Written by Kevin SchulkeCategory Manager of Beer, Wine and Salty Snacks
One of my favorite Holiday Celebrations is just days away! It will be here soon and in just a blink of an eye and 24 short hours it’ll be gone again until next year; we better hurry and prepare! It has always amazed me that so many people love and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day yet fail to fully commit for even one short day. Are you one of those people that wears green, prepares the corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes and then serves it with Coor’s Light or Budweiser? Don’t get me wrong there’s nothing wrong with either beer but sometimes you need to change it up and this is a day that demands a change. Promise yourself right now, there will be no halfway celebration this year, it’s all in!
For those of you that have not yet been introduced, allow me the honor of introducing:
Harp Lager– For a beer, it is a relative youngster born in Dublin, Ireland in 1960. The name is truly fitting as this beer is music to your taste buds. At first glance you’ll take note of the brilliant golden color and at first taste you’ll note a dry malty front that gives way to a crisp, dry hoppy finish. Try it and you’ll be hoppy too!
Smithwick’s Ale (pronounced Smit-icks, simply forget the hand the w)– A true veteran beer born in 1710 in Kilkenny, Ireland. Pour it into a Tulip Pint Glass and you’ll note the creamy off white head. One sniff reveals a light caramel with orange marmalade and a gentle smokiness. One sip will yield a fruity, spicy, malty taste that is also refreshing and clean in the finish.
Half and Half
Guinness Draught – A dry Irish Stout also from Dublin, dating back to 1759. It looks black, but upon closer examination it’s actually a deep ruby red with a creamy white collar made up of some of the tiniest bubbles imaginable, as you pour you can watch the bubbles racing up the inside of the glass anxious to gulp a bit of fresh air. You’ll note malt and caramel flavors in a complex light bodied yet full flavored smooth and creamy taste; it is perfectly balanced so no one flavor predominates with a very clean finish that begs for more. You can purchase this in bottles or pint size cans (I prefer the cans myself). Now here is where we can become creative, take a Tulip Pint Glass and fill it half way with Harp Lager, then take your Guinness Draught and pour it gently into the glass (over the back of a spoon) to fill and you will have poured a Half and Half. Or you can fill the glass to the halfway point with Smithwick’s and complete with the gentle pour of Guinness Draught and you have poured a Blacksmith.
Blacksmith
St. Patrick’s Day has never seemed to me to be the kind of holiday that you would celebrate without truly going all in. I think you’ll agree that incorporating the true Irish Brews into your St. Patrick’s Day Celebration is certain to help you increase your enjoyment on this special festive day… as everyone knows that everything is better with Guinness! Happy St. Patrick’s Day and please remember to celebrate responsibly!