St. Patrick's Day: Where To Find Green Beer?

Green beer is a novelty drink that has become synonymous with St. Patrick's Day celebrations. While it is not an Irish tradition per se, it is said that the drink was first created by an Irish-American physician, Thomas H. Curtain, in 1914, and has since become a symbol of the Irish holiday. Green beer can be made at home by adding a few drops of green or blue food colouring to a light-coloured beer. However, if you're looking to buy green beer, there are several options available, especially around St. Patrick's Day. Online platforms such as Spec's Online, 1000 Corks, and Drizly offer a variety of green beers, including Heineken, Green's Dubel, and Green's Amber Ale. Bars and pubs, like Duffy's Sports Grill, The Brass Tap Fort, and McSorley's Beach Pub, also serve green beer, with some offering special collections for St. Patrick's Day. Additionally, some beer brands, like Heineken and Stella Artois, use green cans or bottles, which can be a fun alternative if green-coloured beer is unavailable.

Online platforms and stores

If you're looking to buy green beer online, there are several options available. Firstly, Uptown, based in Schenectady, New York, offers a wide range of green beers, including Smirnoff Green Beer, Ironbound, and Captain Lawrence, among others. They sell single cans as well as 4, 6, and 12 packs, and their website features customer reviews and a chatbot for easy ordering and customer support.

Another option is Spec's Online, which offers a variety of green beers from different brewers, with prices starting at $2.26. They also offer same-day delivery for customers living within 15 miles of the store, and their website includes reviews from previous buyers.

For those who want their beer delivered promptly, Drizly is a good choice. They sell a range of green beers, such as Heineken and Green's Amber Ale, and will ship the beer to a bar, pub, or store near you for convenient delivery to your doorstep.

Additionally, 1000 Corks is a website that connects you to various brewers and bars in your area, offering a selection of green beers with different price ranges and flavours. The website is easy to use and provides contact information and directions to the stores.

If you're looking for a more well-rounded option, Total Wine & More offers a selection of green beers as well as wines and spirits. They often have deals and discounts available, and you can order online for delivery or in-store pickup.

Local bars

If you're looking to get your hands on some green beer, your local bar is a great place to start. While green beer isn't an Irish tradition, it has become a symbol of St. Patrick's Day celebrations, and many bars embrace the trend. Calling ahead to check if your local bar will be serving green beer is a reliable way to find some. If you're in South Florida, there are several spots known for pouring green pints, including Waxy's Irish Pub in Fort Lauderdale, O'Shea's Irish Pub in West Palm Beach, and Finnegan's Way in Miami. The Tilted Kilt restaurant chain also joins in on the fun, featuring an Irish Hooley menu with green beer for the entire month of March.

Duffy's Sports Grill, with locations from Miami to West Palm Beach, is another popular destination for green beer enthusiasts. For just $4, you can enjoy a green Guinness, or indulge in their special blend called Lucky Duffy, a mix of Jameson, bitters, lemonade, and ginger beer. If you happen to be named Duffy or have a Duffy-themed tattoo, this drink may even be on the house!

For those seeking a more playful atmosphere, The Brass Tap Fort is a well-known beer bar that offers a variety of green beers and teas. In addition to their drinks, they provide a range of entertainment options, including games like beer pong and live music. Whether you choose to visit in person or order online, you're sure to have a memorable time.

McSorley's Beach Pub in Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida, is another excellent option for those seeking a cheap drink and a beautiful beach view. They offer special deals on beers and a lounge with DJ music, creating a lively atmosphere. However, if you're unable to make it to the pub, they can only take orders for green beer cocktails in advance, not for delivery.

Homebrewing

Steps to Homebrewing Green Beer

Step 1: Clean and Sanitize

Before you begin brewing, clean and sanitize all your equipment. Sanitizing kills harmful microbes that can interfere with the brewing process and contaminate your beer.

