It may be surprising, but Irish stouts are among the lightest beers on draft, both in alcohol and calories. According to Brooklyn Brewery, these beers were originally designed as “session pints,” meaning they were good to stick with for a long evening. Brooklyn Irish Stout is also brewed the old-fashioned way, without dissolving nitrogen into the beer. A large portion of the grain is roasted like coffee beens to develop a unique flavor and color.
Alexandra Sifferlin, writer-producer: The Brooklyn Dry Irish Stout is a very dark beer, so I wasn’t sure I was going to like it. However, I think I’ve found my beer of choice for St. Patrick’s Day. I have little knowledge of what makes a beer “good,” but for how low it is in calories, I think it’s tasty. The beer premiered last year as draft-only, and I’m sure the bottles will be a hit this St. Patrick’s Day.
Nolan Feeney, the of-age intern: Like Alexandra, my beer knowledge is minimal, probably to a more embarrassing degree. But I’m working on it — and either I’m making incredible progress, or this stout might be the first one where I pick up on all the flavors I’ve been told I should be tasting: a coffee-like taste with hints of chocolate. It feels light and bubbly on the tongue without lacking in flavor, and if I’m going to be completely honest, this beer also scores points for having the coolest-looking label of the bunch.
Calories: 117
Alcohol By Volume: 4.7%