Beer-articles 683

COLUMBUS (WCMH) – This is a story about beer and a town that loves it.

Columbus was recently rated as the No. 3 beer city in America, according to a poll from USA Today. It begs the question, why Columbus?

Is it the German heritage in the city? Is it the vast influence of a massive college campus in the city?

“We don’t have beaches, we don’t have mountains,” said Collin Castore, owner of Seventh Son Brewing in Columbus. “But craft beer has kind of filled that niche that people can really identify with it and enjoy it. And it’s become a part of what Columbus is.”

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In the 2010’s, Columbus saw something of a craft beer boom. Well-known breweries like Seventh Son, Land Grant, Wolf’s Ridge, and North High Brewing all opened more than a decade ago. They’re all still brewing, and it’s still a sweat-intensive business.

“We’re kind of pushing each other to really be not just good for Ohio breweries, but good for anywhere in the country breweries.” Castore said. Beer is a big business in Ohio. According to the Ohio Craft Brewers Association, Ohio is home to 430 breweries, supporting nearly 14-thousand employees. The OCBA says craft beer in Ohio is a $1.3B business. Brewers say keeping it local is their appeal.

“The people making the beer are just through the window and telling that story really helps kind of bridge that gap for people,” said Adam Benner, co-owner of Land Grant Brewing. “They will pay a premium because they know it’s it is locally crafted. It is something that they care about.”

“Beer just brings people together.” said Seventh Son brewer Chris Carter.

Carter is now planning to open his own brewery, Honest Friend Brewing, later this year.

“The business side is everything. You have so many breweries that are making fantastic products. What are you going to do to stand out?” he said.

Local breweries are facing a saturated market and some grim financial realities. According to a study by the Brewers Association, last year just over 400 breweries opened across the country, but just under 400 closed.

“We’re a very mature industry now over the course of the past 20 or so years,” said Mary McDonald of the Ohio Craft Brewers Association. “People who are going to open a brewery now need to be very deliberate and have a really good business plan.”

Benner says Columbus saw that play out in his home market.

“We saw a decent amount of local breweries here in Columbus shut their doors or transfer ownership. And a lot of people are like, is this the bubble of craft beer?” he said.

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Consumers are the ones who bear the brunt of the financial strain. “With rising costs, prices have necessarily increased,” says Bob Szuter, the co-founder of Wolf’s Ridge Brewing. “This effectively alters the experience of dining out or grabbing a drink.”

Despite the competitive landscape, many brewers insist that the industry continues to be one of collaboration and camaraderie.

“Indeed, the brewing industry has a very cooperative and fraternal atmosphere. However, we are all vying for the same limited space on the shelves of large grocery stores,” states Gavin Meyers, co-founder of North High Brewing.

“If you brew incredibly high-quality beer and establish your business in an area that, in my opinion, lacks adequate clientele, then you have the opportunity to build quite a successful operation.”

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The best gift to buy the beer lover in your life is obviously beer. You knew that. But what kind? They could be a craft connoisseur or a domestic diehard. Perhaps both. Or maybe an international option is more of a treat. There are a lot of choices. It’s probably wisest to leave the beer buying to the actual beer drinker and gift them something else.

So, consider what’s essential when drinking a beer. It has to be cold. Freshness is preferred. Company and location matter too, because beers in the backyard, on the beach and at the bar each offer something different. With those ideas in mind, we found the best gift ideas for every kind of beer drinker you know, including monthly subscriptions to rare beers, coolers to maintain just the right chill, glassware to accentuate every tasting note and more.

If a beer drinker had to pick one glass to drink from for the rest of their life, this would probably be it. It brings out the best taste and aroma in any beer — from IPAs to sours and everything in between.

Every beer lover has stared into the cooler at a store and been frozen by the plethora of brews from which to choose. This subscription, which lets members pick their favorite styles and cancel at any time, helps alleviate the overwhelming decision by sending award-winning craft beers to their door.

Drinking from a cup is superior to drinking from a can. The airflow improves and the brew’s aroma is more easily enjoyed. This little device safely lifts the top off any can without leaving any sharp edges behind, meaning any can can become a cup.

This pup was trained well. Each time it removes a bottle cap from your beer, it keeps the cap in its mouth until you’re ready to throw it away.

