Five Beers for St. Patrick's Day -- None of Them Guinness

Chibeer.Wkilia.com

Try a different beer for St. Paddy's Day.

St. Patrick's Day revelers are taking advantage of the holiday falling on a Sunday by celebrating early at "St. Practice Day" parties throughout Miami.

That means most well-meaning bars will serve that St. Paddy's trifecta: Guinness, Harp, and green beer, beginning today. But there are so many other fantastic brews to drink. Some are made in Ireland; some are special editions in honor of the occasion.

Either way, when you've graduated from the green beer (and seriously, no one outside of a frat house should be drinking that) and want a change from Guinness, here are five solid choices. Plus you can drink them at home for a lot less money.

Murphy's Premium Red Ale
In one form of another, Murphy's has been brewed for more than 150 years. More famous for its stout, this Irish-style ale is now owned by Heineken. It's a light-red ale that's dry with some moody and malty notes. ($1.50 at retail shops)

Harpoon Celtic Red
The only domestic on the list, Harpoon is brewed in Boston (which takes its Irish roots seriously). Made with Irish ale malt and barley, Celtic Red is almost orange when poured. It's sweet, with a hoppy finish. ($1.79 at Total Wine & More)