“Drinkin” Green Beer and “Kissin” the Blarney Stone…
What do the above items have in common? They are two things a real Irishman would not be caught dead doing…
Well it’s that time of the year again. ‘Hey Rich Ireland, this must be a special day for you!’ ‘Hey Rich, with a name like Ireland, are you Irish? I bet you drink green beer on St. Paddy’s Day.’
It does get a bit old for me. But what really wears me out is the way the industrial breweries market the hell out of Saint Patrick’s Day. When I see Corona being marketed with shamrocks and some cutesy tagline like “All the Green you Need” (referring to the obligatory lime slice), I want to puke green beer! On the day itself you may find me drinking beer, but never wearing a green leisure suit or even a button saying “Kiss me I’m Irish.” (In fact, I can’t even prove to you that I am!) So, with that rant out of the way, let’s talk about beer…
During my naive pre-beer geek days, I always had the impression Ireland was the place that made the world’s greatest beer; even the Germans could learn a thing or two from Irish brewers. The fact is Ireland really doesn’t rate on the world “Beer-ometer.” Except for the famous Irish dry stout, the homeland of my ancestors has nothing beery to brag about. (Ireland’s whiskey heritage is another story…)
Irish stout is an offshoot of London porter, first called stout porter. Arthur Guinness made a roastier and stronger version of the famous working-class beer and it must have followed every Irish émigré to every corner of the earth, making it world renown. Guinness stout, in particular, is made with a sour mash to give it acidic sourness, but I much prefer the less sour Beamish stout from County Cork.
Arthur Guinness’s stout has grown to include the famous and locally available draught versions, which are very light in alcohol and calories, especially when compared to the bottled foreign extra stout. The canned and bottled draught versions feature an innovation in the container called a “widget” that will spew nitrogen into the beer when the can or bottle is opened; an attempt to mimic the creamy nitrogen-eous head that you should get with the real draught version.
Most of the beer you will drink in Ireland was orignally based on an English style. Many will point to a style called Irish red ale as an example of something with an Irish pedigree — not so. You can find beer with very similar characteristics in Germany and England that are much older styles. The Irish just marketed the concept of Irish Red Ale and it stuck.
I have mixed feelings about the drink called “Black and Tan,” mainly due to the fact I am an unrepentant beer snob. Originally, the B&T concoction was called a Half & Half in the old country. It was made with Harp lager and the lighter Guinness Draught floating on the top. Here in the states we seem to prefer using English Bass ale. It’s cute and all, but it has no “beery” value. I would drink one for charity or something, but that’s about it.
I know many of you are going to be out on the town this Saint Patrick’s day. I implore you to forgo the green Budweiser and choose a good pint of Guinness or even a Black & Tan at your favorite place. You could swing by Blues BBQ to try a Harpoon Hibernia Irish Red Ale, or stop by Vandalia Lounge for a Shakespeare stout from Rogue. But please help me put a stop to the green beer thing! 2007 is the year! Just say no to Green Beer!
March 14th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
Amen. Green beer is just uncalled for. (Footnote: I stood in line to kiss the Blarney Stone in Ireland with my friends. When it was my turn, I looked at the “stone” (which looked really gross) and said “no thank you!” as you implied, it was a good thing that I didn’t because later the locals explained all the things they like to do to the stone, before the tourists come along.
March 14th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
Thanks for the heads up las! I’ll remember that. Nothing like a little Lactobacillus in your Stout. Oh, man! Corona on St. Patrick’s day!
March 15th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
Oh, stop with the nose-up tomfoolery.
I’m more for a “just say no” approach to pretentious beer snobs. You’re a drunk like the rest of us, so please just get over yourself.
March 15th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
You can always “Just Say No” to reading the Blog… I hope no one is forcing you to read the blog. If so, maybe I can get help.
Ok, If you are being forced to read my blog against your will respond with following… “I like to drink tasteless yellow (or green) fizzy beer”…
March 16th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
Rich,
Green beer is awful.. but it is what it is,. a tradition, however new or old … it has stuck..
