Hello my Foodie Friends. Saturday is St. Patrick’s Day!  My mother, who was Italian, used to say “Everyone is Irish on St. Patty’s day.”  My father, who was Irish, always agreed because if he didn’t he ran the risk of not getting her delicious Corned Beef and Cabbage and a cold tall glass of beer. My dad’s best friends were all my Mom’s brothers and nephews, who were all very Italian and on this holiday he was treated almost as though it was his birthday.  He loved it as he got them all to sing Irish songs and drink green beer. So here is to all of our “Irish” lads and lassies.  The St. Patrick’s Day tradition began as a feast day held in honor of St. Patrick on the anniversary of the day he died. Christians are allowed to put aside their Lenten restrictions on food and alcohol consumption on this day, which is why drinking has become so permanently linked to
the celebration.

Is your St. Patrick’s Day incomplete without a pint of green beer? If you have been enjoying an emerald-colored beer at the bar year after year and now want to make it at home, it may just surprise you how easy it actually is. Green beer is a novelty that American drinkers have latched onto and it has quickly become the drink to have each and every St. Patrick’s Day. There is something appealing about turning everything green on the Irish holiday and beer just happens to be one of the most popular items to play with. Rumor has it, a doctor created green beer as we know it in the Bronx in 1914. 

There is no trick to making green beer and it requires no special bartending skills. It is, quite simply, a light-colored beer that has a drop of green food coloring added to it. The flavor does not change, only the color. It should be noted that if you want to drink like a real Irishman and celebrate the Emerald Isle’s heritage, nothing is more appropriate than a pint of Guinness or a shot of Irish whiskey. Any beer will work when making green beer, however, some produce a brighter green color than others.

To get the greenest of beers, begin with a light-colored brew. This includes any of the popular American lagers like Budweiser, Miller, Busch, or Coors. Those are favorite beers and, given the novelty aspect of green beer, may be the best choice.

However, do not forget about all of the great pale-colored craft beers, the amazing German pilsners, and any of the other higher quality beers that are available today. The beer market is vast and there are many more choices than those from the giant breweries.

If you would like to play around with a darker beer, you will find an interesting effect. Stouts and other dark beers have a rich color that is not transparent enough to allow the green food coloring to give that signature emerald green beer look.

However, the body of the beer will turn darker and have a slight evergreen hue in the right light. The coolest part is the head because the foam will pick up the food coloring and, though it may not last long, take on that green color. Green beer is fun and food coloring is cheap, so feel free to play with it.

Serving beer in the right glass is an important part to the presentation. Pilsner glasses, due to their unique shape have numerous benefits. One of the main advantages is its aesthetic value, which helps in showcasing the beer when it is served. The glass due to its cone shape and the thin feature will help bring out the clarity of the beer and promotes more head retention due to its wider top. The narrow bottom can preserve the fizz of the beer, which adds to the drinking experience. Besides, a pilsner glass can also maximize the aroma of the beer, which is something that most drinkers look to while trying different beers. Moreover, a pilsner glass can also accommodate more amounts of beer than any other type of glass.

At Compliments to the Chef located at 33 Railroad Place, we carry all types of glasses to help accommodate your St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Traditional Irish toasts are a must on St. Patrick’s Day, so you’ll want to be ready with a list of toasts under your lucky green belt if you’re called upon to utter a few wise, witty or wry words of Irish good cheer before the beer disappears. Wishing you all a Happy St. Patrick’s Day. Remember my Foodie Friends; “Life Happens in the Kitchen.”

“May the luck of the Irish 
Lead to happiest heights.
And the highway you travel 
Be lined with green lights.
Wherever you go 
And whatever you do,
May the luck of the Irish 
be there with you.”

 Take Care,
John & Paula