Which Guinness Should You Drink for St. Patrick’s Day?

Top o’ the mornin to ya! With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, we figured it’s time to go over our favorite St. Patty’s Day beers. And it’s no surprise that they’re all Guinness—but did you know about these different Guinness varietals? 

That’s right—there’s a Guinness for everyone! Check out the tasting notes of each below and make your beer run before the 17th. Oh, and don’t forget the green food coloring! 

Guinness Draught Stout

Aroma: Sweet smell with a coffee and malty nose

Flavor: Balance of bitter and sweet with malt and roast characters

Palate: Smooth, creamy, and balanced

ABV: 4.2%

Appearance: Distinctively dark, with a rich creamy head

This one’s iconic. It’s sweet, bitter, and perfectly balanced. Guinness likes to describe it as “rich and creamy. Distinctively black. Velvety in its finish.” 

Guinness Extra Stout

Aroma: Medium and balanced with roast character and subtle fermentation fruitiness

Flavor: Rounded flavor of bitter and sweet

Palate: Smooth with a slight bite and a dry finish

ABV: 5.6%

Appearance: Distinctively black and full-bodied with a rich creamy head

It’s crisp, it’s hoppy, it’s bold. Guinness says it’s “a rich, refreshing taste. Brewed with skill. Built to last.”

Guinness Blonde

Aroma: Light and hoppy with floral and citrus notes 

Flavor: Complex and flavorful, hoppy and citrus on the nose

Palate: Lively mouthfeel, crisp and refreshing with a long malt biscuity finish

ABV: 5%

Appearance: Golden amber with a dense head

Hops: Citra, Wilamette, Mount Hood

It’s complex and full of flavor. Unique from the rest of the Guinness family, Blonde is light, floral, and citrusy. It’s perfectly balanced and Guinness says “it’s the coming together of vibrant flavors, of character drawn from both sides of the pond. And it’s come a long way to get here.”

Guinness Foreign Extra Stout 

Aroma: Strong, with pronounced fruity and roast character

Flavor: A full-bodied palate of roast, fruity character

Palate: Initial tingling impact, bittersweet with a dry finish

ABV: 7.5%

Appearance: Rich and dark with a frothy head

It starts off fruity and caramelly, then moves into smokey notes and bitterness. According to Guinness, “where extra hops and a stronger alcohol percentage were once used to preserve the beer, allowing it to survive and thrive during long sea voyages, now they yield its bold taste and unique flavor profile.”

So which one will it be? Classic stout or extra stout? Blonde or foreign? Whatever you choose, be sure to let us know on Facebook or Instagram.