A warm beer is a worthless beer. Our favorite soft-sided cooler can help avoid such a travesty with space for 30 cans. It won in our testing because it boasts the compactness and portability you’d expect, but in a durable frame usually reserved for bulky hard-sided coolers.

Read our review

Name a better duo than a warm soft pretzel and a cold beer. This box of puffy pretzels includes four varieties of salt — truffle, cheese, chili lime and traditional — to pair with whatever your beer lover is sipping.

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Part glassblowing studio and part craft brewery, the Pretentious Craft Co. based in Knoxville, Tennessee is an internet favorite for its unique glassware. Its online shop has plenty of different shapes perfect for beers, but I’m especially drawn to this wobbling glass great for just about any drink.

Yes, it’s a splurge. But beer lovers tend to drink in numbers, and there’s no hosting flex quite like serving from a kegerator. This model can fit multiple Cornelius Kegs or a Half Barrel Keg.

These flight boards are perfect for bringing the brewery experience home. Choose from mini pub-style glasses or mini tulip glasses, and submit a design to get your board customized.

Spirits, bitters, citrus and soft drinks are commonly used in mixology, but don’t sleep on beer’s ability to elevate a cocktail. This hardcover book contains more than 50 recipes that combine beer with the likes of gin, whiskey and much more.

Related article: Give the merry with these best alcohol, wine and barware gifts

If your beer lover prefers Guinness, then you probably know the Irish classic has to be served right. This tool that ensures a proper pour is technically only compatible with particular cans that aren’t yet sold in the U.S. … but look hard enough online and you’ll find a hack to utilize it on any Guinness nitro can.

Black and Tan, Black Velvet or Snakebite — all these drinks can be easily layered using this tool. First, pour your bottom ingredient, then place the disc on the glass, and then delicately pour the top layer, letting it slowly trickle through the holes.

Choose from any of the 50 states for this plywood cutout that is specially designed to accommodate your bottle caps. It’s an innovative solution for anyone who loves to collect memorable tokens from their favourite local beers. What’s more, each cutout comes with extra holes for uncomplicated wall mounting your display in a man cave.

This bottle opener, hand-built by a father-son pair in Oklahoma, carries out its task with one essential provision: it won’t bend or harm the cap in any way. It’s a must-have item for collectors.

Meet the ultimate koozie. It snugly fits both 16-ounce cans and 12-ounce cans, coming with a chillable gel pack for the smaller cans, and can even accommodate a poured pint with its leakproof lid that our editors endorse.

Does the beer enthusiast in your life need hand-stitched coasters? Maybe not. But could one of these competitive sets from Smathers & Branson significantly upgrade their beer corner decoration? Absolutely.

I received one of these compact jackets as a gift years ago, and it has been my preferred koozie even as my collection has expanded. It’s entertaining, keeps my beverage chilled and its sleeves double up as handles as I drink. Bonus: Puffin offers many other styles, including leather jackets, space suits and rain jackets.

The concept of home brewing appears enjoyable — but it can be quite a task. Pinter tries to make the process easier by providing all the ingredients in a package they refer to as a Fresh Press. Simply pour it into the Pinter, add water, and after a couple of days, there are 12 pints of beer ready for you.

There is a plethora of excellent drinkware that looks attractive and keeps beer chilled, yet it seldom is as transportable and storage-friendly as these stackable pints from the company that produced the world’s most famous water bottle.

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A shower beer simply hits different. This silicone can holder sticks to any shower wall without additional adhesives or mounts. The brand also makes some of our favorite

shower organizers.)

This complex wall art traces the origins of every beer style back to lagers and ales. It’s fitting decor for any home bar — and a useful explainer for anyone tired of having to tell their friends about the difference between an IPA and a stout.

If their beer takes up too much room in the fridge, this highly rated beverage cooler can give those six-packs a home away from all the groceries. Its glass door looks great and its shelf arrangement and temperature can be adjusted to preference.

Your recipient will benefit from this set of four glasses designed for different styles of beer including IPA, stout, wheat and barrel-aged ale.

If the beer enthusiast lives in a place where getting home from the bar is an expense, an Uber gift card can contribute to their safety and financial ease.

