Swap that stout this March 17

St. Patrick’s Day is usually remembered (or not) as a day of drunken revelry with too many Irish car bombs, green-dyed body parts, and waking up with beads stuck to your face. Let’s switch that up, shall we? You can be like everybody else and do the usual, or you can be inventive and do something far more interesting, in true San Diego style. Check out these St. Paddy’s Day ideas, sure to please:

Twenty/20, Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa, Friday, 6 p.m. March 13: Be a grown up and go on an around-the world whiskey journey! Compare the whiskey of Ireland with others while experts educate and taste through the following mouthwatering selections: Tyrconnell Single Malt Irish (Ireland), Auchentoshan Scotch (Scotland), Suntory Hibiki (Japan), Russell’s Reserve Bourbon (U.S.), Forty Creek Canadian (Canada). Guests will enjoy paired hors d’oeuvres while swinging to the sounds of live music. $25.

RA Sushi, Gaslamp Quarter, Tuesday, March 17: Give your St. Patrick’s Day some international flair at RA, with $2 green hot sakes, $6 Kuronama car bombs (A twist on a traditional Irish car bomb using Asahi Kuronama), $5 Midori margaritas and emerald punch bowls for $14.

St. Patrick’s Day 10K Run, Mission Bay, Saturday, March 14: Burn calories in preparation of St. Paddy’s Day festivities, then treat yourself to Domino’s pizza and craft beer from Stone Brewing and Ballast Point.

Half marathon, 5K, Green Mile and EC Craft Beer Invitational, El Cajon, Sunday March 15: Check out this exciting multi-tiered event with fun for the whole family. Run the half marathon or 5K, have the kids race the Green Mile, and treat yourself to delicious San Diego craft beer. General entry to the EC Craft Beer Invitational for half marathon, 5K, Tribes & Clans finishers is included.

Host your own St. Patrick’s Day tasting party with local craft beer alternatives to Guinness and Irish reds. We’ve got you covered for selections!

For your Guinness, Murphy’s, Beamish, and O’Hara alternatives:

Pizza Port, various locations: Fisticuffs, 4.5 percent ABV,

Bagby Beer Co, Oceanside: Asphalt Jungle, 4.3 percent ABV

Societe: The Pugilist, 4.8 percent ABV

Barrel Harbor: Dry Stout, 4.8 percent ABV

Monkey Paw: The Down’s Family Irish Stout, 5.1 percent ABV

Belching Beaver: Milk Stout on Nitro, 5.3 percent ABV. OK, so technically this is not an Irish-style stout and is cheating, but this beer is so good on nitro, I couldn’t leave it out.

Put down the Irish reds and Killian’s Red (PLEASE), and let San Diego brewers take you to a whole new level:

Pizza Port: Irish Red, 4.2 percent ABV

Mother Earth: I.R.A. Irish Red, 5 percent ABV

Hess: Venator, San Diego Red Ale, 9 percent ABV

Bagby Beer: Street ‘Red, American red ale, 6.4 percent ABV

Acoustic Ales, Mosh Pit red ale, 6.66 percent ABV

Karl Strauss, Off the Rails imperial red ale, 9.5 percent ABV

Ballast Point: Tongue Buckler, imperial red ale, 10 percent ABV

Whatever you decide to do, stay safe and drink responsibly. Cheers!

With 15 years in the restaurant and beverage industry and more than 700 reviews under her belt, Laurie Delk is a one-stop guide to all things craft beer, wine and spirits. You can follow Delk on Twitter @100beers30days or Instagram @sandiegobeer. Send ideas for featured drinks to laurie@promiscuouspalate.com

Source: DiscoverSD