St. Patrick’s Day Drinking

Written by on March 14, 2013 in Events - 1 Comment

There are some obvious perks to avoiding the bars come St. Patrick’s Day: no large crowds and having access to something other than green Bud Light are two good enough reasons for me to stay in. Here are a few holiday-inspired drinks you can enjoy right at home, followed by a list of parties happening around Columbus for those of you willing to brave the madness.

The holiday should have you thinking green, but that doesn’t have to mean green beer. Mitchell Thompson of Taj Bar suggests starting the spring season off with a Purple Patrick:

The Purple Patrick
Grab a tall Collins glass
Muddle eight blueberries in the bottom
Fill the glass with ice
Add 2 oz. of Irish Whiskey like Jameson or Bushmill’s
Drizzle orange blossom or clover honey
Top off glass with Fever Tree Ginger Beer
Garnish as desired, a floral garnish is suggested

Adam Roelle of Weinlands Gourmet Market recommends beer drinkers eschew the traditional Guinness and instead pick up The Porterhouse Brewing Company’s Oyster Stout or An Brain Blasta – and give Elevator Brewing Company’s Irish Blonde Bombshell a try. For those in the mood for whiskey, Roelle says Redbreast Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey 12 Year is “one of the best.”

If you still want to go out, here is a list of some of the St. Patty’s Day specials and celebrations happening around Columbus:

  • Bar Louie Arena District: March 16-17 – Brunch available from 7-11am; $3 for 14 oz. green beer, $4 for 14 oz. Guinness, $5 Jameson, $6 Car bombs
  • Bernard’s Tavern: $3 Green Bud Light, $5 Guinness and $2 McGillicuddy Shots
  • Big Bar: Saturday – Irish whiskey and green vodka shots
  • Brazenhead Irish Pub: March 16 -17 – Tent on the patio, live entertainment starting at noon, Irish dancers throughout the day, $4 Shamrock shots and green beer
  • Bryne’s Pub: Celebrating March 15 – March 18, heated tent opens at 9 a.m. Serving drinks at 11 a.m. Music lineup featuring Morningstar, 9 Castle Close, The Drowsy Lads and The Shamrock Club Pipes & Drums
  • Chumley’s: Green beer, $3 shots, corned beef and cabbage
  • Claddagh Irish Pub Downtown: Kegs and Eggs at 8 a.m., live music begins at 9 a.m. with Tim O’Connor, Johnny & Danny, local bagpipers, Irish dancers and McSpillen
  • Dick’s Den: Jameson $3 singles, $5 doubles, $2.50 $3.50 Guinness pints and live jazz
  • Fadó: Saturday – “St. Practice Day” – Heated tent opens at 9 a.m. Live performances beginning at 10:30 am. St. Baldrick’s Charity Event 12 – 4 p.m. Super Saturday 6 Nations Rugby. Sunday – No cover charge. Kegs and eggs at 7 a.m., Entertainment and Irish dancers all day.
  • Jimmy V’s Grill & Pub Grandview: March 16 – 17 – $3 Guinness Pints, $5 Irish Car Bombs, 10 boneless wings for $5.95
  • Kildare’s: $20 for a VIP Weekend Pass includes no cover all weekend or on St. Patrick’s Day, free VIP T-Shirt, pass, breakfast and a pint. Sunday – Band and DJ, all day
  • Lucky’s Grille Hilliard: Saturday Opens at 11 a.m. – 2:30 a.m. March 16 -17 Green beer available. Performance by the Lee Gantt Band. Sunday – Opens at 9 a.m. A breakfast platter for two (eggs, hashbrowns and sausage) at $10.99 and a pint of green Miller Lite for $15.99
  • Natalie’s Coal-Fired Pizza: $10 Cover and St. Patrick’s Day Celebration with The Kells
  • Park Street District: St. Patty’s Day Pub Crawl
    March 16 – 17 includes Bar Louie, Cantina, the Social, Saloon, Park Street Patio, Park Street Tavern, Brothers and Gas Werks
  • Park Street Tavern: Open at 10 a.m. March 16 -17, no cover – $4 Jameson, $4 Car bombs, $4 Guinness, live entertainment starting at 2 p.m. – close
  • PK O’Ryan’s: Buy a bowl of stew, corned beef and cabbage or corn beef Rueben, get a 20oz. draft for $13.50
  • Tequila Mike’s Hilliard: Opens at 6 a.m. for kegs and eggs, live music performances at 1 p.m. from Fallen on High and Flannel Shark
  • Trabue Tavern: March 15 – performance by Tim Castle, March 16 – Karaoke with Melinda, March 17 – Sunday Funday Specials
  • Ugly Tuna Saloona: All weekend – March 15 – 17 – $3 Pounders (Budweiser, Bud Light and Bud Select), $2 Tuna Bombs and $3 specialty shots from open to close. Friday – Ugly Hour from 8 – 10 p.m. includes $1 wells, $1 drafts. Sunday – Opens at 7 a.m. Saturday. Prize giveaways, live entertainment.
  • Woodlands Backyard: $1 off Guinness, $3 Miller Lite bottles and $4 Shamrock Shooters all weekend long, live music starting at 4pm.

  • This is a guest post by Biance Briggs. Bianca is a soon-to-be journalism and philosophy alumna of The Ohio State University. She is a writes for UWeekly and has a penchant for human-interest pieces. She spends much of her free time writing and contemplating quandaries as well as dabbling in local places of drink. What else should be expected of a writer and philosopher?

    creative commons photo credit: Diamondduste

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    One Comment on "St. Patrick’s Day Drinking"

    1. Mitchell Thompson March 14, 2013 at 2:28 PM · Reply

      I just want to thank Bianca for seeking me out and considering me for a resource for her article. I hope this article inspires a few readers to give this a try at home and maybe leave a comment why they loved or hated it. Or come see me at the Taj Bar on a Wednesday night and I can make one of these for you myself.
      -Mitchell Thompson
      Head Bartender, Taj Bar

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