Northern Brewer offers homebrewing starter kits with prices ranging between $50-$700. This specific mid-range set includes all the essentials for brewing and bottling beer at home, featuring the ingredients for a Kama Citra Session IPA.

Enjoying a beer in the topmost seats of your favourite ballpark during a warm summer night is undoubtedly the best experience. These pint glasses, designed with 30 MLB parks, provide the second best alternative right at home.

Growlers frequently provide an ideal solution for individuals who wish to bring home beer from a brewery without opting for a bottle or can. This wooden tap is perfect for sharing some beers amongst friends. It’s accompanied by a 64-ounce glass growler, and it’s quite easy to clean, simply run some warm water through it after every use.

In our experience, this cooler has performed exceptionally well amongst a variety of others. This present is certainly one that will continue to be valuable for numerous summers due to its sturdy hard shell and ability to hold 28 cans alongside a substantial quantity of ice.

Read our review

The Original Craft Beer Club aims to showcase the diverse array of beers from across the country. You have options to choose from two different U.S. breweries for 12 or 24 beers featured in each shipment. It also includes tasting notes on the included brews. Gift memberships begin from a duration of three months.

For those who truly love beer for the taste and not the buzz, one of our favorite non-alcoholic beers is worth the try. Our reviewer has seen friends mistake its hoppy, citrusy taste for the real thing — it’s that good.

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Since the Neolithic revolution, when the implementation of agriculture paved the way for human civilization, society has been inextricably linked to the art of brewing beer. Little has changed over the ensuing millennia, as creating new brews and experimenting with recipes remains a popular business (and hobby) in the 21st century — some people have even turned Lucky Charms into beer, for example.

Because beer is made through a biochemical process called ethanol fermentation, in which yeast converts sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide, a successful batch requires specific conditions. Failure to maintain these conditions can result in the beer becoming contaminated with mold or bacteria. In an exclusive interview with Mashed, co-owner and head brewer of Spice Trade Brewery + Kitchen Jeff Tyler helped hobbyists avoid the biggest mistakes people make when brewing beer by explaining four non-negotiables: cleaning, sanitization, healthy yeast, and temperature control.

When unwanted bacteria find their way into your fermentation vessel, your beer can become infected. As such, a good batch always begins with clean tools. “Make sure you spend the time to ensure every piece of your equipment is clean,” Tyler told Mashed. Only after removing debris and buildup should you use a sanitizing chemical to kill any unseen organisms that may linger on your brewing equipment. “[This] will ensure that your yeast is the only organism in your beer and help prevent contamination, off flavors, and bad batches,” he explained.

Read more: Popular Vodka Brands Ranked From Worst To Best

Once your brewing equipment is clean, your attention should turn to your yeast. Jeff Tyler, a brewing expert, spoke to Mashed about this important ingredient. Instead of dry, store-bought yeast, Tyler recommends fresh yeast or a damp block of yeast cells that need refrigeration. Aside from the quality of yeast, Tyler emphasises that the number of yeast cells is crucial to the brewing process. Typically, 1 million yeast cells per millilitre of wort should be used, but the desired ratio can differ depending on the type of beer you’re making.

Keeping temperature under control during fermentation is also critical. Generally, yeast creates the tastiest beer between 66 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Because fermentation generates heat, it can be difficult to prevent the liquid’s temperature from exceeding this range. “If you can’t regulate the temperature of your batch, store your beer in a cool, dark location,” suggests Tyler. He also recommends kveik yeast, a variety which can handle higher temperatures. Your brewing could improve by following Tyler’s advice, possibly earning a place among the ranks of history’s great brewers.

Read the full article on Mashed.

Columnist George Lenker shares some classic Irish stouts ahead of the St. Patrick’s Day weekend. George Lenker

With St. Patrick’s Day just around the bend, Guinness is probably on some readers’ minds.

Although I drink mostly Irish craft beer on my visits to the Emerald Isle, I’m sure no one will be surprised to learn that I also indulge in plenty of The Black Stuff. Although it’s true that even most of the older traditional pubs now feature at least a few craft offerings, Guinness is always a welcome choice when I want to keep the alcohol level on the lower side.

