Falling in love (with Irish Stout)

The Guinness Draught is a different beer from the Extra Stout (in bottles)- the Extra Stout is fine, and the heavier Foreign Extra Stout is even better. The one that seems to get the brunt of complaints, for being 'watery and flavorless' is the Draught and Draughtflow cans, so just avoid that one and you will be fine.

Murphy's is good, and worth trying. O'Hara's is probably the best version of the style, but I'm not sure of it's availability in NC.

 

There's not really a ton out there, but Mendocino Black Hawk Stout is one that's always on shelves year-round if you get them in your area. I've only had it once and it wasn't recently, but it wasn't bad. I agree the Brooklyn Irish Dry Stout is pretty good, I enjoyed that one a couple times recently. FFF Black Sun Stout is another one, but out of season and not as easy to obtain, it's pretty good but not really true to style imo. I don't really drink Irish Dry Stouts as much as I should. They're quaffable..

 

Irish Dry Stouts are fine beers when done properly. They're light and won't weigh down your stomach if you have them with meals, which is typically something I want when having a beer with a meal. Murphy's is a solid beer and I definitely should get packs of the draught cans more often than I do.

 

I just thought of another good one- North Coast Old #38, definitely keep an eye out for that one.

 

I'm a fan of Schlafly's Irish-Style Extra Stout, but I'm not sure if it makes it to NC or not. But I do think that's one that's worth looking for. If it was available in Ohio I know I'd buy it quite a bit.