St. Patrick’s day is right around the corner. It’s a celebration of Irish culture and more importantly for us university students, an excuse to drink.

Here are five of the best Irish drinks you should be downing on March 17.

Guinness is one of the most common Irish beers drunk on St. Paddy’s Day. A stout beer with a large, creamy head, Guinness isn’t necessarily for everyone. If you don’t like stout or dark beers, this beer will definitely not be your first choice. However, if you haven’t tried a stout beer, this is the one I would recommend. It’s a little bitter and very thick, but not so much that it is unappetizing.

Brewed since 1710 in the Smithwick Brewery in Kilkenny, Ireland, this ale is among the most iconic Irish beers. Kilkenny is red ale and, like most ales, has a significantly lighter taste than a stout like Guinness; it is creamy and goes down smooth. You’ll be drinking a piece of Irish history if you choose to drink Kilkenny for the night.

This one is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day partiers who don’t like beer. Magners Irish Cider tastes a lot like bitter, carbonated apple juice. It has little to no alcoholic aftertaste and is perfect for anyone who likes drinking but doesn’t like the taste of alcohol.

Another brew from the Smithwick Brewery, this Irish ale is a nice reddish amber colour. It is sweeter than Kilkenny but has a slightly bitter, or hoppy, aftertaste. If you like your amber ale with a sweeter taste than normal, then this is the beer for you.

The Crown Float — even though this article is supposed to be exclusively about Irish drinks — is too good not to mention. Half Guinness and half English cider, in this case Foundry Cider, the Crown Float is sweet while retaining its beer-like flavour. This drink was allegedly created as a political statement, with the Guinness floating on top of the English cider to symbolize Ireland’s superiority over England.

So there you have it: some Irish drinks that you can enjoy this St. Patrick’s Day. As always, please drink responsibly and find a safe ride home!

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Photo: Puamelia/Flickr