Of course there are any number of good craft stouts in Ireland, including Carlow Brewing’s excellent O’Hara’s Stout and Wicklow Brewing’s Black 16, but you can’t always find them everywhere (although O’Hara’s is pretty ubiquitous). However, if you want an standard alternative to Guinness that is fairly available in most municipalities, there are two that you should try: Murphy’s and Beamish.

Let me start with this caveat: Only one of those options is available here in America as of this writing. So I’m also writing this with the idea that some of you will be visiting Ireland and can seek all sorts of stouts out when you’re there. I’m also hoping they’ll all be available again at some point. But let’s start with the one that you can get here in the United States .

Murphy’s Irish Stout originally hails from Co. Cork, which was the only place you could get it until 1983, when Heineken acquired the rights to the brand. Whitbread got the rights to brew and distribute it in the U.K. in 1988, and Whitbread was acquired by a subsidiary of the multinational group Anheuser-Busch InBev in 2000.

Since I never had it before the big boys took it over, I can’t say if it’s changed over the years, but I’m always worried that good products often do – but not always. I have had it plenty of times since 2000, including my most recent trip to Ireland in January. And I have to say it’s pretty tasty stuff. It has a more pronounced toffee note than Guinness and seemed to have a lighter body. There is also a noticeable coffee element to it.

So, if you like those aspects, you’ll probably like it. I enjoy it, but I would prefer Guinness most of the time. It’s even lower and alcohol, then goodness, sitting right at 4% ABV.

Beamish Genuine Irish Stout originates from Cork as well. Its first brew was made by Beamish & Crawford, who established their brewery in 1792. The firm went through several ownership changes over the years and is currently non-operational due to its acquisition by Heineken International in 2008. Despite this, the beer is still produced in Cork, at the Heineken facility residing there.

Regrettably, Heineken made the decision to halt its sales in the United States over a decade ago, for reasons unknown. I consider this a loss, as it poses a wonderful alternative to Guinness and Murphy’s. It has a slight hint of chocolate, blending perfectly with the roasted nut flavor. It’s a smooth drink and with a 4.1% ABV, it’s excellent as a session beer. While I hope it makes its way back to the US, I’m not particularly optimistic.

In the spirit of the holiday, happy St. Patrick’s Day. Enjoy the stout beer you prefer most, and cheers!

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Beer bikes banned from European party capitals for being a nuisance are spreading to cities across the UK.

The oversized bikes have been a stag party staple on the Continent for decades but the nuisance they caused on public roads led to them being banned from the centres of Amsterdam, Prague, Budapest, Munich and Düsseldorf.

Despite their chequered past in Europe, the pedal-powered pubs-on-wheels are popping up in cities across the UK, with services launching in Bristol, Birmingham and Edinburgh in recent weeks.

Seating up to 17 drinkers per bike, pedalling customers pay £450 to drink as many beers as they want while a sober driver steers them through the city streets for an hour.

Thanos Koufis, operations manager for Beer Travel UK, said the

A package of beer cans moves along a conveyor at the Waterloo Brewing brewery in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

Canada’s finance minister announced tax relief aimed at the country’s small breweries ahead of a deadline that would have seen certain duties on domestic beer, wine and spirits more than double.

The government is proposing to cap an inflation adjustment for excise taxes charged on domestically produced beer, spirits and wine at 2% for the next two years, Chrystia Freeland said in a statement Saturday, extending a similar limit implemented last year. It was previously set to increase to 4.7% as of April 1.

In the realm of beer, kegs bridge the gap between brewers, ranging from large scale breweries to those brewing in their basements, and beer enthusiasts. Beer kegs are of various shapes and sizes, from smaller ones, such as the Heineken mini keg perfect for a friends’ gathering, to quarter-barrel kegs often seen at college parties. They can be rented for different occasions and filled with beverages like soda and cider, not just beer.

Industry standard or full kegs are widely used for storing, transporting and dispensing beer at bars, restaurants,and various events. If you have wondered about the capacity of a standard keg, it holds about 124 pints, which is quite a large amount.

Read more: 10 Of The Healthiest Beers You Can Drink

A standard keg, often referred to as a half-barrel, is one of the largest kegs available. A reliable keg supplier should be able to tell you how many beers you can actually fetch from a keg. To put it into a relatable context, it equals approximately 165 12-ounce bottles of beer or around 27 six-packs. However, unless you are managing a college fraternity or a catering service, you may not really require one of these larger kegs.

