When it comes to Irish beers, it’s hard to find a more popular St. Patrick’s Day choice than Guinness. And Guinness’ draught beer has fewer calories than most imported light and domestic beers.
Richard Conway, picture desk at TIME.com: As a Dubliner, I’m almost genetically predisposed to scoff at the idea of drinking Guinness from a bottle. I mean, it’s supposed to be pulled into a pint glass in two stages. But this stuff is really not that bad: It seems a lot lighter than other types of Guinness, and while it’s missing the chocolatey, sometimes even oakey undertones the black stuff has back home, if the creamy head is served ice-cold, it’s pretty agreeable.
Victor Luckerson, writer-producer: You’d think Guinness was chock-full of calories with its dark color and intense flavor, but somehow this bottle manages to be lighter than that. I’ve never really been a fan of the wooden (earthy? Deciduous? Insert your favorite vague beer word here) taste, so the bottled Guinness is actually a little more palatable than the more flavorful version you’d get from a draft. A perfectly serviceable beer, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to order it at a bar.
Nick Carbone, homepage editor: They say it’s like a meal, and the adage doesn’t lie. The beer fills your stomach without tasting too boozy, but it’s not because of the carbonation: The mouthfeel falls a little flat. A lot flat, actually. Drinking Guinness out of a bottle feels like you’re drinking a soda that’s lost its carbonation. It’s got chocolate and nutty notes but sadly tastes watery.
Calories: 125
Alcohol By Volume: 4.2%