Say sláinte with a few cracking brews and drams

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This article was published 15/03/2025 (532 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Whether or not you have roots in the Emerald Isle, fans of rich, robust brews and smooth, easy-going whiskies will always find a reason to raise a pint or dram on St. Patrick’s Day.

The celebration of all things Irish is marked by music, dance, food and, of course, drink. On that latter front, mid-March happens to be the ideal time to say Sláinte to the heartier beers that got us through another cold winter before palates spring forward to crisp, fresh beers, lighter spirits and the like.

Many local brewers have planned their own St. Paddy’s Day celebrations, with some brewing Irish-inspired beers in honour of the occasion. Among ways/places to raise a glass:

Good Neighbour Brewing Co.’s friendly neighbour, Next Door (116 Sherbrook St.), is offering $5 pours of the brewery’s Irish red ale and Irish cream coffee stout, as well as $6 shots of Jameson whiskey on Monday starting at 4 p.m.

Brazen Brewing Co. (800 Pembina Hwy.) has brewed up a small-batch Mintgarde Milk Stout featuring mint, chocolate and roasted malt that is rolling out this weekend.

Dauphin’s Obsolete Brewing Co. (24 2 Ave. NW) has all manner of St. Paddy’s activities planned, including a puzzle race on Sunday and trivia night on Monday, with Dirty Berg’s food truck both days (and, yes, green beer).

Morden’s Rendezvous Eatery & Taproom (368 Stephen St.) is throwing a St. Patrick’s Day ceili today, with live music and traditional Irish fare, as well as Raw Bar Oyster Co.’s briney wares.

Brandon’s Black Wheat Brewing Co. (402 10th St.) is offering up $5 pints on Monday from 2 to 7 p.m., and, judging by the brewery’s social media feed, there may also be some green beer on hand as well.

On a slightly grinchier note, meanwhile, Devil May Care Brewing Co. (155 Fort St.) is throwing a Not-A-St.-Paddy’s-Day party today, trading green beer and traditional Irish tunes for $7 pints, beer slushies, live music and a crib tournament that kicks off at 1 p.m.

If you want to really go traditional, there’s always the Irish Association of Manitoba (654 Erin St.), which has two seatings today for an Irish breakfast (11 a.m. and 1 p.m.) with live music in the evening, and a Monday filled with dancing, food, singers, pipers, Guinness on tap (with proper 20-ounce pours) and a selection of Irish whiskies. For more information see wfp.to/Wl6.

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Drinks o’ the week

Good Neighbour Brewing Co. Irish Red Ale (Winnipeg — $4.25/473ml can, brewery, beer vendors, Liquor Marts)

Deep copper in colour and clear, with an off-white head, Good Neighbour’s Irish red ale brings rich malt, dried fruit, toffee and grainy notes aromatically that are warm and inviting. It’s medium-bodied and offers just a hint of sweetness on the palate, accentuating the dried fruit and toffee notes, while the robust malty notes work well with the modest bitterness. At 4.6 per cent alcohol it doesn’t get too hot on the finish; smooth and tasty. (For those with a sweeter tooth, Good Neighbour’s Irish cream coffee stout is also very good.) 3.5/5

Nonsuch Brewing Co. Irish Red (Winnipeg — $4.30/473ml can, brewery, beer vendors, Liquor Marts)

Nonsuch’s Irish red is back, also deep copper in colour and clear, offering similarly upfront malty aromas but with plum, cola and spice notes. On the light-plus-bodied, slightly sweet palate, this Irish red leads with inviting malty flavours backed by subtle spice, plum and cola notes, while the five per cent alcohol is once again unobtrusive. 3.5/5

Sookram’s Brewing Co. Fade to Black Oatmeal Stout (Winnipeg — $3.99/473ml can, brewery, beer vendor, Liquor Marts)

Deep cola brown in appearance and with a beige head, there’s a lovely flaked-oat component aromatically that comes with dark chocolate, roasted malt and hints of caramel. A hint of sweetness comes on the medium-plus-bodied palate that works well with the chocolate, dried fruit, roasted malt and caramel flavours, with a touch of bitterness to keep things lively and the modest, 5.2 per cent alcohol meaning the finish doesn’t overpower. Very good stuff. 4/5

O’Hara’s Nitro Irish Stout (Carlow, Ireland — $3.95/440ml can, beer vendors, Liquor Marts)

Espresso brown-black in appearance and with a fine, long-lasting off-white head, there’s an earthy note on the nose along with the oat, rich dark malt and molasses aromas. It’s mainly dry, medium-plus-bodied and quite creamy thanks to the nitro component, which comes via a widget in the can that softens the effervescence. Flavour-wise it’s oat- and malt-driven, with a secondary molasses note that shows well, virtually no bitterness and, at 4.3 per cent alcohol, a modest finish. Crack the can open and pour aggressively into a glass for maximum creaminess. Currently on sale (it’s regularly $4.39). 3.5/5

Shanky & Shireman’s Shanky’s Whip (Cavan, Ireland — $49.99, Liquor Marts)

A blend of black Irish whiskey, Irish spirits and natural vanilla and cream flavours, this concoction is deep brown in colour and aromatically leans heavily on the vanilla notes, with hints of sweet malts in there as well. It’s medium-bodied and fairly sweet, bringing vanilla, toffee, caramel and spice flavours and some nice warmth on the finish. It’s not creamy like Baileys, but fans of that Irish liqueur will find plenty to like; drink on its own (with an ice cube), add some to your morning coffee or drop one in your favourite stout. Weighs in at 33 per cent alcohol. 3.5/5

Jameson Black Barrel Irish Whiskey (Cork, Ireland — $56.49, Liquor Marts)

This reserve-level whiskey from Jameson is a blend of small-batch grain and single-pot Irish whiskey aged in double-charred barrels. It brings lovely pear, herbal, grainy and melon aromas with a hint of spice; on the lean, light-bodied and smooth palate those flavours come with a peppery and anise component before the medium-length finish. Very nice stuff, and on sale until the end of March (it’s regular $60.49). 4/5

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