Invented in 1759 by Arthur Guinness, Guinness has been the quintessential Irish beer for over 250 years. The founder was so confident in his product, he actually signed a 9,000-year lease when he bought the brewery. Since it’s a dark beer, many Americans find Guinness too heavy to drink on its own and most college students have only drank it in the form of an Irish Car Bomb (if you’ve never had one, St. Patrick’s day is definitely the day to try it).
If you’re one of those people, here are 8 different ways to incorporate Guinness into your meals on St. Patty’s Day. As the Irish would say, Sláinte!
Breakfast
3-Ingredient Boozy Brunch Muffins
Photo by Catherine Ku
Beer isn’t something most people can drink first thing in the morning (and not something we would recommend), so if you want to start St. Patrick’s Day off the right way, make these boozy breakfast muffins. They’re super easy and fast – you can make them in under 30 minutes.
Lunch
Guinness Beef Stew
Photo courtesy of traceysculinaryadventures.com
This hearty and flavorful beef stew will give you the energy to survive the craziness that is St. Patrick’s Day night. It also takes negative effort to make; all you have to do is throw the ingredients in a pot and let them cook. For more one pot meals, click here.
Pretzel, Beer and Sausage Mac and Cheese
Photo by Alex Vu
With it’s beer-infused cheese sauce, kielbasa and pretzel topping, this mac and cheese is not for the faint of heart. It’s true gastropub fare, and no one loves a good pub more than the Irish.
Dinner
Guinness Marinade
Photo by Katherine Richter
Guinness, cumin and soy sauce come together for an eclectic mix of flavors in this marinade. This recipe uses chicken, but you could use this marinade on any meat or fish that strikes your fancy. If you use a tougher piece of meat, such as pork or beef, be sure to let it sit a few extra hours to get it nice and tender.
Guinness Pulled Pork
Photo by Leigh Needham
Put an Irish twist on this Southern classic by cooking it in a mixture of Guinness and whiskey that’s sure to take your pulled pork to the next level. This recipe is a bit time consuming, but it’s definitely worth it. St. Patrick himself would be proud.
Dessert
Chocolate Stout Cupcakes
Photo by Daniel Schuleman
If you haven’t yet tried the currently trending chocolate-and-dark-beer combo, you should make these cupcakes ASAP. The beer really brings out the chocolate flavor, and the carbonation from the beer makes them light and fluffy.
Guinness Float
Photo by Daniel Schuleman
A simple mixture of Guinness and vanilla ice cream, this dessert is kind of like an Irish Car Bomb, but way less aggressive. If you’re not a fan of dark beer, try it anyway, because nothing ever tasted bad when paired with ice cream.
Chocolate Stout Brownies
Photo by Maddie Lanier
St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday, and holidays are meant for indulging. What could be more decadent than these brownies covered in a warm, semisweet chocolate glaze? Plus, they are 100% more enjoyable than that Irish trash can you’ll be coerced into chugging later. Take our word for it.