Every week The Hop Hub will choose an event, a setting, or a state of mind and try and fine the perfect local beer to go with it. This week: St. Patrick’s Day!
A lot of holidays can involve drinking beer: New Years Eve, The Fourth of July, Groundhog Day (if I’m ever sent into any Bill Murray-esque time warp, you can be damned sure there’s going to be beer involved). But I don’t think there’s a day on the calendar more associated with drinking beer than March 17th. But what to drink? I love a nice, hoppy IPA or a huge Belgian quad as much as the next guy, but drinking them on St. Patrick’s Day would just feel…wrong. So instead, here are some locally brewed beers with a decidedly Irish flavor.
First up, Sam Adams Irish Red (5.80% abv) and Harpoon Celtic Ale (5.40% abv), two Irish red ales from the staple Boston Breweries. Irish reds are usually balanced, easy drinking ales with a nice toasted malt character, and these two are no exceptions. The Celtic Ale has some slightly more noticeable citrus-hop notes in the finish, and I prefer it slightly more (if you can remember I drank a case during Nemo and dreamt of slightly warmer March weather). Both are good options though.
If red ales aren’t your thing, I recommend Berkshire Brewing’s Shabadoo Black and Tan (6.30% abv). As a disclaimer, I do understand that the term “Black and Tan” refers to the now infamous British police who fought against the IRA during the Irish War of Independence. I won’t get into too much history here, but let’s just say you shouldn’t order a “Black and Tan” when visiting Ireland. Despite the likely British origin and name, however, this mixture of a pale ale or lager and stout has become synonymous with Guinness, and therefore, in my mind, makes a good St. Paddy’s beverage. Berkshire’s version, which comes bottled as a mix of their Berkshire Ale and Drayman’s Porter, is a great option that deftly balances the sharp carbonation and grassy hops of the former with the creamy roastiness of the latter.
And then there’s Guinness (4.20% abv). So it’s from Dublin, which isn’t anywhere close to the “Boston area” (trust me, I checked a map). But if, as they say, everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, why can’t we extend the same comradery to this classic and accept it as one of our own? I suppose if you really want a drink from New England, you can try and find Maine’s Gritty McDuff’s Black Fly Stout (4.10% abv) on nitro-tap (it’s the use of nitrogen instead of carbon dioxide to pressurize the beer that gives Guinness its creamy texture). It’s a solid take on an Irish dry stout. But really, once you’ve enjoyed a few local brews this Sunday, there’s nothing wrong with finishing your night with a Guinness or two. Or three. Or Five. I mean, it is St. Patrick’s Day after all.
Sláinte.
The Hop Hub 