Spring Break
A St. Patty's Day look at standout stouts
Tom Goodwin
Issue date: 3/16/09 Section: Focus
In case you've been hiding under a rock for the last month (or just don't own a calendar), tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day. What does that mean for you? Probably not much more than getting the chance to eat corned beef and cabbage and a discount on green beer.
Green beer is one of the biggest gimmicks of the beer world. Well, second biggest short of the notion that every large brewery tries to instill - that cheap, bland lagers will score you hot chicks. Come on, you'd have better luck with Arbor Mist.
Anyway, green beer is stupid and hokey, serves no real purpose and has no base in Irish tradition. On top of all that, there is no way in hell you can turn a dry Irish stout green with food coloring. Go on, try it.
So we come to the crux of this article: the dry Irish stout. A deep, black beer that carries a taste reminiscent of great coffee and chocolate. Contrary to popular belief, these beers are extremely light. Really! I'll put it in perspective for you: a pint of Budweiser contains 194 calories, a pint of Natural Ice contains 209 calories, a pint of Bud Light contains 165 calories, and a pint of Blue Moon contains 228 calories.
A pint of Guinness? Only 210 calories. Natural Ice and Guinness contain roughly the same calories per serving. So why do so many people think this is a heavy beer? I've seen people shy away countless times from any beer with just the hint of color, fearing it to be some thick, horrible witch's brew that will make them sick. Color in beer has no direct link to its body. Period. While it is true that the thickest and heaviest beers are often the darkest, this often comes more from the sheer volume of grains used and the flavors the brewer wants in his beer.
Anyone who's ever had an Abbey triple will know what I'm talking about. Some of these beers are huge in body and flavor but are pale golden or even yellow. Schwarzbiers mimic pale lagers but are often deep black from the addition of dark grains for color.
Green beer is one of the biggest gimmicks of the beer world. Well, second biggest short of the notion that every large brewery tries to instill - that cheap, bland lagers will score you hot chicks. Come on, you'd have better luck with Arbor Mist.
Anyway, green beer is stupid and hokey, serves no real purpose and has no base in Irish tradition. On top of all that, there is no way in hell you can turn a dry Irish stout green with food coloring. Go on, try it.
So we come to the crux of this article: the dry Irish stout. A deep, black beer that carries a taste reminiscent of great coffee and chocolate. Contrary to popular belief, these beers are extremely light. Really! I'll put it in perspective for you: a pint of Budweiser contains 194 calories, a pint of Natural Ice contains 209 calories, a pint of Bud Light contains 165 calories, and a pint of Blue Moon contains 228 calories.
A pint of Guinness? Only 210 calories. Natural Ice and Guinness contain roughly the same calories per serving. So why do so many people think this is a heavy beer? I've seen people shy away countless times from any beer with just the hint of color, fearing it to be some thick, horrible witch's brew that will make them sick. Color in beer has no direct link to its body. Period. While it is true that the thickest and heaviest beers are often the darkest, this often comes more from the sheer volume of grains used and the flavors the brewer wants in his beer.
Anyone who's ever had an Abbey triple will know what I'm talking about. Some of these beers are huge in body and flavor but are pale golden or even yellow. Schwarzbiers mimic pale lagers but are often deep black from the addition of dark grains for color.
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