Step 2: Steep the Grains

Use a grain bag to steep your grains. Preheat 1.5 gallons of water in your brewer's kettle, then lower the grain bag into the water. Increase the heat to between 150°F and 160°F, then turn off the heat and let the grains steep for 20 minutes. After steeping, remove the grain bag and allow the liquid to drain into the kettle. This liquid is called wort, which is beer that hasn't been fermented yet.

Step 3: Add Malt to the Wort

Turn the heat back on and bring the wort to a boil. This helps to pasteurize the wort and get rid of harmful bacteria. Once the wort is boiling, add your malt extract and stir until it dissolves.

Step 4: Add Hops to the Wort

Set a timer for 60 minutes and add your hops. Hops give beer its bitterness, and different types of hops will result in different levels of bitterness. For a less bitter beer, choose hops with a low alpha acid content.

Step 5: Cool the Wort

Turn off the heat and transfer the kettle to an ice bath to cool the wort. It's important to cool the wort completely before adding yeast, as heat will kill the yeast.

Step 6: Pitch the Yeast

Once the wort is cooled, it's time to add the yeast. First, measure the original gravity of the wort to determine the number of fermentable sugars. Then, aerate the wort by giving the fermenter vessel a good shake for about 5 minutes. This provides oxygen for the yeast to do its job. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to activate the yeast, then add it to the wort and shake to mix.

Step 7: Color the Beer

Once fermentation is complete, transfer the beer to a bottling bucket. Before bottling, you can carbonate the beer by adding a mixture of water and sugar. At this point, you can add blue food colouring to turn your beer green. Give it a good stir, and it will be ready for bottling!

Tips for Homebrewing Green Beer

• Any beer can be used to make green beer, but some produce a brighter green colour than others. For the best colour, use a light-coloured beer.
• If you use a darker beer, the body will turn darker and take on a slight evergreen hue, and the foam will pick up the food colouring and turn green as well.
• You can also use natural ingredients to colour your beer, such as freshly made green juice or spirulina.
• Remember to give your beer time to condition and mature after bottling or kegging. This will improve the taste and remove the "green beer taste".

Beers with green bottles

Although green beer is typically associated with St. Patrick's Day, when drinkers add green food colouring to their pint, there are a few beers that are sold in green bottles.

Heineken is perhaps the most well-known beer that is sold in green bottles. Other beers that are sold in green bottles include Corona, which is known for its clear bottles, and Green's Gluten Free IPA.

Despite the popularity of some beers in green bottles, some people believe that green and clear bottles are the worst way to store beer. This is because the beer can become "skunked", or light struck, which changes its flavour. However, some people prefer the taste of light-struck beer, and some breweries rely on the skunking for the flavour profile.

Green beer in South Florida

Green beer is a novelty drink that has become synonymous with St. Patrick's Day celebrations in America. It is said that a coroner's physician and eye surgeon, Dr. Thomas Curtin, first coloured beer for a St. Patrick's Day party in 1914. The tradition of drinking green beer has continued to this day, with some even celebrating Green Beer Day, a day-long party with beer dyed green, which started at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in 1952.

If you're looking for green beer in South Florida, you'll be pleased to know that there are many bars and breweries that can provide you with this novelty drink, especially around St. Patrick's Day. Mickey Byrne's Irish Pub & Restaurant in Hollywood, Florida, is a great option, as they have 18 different beers on tap and celebrate St. Patrick's Day with enthusiasm. Maguire's Hill 16 in Fort Lauderdale is another family-run, traditional Irish pub with an extensive menu of Irish dishes and a range of beers.

For a more beachy vibe, you can head to one of the many craft breweries in South Florida. Yeasty Brews is a popular option, known for its unique twists on sour beers. The Funky Buddha Brewery in Oakland Park is the largest craft microbrewery in South Florida and offers beer samples, tours, and entertainment like large TVs and giant Jenga. If you're looking for a more intimate setting, Barrel of Monks Brewing in Boca Raton offers a dressed-up experience, serving Belgian-inspired ales under a chandelier-lit ceiling.

So, whether you're celebrating St. Patrick's Day or just looking for a fun drink option, these South Florida bars and breweries have you covered when it comes to green beer.

Frequently asked questions