A Guide To Minnesota Craft Irish Beers
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The first St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Minnesota were in 1852 in St. Paul, and that tradition continues Saturday when many will be celebrating St. Paddy's Day by drinking an Irish beer.
When you think of Irish beer, Guinness or Harp may come to mind, but Natalie Kane found there are many kinds of Irish beers, some of them local.
Great Waters Brewing Company hosted a special beer tasting. Here is a full list of Minnesota craft beers of Irish flavor, courtesy the Minnesota Craft Brewer's Guild.
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Vine Park: Irish Stout -- sweet upfront with a nice mocha finish all topped with a nice creamy head; Irish Red Ale — An all day long beer, this light bodied brew is dry with bitter tinge that says "pour me another and then pour me another so I can drink to your mother."
Steel Toe Brewery: Dissent Dark Ale -- Bold and complex from a tremendous amount of roasted malts, yet smooth and rich from the addition of oats.
Fulton Brewing Company: The Libertine Imperial Red Ale -- Loaded with malts that include the UK's premium Maris and Otter and Caramel 60, and topped off with Rye to impart a distinct reddish hue, the Libertine is a malt-dominated red ale like none before. It boasts a rich, indulgent body without being overly sweet.
Barley John's Brewpub: Oatmeal Irish Stout -- Brewed with 15 percent oats and which has a bright acidic bite and light body, along with roasty malt flavors, you'd expect in an Irish stout. Anniversary Ale – Our Strong Irish Red Ale, often called Barley Wine in Ireland, but not strong enough for the banner in the U.S.
Great Waters Brewpub: O'Byrnes Irish Red Ale is a pushed ale. It is named in honor of our owner's Irish heritage. It is brewed with fine U.K. barley and hopped with U.K. hops. It has a pleasant malt flavor, nice red color and has a hoppy aroma; Blackwatch Oak Stout is a cask conditioned ale. It is served with a beer engine. It is named in honor of the famous Blackwatch Regiment. They are a Scottish regiment that guards the royal jewels in the tower of London.
Lift Bridge Brewery: Irish Coffee Stout -- It is inspired by the delightful combination of whiskey, coffee, and cream. You don't have to be Irish and it doesn't have to be the morning to enjoy this labor of love. Our Russian Imperial Stout was aged in whiskey barrels, then blended with a big Milk Stout, and finally infused with locally roasted cold pressed coffee.
Flat Earth Brewing Company: Red Cape Ale -- This Red Ale carries a beautiful red hue, mild malt flavor with a hint of chocolate, a very easy drinking ale that is perfect for a light alternative to the traditional Guinness; The Black Helicopter Oatmeal Coffee Stout -- we take our tasty oatmeal stout and cold steep a special blend of Dunn Bros coffee that is only available to Flat Earth Brewing Company.