I’d drink a few green brews after having several not green beers.. just for the heck of it.. on St. Paddy’s day only..
I tend to disagree with you on the black and tan.. I like the contrast in flavor and body between the 2 beers.. its like a taste test of 2 good beers,, but they are both in the same glass
March 16th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Diggo, Thanks for reading the Blog and commenting…
I know my little rant won’t change the bad habit of putting green dye in bad beer. I would hope that folks read the blog and decide to honor the irish by drinking a stout or even a “half and Half”.
The whole black and tan thing is really a gimmick (like green beer). As soon as some of the nitrogen comes out of the stout, the whole thing mixes, leaving a concoction. If you like that, then keep on drinking it. At least you are drinking a concoction of decent beers…
March 16th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Rich,
A good black and tan shouldnt sit long enuff fer the nitrogen to disseminate.. unless you dont actually like a black and tan..
March 18th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
BHUNT,
For us it is about taste, aroma, Mouthfeel, clarity/color & does the beer have any flaws.
Go to www.bjcp.org
Check out the style Guidelines.
It may pretty cool to be able to descibe & differentiate an American Brown from an English Norhern Brown Ale from a German Bock??
[b]ARROGANT Bastard Ale[/b]
I must admit the fist time I bought Arrogant Bastard was because the brash name and the cool bottle art caught my eye. The beer inside of this great package is just as unique. This medium bodied beer has a dark amber color with an off white head. The aroma is fresh and sweet with a somewhat fruity nose. Nice and hoppy with a large malty presence. The sweetness of this beer and hops are perfectly balance thus masking the 7.2% ABV.
Commercial description: This is an aggressive beer. You probably won’t like it. It is quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to be able to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth. We suggest you stick to safer and more familiar territory – maybe something with a multi – million dollar ad campaign aimed at convincing you it’s made at a little brewery, or one that implies that their tasteless fizzy yellow beer will give you more sex appeal. Perhaps you think multi – million dollar ad campaigns make a beer taste better. Perhaps you’re mouthing the words as you read this.
March 18th, 2007 at 11:27 pm
BHUNT,
For us it is about taste, aroma, Mouthfeel, clarity/color & does the beer have any flaws.
Go to www.bjcp.org
Check out the style Guidelines.
It may pretty cool to be able to descibe & differentiate an American Brown from an English Norhern Brown Ale from a German Bock??
[b]ARROGANT Bastard Ale[/b]
I must admit the fist time I bought Arrogant Bastard was because the brash name and the cool bottle art caught my eye. The beer inside of this great package is just as unique. This medium bodied beer has a dark amber color with an off white head. The aroma is fresh and sweet with a somewhat fruity nose. Nice and hoppy with a large malty presence. The sweetness of this beer and hops are perfectly balance thus masking the 7.2% ABV.
Commercial description: This is an aggressive beer. You probably won’t like it. It is quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to be able to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth. We suggest you stick to safer and more familiar territory – maybe something with a multi – million dollar ad campaign aimed at convincing you it’s made at a little brewery, or one that implies that their tasteless fizzy yellow beer will give you more sex appeal. Perhaps you think multi – million dollar ad campaigns make a beer taste better. Perhaps you’re mouthing the words as you read this.
May 6th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
I came across your blog when I was looking for a copy of the Corona ad showing Irish celebrate Cinco de Mayo. I found a copy. I’ll share so you have something else to rant about!: http://www.advertisementave.com/tv/ad.asp?adid=291
I also came across other information claimining that Corona Extra is Ireland’s number one foreign import… could it be?! Seems a little crazy with so many great beers closer to them.
May 6th, 2007 at 5:44 pm
Thanks for commenting Jay… I am sorry to hear about the cultural demise in Ireland; poor creatures. Maybe Saint Patrick (Or better yet St. Arnold!) is gonna have to come back again to chase the Swiil beer salesman out if Ireland!