Throw on your green pajamas and get ready to dance around your home (without moving your arms of course) because this year you won’t need to book a flight to Dublin or chase rainbows to celebrate St. Patrick’s day.
No matter where you’re raising a pint in said pajamas, you’ll want to fill your glass with this dark, malty brew that has flowed for centuries from the pubs of the Emerald Isle. Luckily, brewmasters right here in America have crafted recreations of the iconic style. Most beer drinkers associate the chocolatey-smooth stout with Irish native, Guinness, but we’ve curated a list of the top 17 breweries across the country serving authentic dry Irish stouts.
Methodology: This is an all-time list of the best spots to get an Irish stout according to Yelp. We identified businesses in the breweries, bars and beer gardens categories with a large concentration of reviews mentioning “Irish stout,” then ranked those spots using a number of factors including the total volume and ratings of reviews mentioning “Irish stout.” If a chain appeared on the list more than once, we only included the highest rated location. All businesses were marked open on Yelp as of March 15, 2021. When available, all businesses on this list have a passing health score as of March 15, 2021.
“I really enjoyed the Irish stout, and that says a lot considering I am usually not a fan of stouts in general. It had the perfect balance of flavor and a slight hint of chocolate. Kudos to their brew master for introducing me to a stout that I finally love!” – Brian M at Six Mile Bridge
“The Irish Channel Stout is dark, thick and oh-so smooth. I have only found it on draft in local bars seasonally, but when I do, that is what I order. I like it even more than Guinness.” – John L. H. at Nola Brewery
More than 7,000 miles from Ireland, the brewers at Maui Brewing have captured the spirit of the original Irish stout recipe. While you can only enjoy this beer in their taproom, you will find their other brews widely distributed across the mainland.
What pairs best with an Irish stout? Bagpipes of course. Since 1988, McGuire’s has sponsored a group of dedicated pipers and drummers known throughout the southeast for their crisp military appearance, precision marching and wide repertoire of music, ranging from traditional Scottish/Irish tunes to regional and popular tunes.
Even though they don’t brew their own Irish stouts, you can grab one of their many stout offerings from an Irish pub as old as the crack in the Liberty Bell. McGillin’s has poured pints continuously in Philly for over 200 years.
“May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.” And to ensure your cup never goes empty this St. Patty’s day, follow or bookmark this collection to have all 20 spots handy on the Yelp app and to check their individual business pages for Covid-19 health and safety updates. If you visit, write a review to share feedback about your experience.