A few kegs offer more manageable capacities, with differing shapes such as the quarter barrel keg and the slim quarter keg. The former is short and sturdy, the latter tall and slender. Both types are suitable for small to medium-sized gatherings, each accommodating 62 pints, a reasonable quantity of beer for a group. For smaller social events, a mini keg, also referred to as a bubba keg, could be the better choice. These contain ten pints, making them ideal for a small dinner or barbecue with a few friends.

You can read the original article on Daily Meal.

Product placement has been a staple (if not scourge) of cinema since the dawn of the medium. Sometimes it’s subtle, sometimes it’s not. Sometimes it’s done as a satirical joke (while also serving as product placement). But no example is as pronounced as what a Chilean advertising agency did when they advertised Cerveza beer in the early 2000s.

Over the weekend, someone on Twitter dropped an example of what Chilean TV viewers saw when they watched the original Star Wars trilogy. One of the advertisers was Cristal Beer, but instead of interrupting the movie for traditional commercial breaks, they had their product edited directly into the film. For instance, this alteration occurs early on in the first Star Wars, when Luke Skywalker initially encounters Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Around 2003 in Chile, when the original Star Wars trilogy started being broadcast on television, a unique advertising method was used to avoid cutting to commercial breaks. The commercials were incorporated into the films themselves. Below is an example of one such commercial, with the English dub added in. Source

— Windy 🛸 (@heyitswindy) March 2, 2024

That’s right: Obi-Wan grabs a Cristal Cerveza, complete with a little jingle. Can they get Cristal at the Mos Eisley cantina? Probably not!

That wasn’t the only example. There’s the part where Obi-Wan is infiltrating the Death Star.

this is the funniest fucking thing ever oh my god https://t.co/XXDzkmxuON pic.twitter.com/spMRtArFvb

— Ren (@StanNajimi) March 3, 2024

And the climax from Return of the Jedi, with Emperor Palpatine chilling on his throne with a cool one before he eats it (before coming back, of course).

I’d never heard of it, and it’s fantastic.

Above all, it explains how Palpatine somehow survived: with Cerveza Cristal.

https://t.co/JtNd4jOE3e

pic.twitter.com/kuX3Cn0Ls8

— The Spaceshipper 🚀 (@TheSpaceshipper)

March 3, 2024

It’s true, these advertisements have not only materialized but also garnered award recognition. A 2004 article from The Guardian unveils that OMD Santiago, the creative agency behind the campaign, clinched the most prestigious award at that year’s Cannes International Advertising Festival. Cristal was incorporated into several blockbuster films when they were televised, a feat deemed “genius” by the judging panel.

The content erupted in popularity, thus giving birth to a fresh meme trend. Users started integrating Cristal into a plethora of movies, shows, and miscellaneous media. A significant number were Star Wars-themed.

A snippet of the CERVEZA CRISTAL jingle found here.

A Tweet by user Braddington posted on March 4, 2024.

New Star Wars piece just dropped #cervezacristal pic.twitter.com/wTSB7TeGeN

— Readful Things (@Readful_Things) March 6, 2024

🎶 CERVESA CRISTAL 🎶 pic.twitter.com/T9JiIJ7SF8

— Kristen Bates (@kristenkbates) March 4, 2024

🎶 CERVEZA CRISTAL🎶 pic.twitter.com/4AufswYKuw

— Punch It Chewie Press 🔜 WonderCon (@PunchitChewie77) March 5, 2024

Okay, last one. pic.twitter.com/i95s6lOjRx

— Tim Owens, Cat Wrangler (@AtTimOwens) March 5, 2024

such an iconic moment pic.twitter.com/x3U90j1890

— Veers Watch (@VeersWatch) March 5, 2024

pic.twitter.com/M9OEYjf2uR

— the thicc husband & father (@lukeisamazing) March 4, 2024

Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Cerveza Cristal is my new favorite thing. pic.twitter.com/ZzLFdUl2SR

— matt green (@thatmattgreen) March 5, 2024

Lord of the Rings.

