The Beer Hunter: Best Irish Beers for St. Patrick’s Day

Don't look now, but St. Patrick's Day is exactly one week away.  If you plan on toasting the luck of the Irish, here's a few beers you may want to try.

First, let's be clear.  Adding green dye to a domestic lager is NOT an Irish beer.  Irish beer doesn't come from St, Louis.  However, there is a great local beer that has St. Patrick's Day written all over it.  "Irish Street Fight" is an amber ale brewed right here in Billings at Angry Hanks.  Billings beer lovers might also want to stop into the Montana Brewing Company after this Saturday's parade to try their "Wee William Wallace" Scottish Ale.

Other excellent local brews include "Cold Smoke" Scotch Ale, which is made by the Kettle House Brewing Company in Missoula and can be found in several local bars.  The Missoula Brewing Company also bottles and distributes a tasty Scottish Ale called "Highlander".

Of course, you can't go wrong hoisting a Guinness on St. Patty's and Pug Mahon's is one of the best places in Billings to do it.  If stouts are a little too bitter for your taste, try a Harps Lager or a Smittwicks Ale.  Whatever you're drinking, make sure to toast your Irish ancestors and keep in mind that EVERYONE is Irish on St. Patty's.

Here's to a long life and a merry one
A quick death and an easy one.
A pretty girl and an honest one.
A cold pint-- and another one!