With St. Patrick's Day approaching, let me make a plea: don't drink green beer, drink good beer instead.

Dave Paulson, "the general manager of hoppiness" at Bottle Mixx, a craft beer shop in North Raleigh, sent along a few recommendations. None of these beers are green-dye ready and all still showcase a long Irish brewing tradition. To strech beyond even Guiness or Harp, here are Paulson's picks for American beers that closely emulate the ones from across the pond:

Irish Red Ale: Brownish red hue when poured with a mild hop flavor and a nice caramel balance.
• Moylan's Danny's Irish Red Ale: Novato, Calif.
• Epic Brewing Imperial Red Ale: Salt Lake City, Utah
• Harpoon Celtic Red: Boston, Mass.
Irish Ale: Rich Amber Color with a slight roasty malty sweet balance.
• Great Lakes Conway's Irish Ale: Cleveland, OH
Irish Style Lager: An almost Vienna style lager with a malty aroma balanced body with a clean crisp finish.
• Rogue Irish Style Lager: Oregon
Oyster Stout: Bold and silky with a slight briny finish that is honestly intriguing and flavorful.
• 21st Amendment Marooned on Hog Island, San Francisco, Calif.
Irish Stouts: Notes of roasted coffee and pours obsidian black with a nice tan tight foam head.
• Brooklyn Dry Irish Stout: Brooklyn Brewery Utica, N.Y.