Make Green Beer for St. Patrick's Day

Though it's associated with St. Patrick's Day, green beer is actually an American invention. In fact, most people in Ireland would probably balk at the idea of turning a good beer green. Despite not being entirely authentic, green beer is a popular way of celebrating St. Patrick's Day here in the US, and it can definitely lend a little color to any St. Paddy's Day party.

Here's what you'll need to make green beer:

A pale Irish lager

Two drops of green food coloring

A frosted mug or chilled glass

Making the green beer couldn't be simpler. All you need to do is put a couple of drops of green food coloring in the bottom of your glass. Some people will claim that blue food coloring produces a truer green, because it mixes with the yellow lager, but if you want the bright Kelly green color, you'll need to use a green food coloring.

Then, after the food coloring is in the glass, just pour your beer as usual. Green beer couldn't be simpler! Just remember to add your food coloring before the beer, or else you will have to stir it and you'll lose the head.

Beers to Consider:

Though you can technically use any light-colored beer and get the same results, what fun would that be? On St. Patrick's Day, consider using a real Irish lager. Two beers to consider are Harp Lager and Kinsale Irish Lager.

Harp Lager is currently brewed in Dundalk, Ireland and is brewed by Guinness Ltd. Harp is smooth and light, and should appeal to American drinkers who are looking for a more authentic beer for St. Patrick's Day.

Kinsale Irish Lager is brewed in the city of Kinsale, Ireland. This pale lager is crisp and golden, and will complement any St. Patrick's Day party.

Of course, if you really want to keep your St. Patrick's Day party or get-together completely authentic, you'll ditch the food coloring completely. Dark stouts like Guinness and Murphy's are too dark to color green, but what they lack in color they make up for in taste and authenticity.

Sources:

Harp Lager. Guinness Ltd.

Kinsale Irish Lager. Kinsale Brewing.