pic.twitter.com/UnQuLSG9zf

— Jordan Mychal Lemos (@jordanarywriter) March 4, 2024

pic.twitter.com/0gvWmatWAf

— JRR Jokien (@joshcarlosjosh) March 5, 2024

🎵 CERVEZA CRISTAL 🎵 pic.twitter.com/yejA2tapPK

— Matt Pashby (@Pashbrown) March 5, 2024

Dune.

pic.twitter.com/zkSVFicqbe

— BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL (@edsbs) March 4, 2024

cerveza cristal pic.twitter.com/k90TsBmoWu

— free larry 🦅 (@kennetzio) March 5, 2024

It’s the official drink of the south, Paul. pic.twitter.com/C9YnecreM6

— james w (@OmgMoreJames) March 5, 2024

Spider-Man 2.

🎶CERVEZA CRISTAL 🎶 pic.twitter.com/nonsuOdUfT

— Ignacio Bahamondes (@ignxcio) March 5, 2024

Alien.

pic.twitter.com/uhKwOmRfQr

— Tim Owens, Cat Wrangler (@AtTimOwens) March 4, 2024

Everything Everywhere All at Once.

“In another life, I would have really liked just drinking Cerveza Cristal con mis amigos.” pic.twitter.com/VrWfh8dhhN

— Carl Kinsella (@TVsCarlKinsella) March 5, 2024

Se7en.

These Cerveza Cristal ads are getting wild#cervezacristal pic.twitter.com/LeJwdaUVGN

— Jason Aul (@JasonAul) March 6, 2024

Surely Cristal is enjoying all this free advertising.

Cerveza Cristal seeing their sales go up 7000% due to memes pic.twitter.com/riuOYRTTBA

— Fallen Oshes (@DaveOshry) March 5, 2024

(Via Business Insider)

Mexican beer brand Corona is introducing a fresh marketing initiative, acquiring Chilean actor Pedro Pascal’s service aiming to engage Latino consumers.

The beer brand’s previous campaign, “La Vida Mas Fina,” featured the rapper Snoop Dogg. But with the transition to Pascal, the company expresses the need for “a shift in tone” in its marketing strategy.

“Every member of Corona is enthusiastic to give a warm welcome to Pedro as part of our team,” shared Saul Trejo, Corona’s marketing executive. “Pedro’s cultural influence is beyond doubt, and to honour our common roots and establish ourselves as a comprehensive Latino brand, we couldn’t ask for a better collaborator than Pedro Pascal.”

Meanwhile, Constellation Brands, responsible for Corona’s marketing in the U.S., stated that while appreciative of Snoop Dog’s contributions, they will be moving forward with Pascal for future campaigns.

Pascal, who is recognized for his main characters in The Last of Us and The Mandalorian, incurred the anger of conservatives in November 2021 when he shared posts on social media exculpating Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber, the two individuals who were fatally shot by Kyle Rittenhouse in an act of self-defense. Pascal’s justification for Rosenbaum, a former convict with numerous child sex offenses, was sharply critiqued, with one legal expert terming it as “glorifying a child rapist.”

TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER, CLICK HERE

In addition to his identifiable characters, Pascal is also acclaimed for his portrayal of Oberyn Martell in the Game of Thrones series.

The change of Corona’s spokesperson coincides with a surge in the popularity of international beers in the U.S. In the last year, Modelo outpaced Bud Light to become the best-selling beer brand in the nation.

The best Irish whiskey is an utterly sippable spirit and the perfect way to more maturely raise a glass this March 17. So put down the Midori and Sour Apple Pucker. And yes, you, with the green beer — that’s quite enough. St. Patrick’s Day may have come a long way from its original religious roots in the Emerald Isle, but we’re here to say that this festive holiday can still be enjoyed with a simulacrum of sophistication.

Though many may have been introduced to Irish whiskey via the venerable mainstay Jameson, things have come a long way in the last two decades. “In 2013, there were only 4 operating distilleries in Ireland. That number has grown to around 30 now,” says Jonathan Adler, beverage director of New York City’s trendy Shinji’s cocktail bar. In fact, according to DISCUS, (Distilled Spirits Council of the United States), it’s the higher end, premium and super premium brands that have been pulling folks in for a twee taste, allowing Irish whiskey to grow a staggering 932 percent and 6000 percent respectively.

