If you don't own anything with clovers and the thought of green beer makes you want to skip town, then Boston on St. Paddy's Day may be a little more than you can bear. But don't worry, you don't have to be Irish to enjoy a good beer and even though it happens to be Saint Patrick's day you can raise a pint to celebrate whoever or whatever you like!  There are bars, restaurants and pubs of all kinds around town that have a great beer selection and the perfect atmosphere for your mood. So, pull up a bar stool and settle in a while.

Redbones is a great BBQ joint with the perfect bar for the indecisive.  The selection is great and the dial-a-beer wheel is the best way to navigate the offerings if you are not sure what will quench your thirst. With 26 beers on tap, there is everything from the Opa Opa Vanilla Oak Porter cask conditioned beer to the revived Pabst Blue Ribbon.  Coming soon are Rogue Chocolate Stout, Boulder Planet Porter (Nitro Pour) and McNeill's Pullman's Porter.

Deep Ellum in Allston (not Dallas) is another great option. With 28 beers on draft and 80 or so bottles, variety is not a problem here either. You can sit back, relax and enjoy the Beer of the Gods from local brewers High and Mighty, a Hoppy Feet IPA made for Lexington importer Greg Berman by Mercury Brewing Company or a St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout by, one of my favorite brewers, McAuslan Brewery out of Canada.  Enjoy a pretzel or two with some beer cheese for the full experience.  For a Guinness alternative, try the Coffee Haus Porter on draft from the Berkshire Brewing Company.

Another option is to bring some interesting beer home for a low key celebration.  It is definitely worth heading over to visit Meredith at Formaggio Kitchen and she'll walk you through some carefully selected beers for the season.  Meredith hand selects a range of interesting beers from local Pretty Things to California's The Bruery.

For a total beer experience, Sunset Grill and Tap should not be missed.  With 112 beers on tap and more than 300 microbrews, your biggest problem will be making a decision.  Don't worry though because you're out to enjoy a refreshing beer and the bar staff are ready to help you navigate their pages and pages of beer options.

For something brand spanking new test the waters at American Craft in Brookline.  With a focus on "American excellence" they have 40 draught lines featuring small batch American breweries as well as a rotation of rare, vintage, and seasonal bottled craft beer.  Another new and popular option is Lord Hobo in Cambridge

For a tasting evening and some better than average pub food there is John Harvard's Brew House a New England "mini chain" that brews their own beers.  The Harvard Square location has a great vibe and a lot of energy.  You can come here to drink a few with friends or even grab a bite and raise a glass with the parents.  If you're new to the world of beer or you just want a sample of John Harvard's offerings, the sampler comes on a long wooden tray with four 4-ounce servings of beers picked by the brewer.  

For a more unique tasting experience, head to Tamo for their Flight Night Special. Every Thursday from 5-8 pm a flight of beer and Seaport sliders are available for $12. Then head out afterwards to the Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA) which just happens to be free on Thursday nights from 5-9 pm.

Okay so let's talk about the shamrock in the room.  It is March and you just need to give a little nod to St. Paddy's Day, but you don't have to have green beer.  The solution is a nice double poured Guinness.  Keiran McWilliam of the Irish VIllage was nice enough to walk me through the much debated double pour. 

For the perfect pint of Guinness you need a clean, dry tulip or Imperial glass. The Guinness is poured at a 45 degree angle until 2/3 full then sits for the cascade while the bubbles seemingly travel down the side of the glass. Finally the glass is topped off.  McWilliam has been pouring Guinness for over 20 years and remembers his first Guinness back home in Ballyconneely in Connemara, Ireland. The double pour ensures a consistent pint, perfect presentation and a better experience.  No matter how busy the bar gets, the pour remains the same.  Other favorite spots for a Guinness around town are:  James's Gate in Jamaica Plain, The Druid in Cambridge, The Burren in Somerville, Flann O'Briens in Mission Hill, The Black Rose downtown, O'Leary's in Brookline, The Plough and Stars or totally local and unique, Paddy's 34 in Cambridge.  Paul Barry at Grafton Street in Cambridge pours a great pint too.

Cheers! Sláinte!