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Wednesday, February 20, 2008
St. Patrick's Day Traditions
When one thinks about the Emerald Isle's a great many things spring to mind - the color green, corn beef and cabbage, leprechauns, St. Patrick's day, Four leaf clovers, coffee, whiskey and beer.
Ireland has a rich brewing tradition, which dates back to the middle ages. Breweries became a commercial venture in the late 1700s. By the mid 1800s there were over two hundred brewers in the country. Irish breweries were brewing - ales or beer without the use of hops. The ales tended to be dark and rich. Guinness and other brewers were using unmalted roasted barley to avoid the taxes associated with the malted barely and therefore the "traditional" bitter and dry characteristics we so often associate with Irish beer was born.
Fast-forwarding to today - St. Patrick's Day has plentiful amount of Irish beers being imported into the US now and they range in color and flavor - taste and texture. Some are employing the same time honored techniques and others are true innovators - and either way - they are true to the spirit of enterprises and fun that their forefathers employed.Labels: Irish beer, Irish coffee, St. Patrick's Day
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