WEST MICHIGAN (March 11, 2014) — St. Patrick’s Day is NOT a day for drinking green beer. It IS a day for drinking great beer however! In celebration of everyone’s Irish heritage (at least for one day), pick a beer that is part of our local heritage, a Michigan craft beer. And there are plenty of traditional stouts out there to select from….and all of these picks can be found at the Breton Village D&W Fresh Market.
Here are my stout picks for St. Patrick’s Day:
Short’s Brewing Company- Uncle Steve’s Irish Stout, 4.5% ABV (which means low alcohol) and only 20 IBU’s (which means low hops). Lot’s of malt flavor in this one, Uncle Steve’s is smooth drinking. Short’s is known for making pretty extreme beers…whether with crazy flavors or lots of hops. This one has neither, it’s a great example of a traditional Irish stout. Only available for a short time, be sure to grab this one while you can, and while the leprechaun magic is back. The perfect Michigan pick for St. Patrick’s Day!
New Holland Brewing Company Poet Oatmeal Stout- 5.2% ABV, 37 IBU’s. This beer is available year round, so whenever you need a stout fix, it’s around. The oatmeal in this brew gives it an extra creamy taste, and it’s one of my favorites to not only drink, but cook with too. Pour it into your St. Patrick’s Day beef stew, or use it in place of water when making brownies. It’s all around good, and made right here in West Michigan.
Arcadia Ales Variety Pack- this season’s picks include their IPA (India Pale Ale), Nut Brown Ale, and Thunder Trail ESB (extra special bitter). I’m including this pack from my friends at Arcadia for several reasons. One, they make really, really good beer. They use a special English style yeast in all their beers and it gives them a distinct flavor. Two, when going to a party, sometimes you don’t know what kind of beer to bring. Arcadia has solved this problem for you, by putting three totally different kinds together in a 12 pack. There’s something for everyone in this box! The IPA will appeal to the hop heads in the group. The Nut Brown Ale is nice and malty, and the perfect beer for a (still) chilly March day. And the Thunder Trail is for the beer nerds, who are always looking for the special seasonal release. This one is full of flavor with a great hoppiness to it. An Arcadia variety pack will make your St. Patrick’s day AWESOME!
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