Green Beer

With St. Patrick's Day right around the corner, many people will be celebrating by attending a big parade, dressing in green, or simply enjoying a pint at their local pub. But if you want to bring the party to your own home, then this recipe for green beer is an absolute must! After all, the only thing better than corned beef and cabbage on St. Paddy's Day is a corned beef recipe paired with a fun and festive Irish drink! Of course, you can also serve your beer with Irish soda bread or Irish nachos, too. The important thing to remember is: how to make green beer.

This emerald drink only requires two ingredients and takes less than 5 minutes to make! Like some other colorful St. Patrick's Day drinks, you'll need food coloring to get the emerald hue, plus your favorite Irish beer brand. Looking for more tips on how to make green beer? Read on for everything you need to know!

What is green beer?

Simply put, green beer is beer plus food coloring. The colorful tradition dates back to around 1914 when one of the first accounts of the drink was recorded. At the time, a doctor named Professor Thomas H. Curtin made the green beer for a party at his New York clubhouse. As luck would have it, the custom of dyeing beer green became more and more popular. While green beer became a holiday staple in the U.S., the drink never really made strides in Ireland.

What beer is used for green beer?

When making green beer, it's best to use a light-colored beer (any brand of pilsner or pale ale will work, or check out a beer subscription box for even more options). In Ireland, you're more likely to find a dark stout, like Guinness, but for this drink, a lighter beer is preferred. (The lighter the color of beer, the easier it will be for the food coloring to mix in.) Depending on your desired hue, you may want to add another drop or two of food coloring.

Does green beer taste different from regular beer?

Since green beer is only made with food coloring and doesn't have any other ingredients, it won't taste any different from regular beer. If you're looking for something that doesn't taste like beer, try an Irish coffee instead. Or if you're looking for something green that doesn't have alcohol, you can't go wrong with these shamrock shakes.

Can you make green beer without food coloring?

Making green beer can also be accomplished without food coloring, but the flavor of your beer might change. To dye beer green without food coloring, try adding a tablespoon of wheatgrass to your glass before pouring in the beer. Wheatgrass can be found at your local juice bar and it will turn your beer a beautiful bright green color, but don't be surprised if it makes your beer taste slightly grassy.