Related article: The 7 best wine subscriptions for bottles delivered to your door

They may look similar, but not all whiskeys are created equal. “It has been highly contested whether the Irish or Scots actually created whiskey, but the differences between the two make it quite the exciting spirit to sip on,” Adler says, adding that his tastes skew towards Irish whiskeys with less malted grain, which tend to be on the lighter side.

The first thing to note is the three categories you can choose from: blended, single pot still and single malt. But what truly sets Irish whiskeys apart are their looser specifications. “Irish whiskey is a relatively flexible term in that the whiskey needs only to be made in Ireland and aged for a minimum of three years from any yeast-fermented mash of cereal grains,” says Brett Esler, a bartender at Murray’s Tavern, Austin, TX. “This allows for very diverse flavor profiles across the spirit category as a whole in comparison to its popular counterparts like Bourbon and Scotch, which are a bit more bound to their legal requirements.”

But why should you give it a try and what do you need to know before you decide on a bottle? “Irish whiskey is perhaps the most approachable category of whiskey for newcomers. Most Irish whiskeys (but not all) are triple-distilled, which gives them an extra smoothness that can be lacking in many other types of whiskey,” says Mark Gallespie, host of the WhiskeyCast podcast. “Look for the creaminess in a blended Irish whiskey, while Single Pot Still will have a lot of baking spices on the nose and palate. Single malts will generally combine the two with barley sugar sweetness.”

Patrick Watson, wine & spirits educator at Smith & Vine, a local wine store in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, sees Irish whiskey sales picking up considerably around this time of year. And he’s a fan. “What I love about Irish whiskey is … it has a rich viscosity and rarely burns like some other high alcohol whiskeys,” he adds.

Of course, if you’re playing it safe with wine this year, or want to join the fun without the alcohol, there’s plenty of other options as well. But if you decide to pick up a bottle of Irish whiskey before you paint the town green this St. Patrick’s Day, here are six of our favorite bottles.

Why not put a new spin on a classic favourite? Jameson’s Black Barrel Irish whiskey is often touted as the most enjoyable sip, a sentiment we concur with. This irish whiskey, which is triple distilled and rich in single pot ingredients, bursts with flavour. It’s also seasoned for up to 16 years, resulting in a robust, sweet, and potent drink. The initial smoky charred scent is particularly appealing to us.

Suitably named after the Natterjack toad native to — you guessed it, Ireland — this newly introduced, triple-distilled spirit advertises itself as an Irish whiskey featuring an American accent. The blend consists of 20% malted barley and 80% corn, which is then refined in American oak casks — giving it an ultra-smooth and mild flavour, with notes of toffee, vanilla, and even a hint of cinnamon. Coupled with the fantastic design on the bottle, it makes for an ideal gift for whiskey enthusiasts.

Produced in a distillery stationed at Slane Castle, a stone’s throw away from Dublin, this high-quality, triple distilled blend of three casks offers a first note of pronounced spice, mellows out to a sweet flavour, featuring subtle hints of butterscotch and banana. What we particularly appreciate about it is its toasty finish — and its reasonable price tag. And who could forget that Slane grows its own barley on site for brewing?

Are you in the mood for something slightly unique? Powers is the first-ever Irish whiskey made entirely from Irish rye mash, and it’s definitely worth a try. Aged in American oak barrels, this whiskey has a lighter gold hue compared to our other selections, and the flavour veers towards the sweet to counterbalance the earthy spice. In addition, it’s smoother to sip than your usual American ryes.

Micro Distilleries have become extremely popular, which has brought the same attention to Irish whiskey. This one-of-a-kind single-pot whiskey, developed by the expert distillers at Midleton Distillery in County Cork, has an unique, somewhat earthy aroma, primarily due to the Garryana oak barrels it’s matured in, sourced from the Pacific Northwest. Even though it’s a little pricey at almost $100, it’s certainly worth it for the smooth texture and the complex flavors of sweet golden raisins and crushed black pepper.

Redbreast is the first taste of high-end Irish whiskey for many, and this 12-year-old spirit is the perfect starting point for those new to the experience. It’s a combination of malted and unmalted barleys and has been aged in both sherry and bourbon casks. This single pot still whiskey is very enjoyable to drink, with a sweet aroma, a creamy, nutty flavor and a dry yet spicy conclusion.