Here in America, people love St. Patrick’s Day. Few holidays are met with the fervor and joy as we see every March. Green clothes, a celebration of unfair stereotypes about Ireland, and most of all, green beer.

This is where we at MHB take issue. Drinking green beer may seem terribly Irish, but when you realize what you’re actually drinking is an American lager with green coloring…well, it just doesn’t scream “O Danny Boy” like it used to.

For you see, Ireland is home to some of the greatest and most popular beer the world over. But none of them are green. So before you rush out to cover yourself in shamrocks and Notre Dame paraphernalia (for which you should be ashamed,) let’s learn about the true beer culture of Ireland.

 

Black is the new Green

People who’ve actually been to Ireland or spent time with an actual Irishman will know that black beer is king of the Emerald Isle. These are, after all, the people who invented Guinness. If there’s any single beer style that encapsulates Irish beer, it’s the Stout.

History will remember Ireland as the nation to first brew and drink Stout in quantity. In fact, it’s entirely possible that no one even knew what Stout was until the Irish blessed the world with it.

Dark and rich in color, Stout is traditionally served from a Nitro tap, giving it an unforgettable silky-smooth consistency that encourages many a refill. The smell of a good stout is undeniable, with a bold malty nose, deep earthy tones, and a subtle hop presence. But no one drinks beer just for the smell. Take a sip, and you’ll understand why Stout is the national drink of Ireland. Rich, big, bold, and complex. Stout is full of oat, wood, earth, spice, malt, and even coffee tones. The taste of an Irish stout is simply put, delicious.

If you’ve never felt brave enough to try a dark beer, there’s no better time than St. Patty’s Day. And please, before you go crazy making a disturbing stereotype of what you think it means to be Irish, stop and have a pint of the Irish national beverage.

Drink like the Irish drink, and enjoy a wonderful Stout tonight.