I've pleasured my palate with a Guinness or Murphy, but I do dabble with others to give my tasty buds a full rainbow of flavors. You won't be disappointed as even the remotest pub takes it's craft seriously. Have a great trip!!

CIDER!!!! I also cannot drink the thick Guinness, but I love cider. Most of the pubs have at least one variety. Apple is more tart, and pear is more smooth. When I was in Ireland last summer, I convinced most of the ladies in my group to try cider, and they were all hooked by the end of the tour!

When I was in the U.K. and Ireland, I found the bitter to be better! I did taste the Guiness several times and it was different but I understand that was due to the skill of the bartender who pulls it. At least that is what I was told. I do prefer to drink it in a black and tan. If you like a nice, cool red or amber beer, try the bitter. Anyone know if we can get bitter here in the U.S.?

Just be sure to never, never pronounce it "SMITH WICKS" as you will be stared at and snickers will be heard throughout the pub. Just some simple advice for you. Never say it that way!

Carlsberg or Harps. They do carry coors light and bud in some bars, just like here.