That Wine Guy

St. Patrick’s best brews

Michael Banias

With St. Patrick’s Day coming up, the Irish — and I — will be out in full force. They’ll crowd the local pubs like pilgrims to a shrine and hold a rather large party for their favourite saint. Plenty of alcohol will be consumed in Patty’s honour, and there will be a surplus of pinching, which often turns into punching, stool throwing and bar fighting for those who are not dressed in green.

To show my respect for Pat, I’ve decided to give you a plentiful list of Irish beer. Hopefully you’ll find one you like so you can raise your glass with pride to St. Patrick.

Guinness Draught ($2.67/440ml can; $1.76/330ml btl.) — A classic. This is a pitch black Irish stout with a great smooth, creamy taste. It has a clean bitter note with hints of chocolate and a malty flavour.

Kilkenny Draught ($2.59/440ml can) — This is a beautiful copper-coloured Irish cream ale. It’s nice and malty with a great almond and cream taste. The finish has a bit of a bite, and it has a nice crisp, bitter aftertaste.

Smithwick’s Irish Ale ($1.89/ 330ml btl.) — This ale is a little on the lighter side and has a hint of sweetness, a touch of honey and some butterscotch or caramel. With a medium body and a touch of bitterness, this is a great gateway ale for beginners and should open a door for heavier and more complex beers.

O’Hara’s Celtic Stout ($3.41/ 500ml btl.) — This is a full-bodied, jet black stout, and definitely one of my favourites. This has the traditional, big roasted barley flavour and a nice hint of dark chocolate with a tart finish. This is not for the faint of heart, mind you. This is a big beer, perhaps not the best for beginners.

Ale is a heavier style of beer, and it packs a greater and more robust flavour. Though ales may not be for everyone, everyone should try one at least once. An ale will go well with almost any food, since they range from a light to a very heavy body. The heavier ales, such as Guinness and O’Hara’s, would be better with heavier foods, such as beef or pork. The lighter styles can go with a lighter fare, such as chicken, veggies and spicy cooking.

If you are hitting a pub, find one that has many of these beers on tap. You can buy all these ales at the Liquor Marts, but when they come from a tap, they taste fresher and better (at least I think so).

May your glass be ever full. May the roof over your head be always strong. And may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead.

Cheers!

Michael Banias has completed the MLCC’s basic and advanced higher certificate courses. He has attended wine tastings, and enjoys a good Bordeaux with a bacon-double cheeseburger.

Contact: thatwineguy@gmail.com