|
Irish
Adult Beverages
The Irish have been
stereotyped for their “attraction” to alcoholic
beverages and their ability to consume great portions of
these! Having visited Ireland several times, I have to
say that there is some basis of truth in this
stereotype, but did you know that Ireland also has one
of the highest percent of teetotalers found in any
country?
That said,
there are three drinks that the Irish are known for:
Guinness, Irish Whiskey, and Poteen.
 Guinness
(available in many varieties) is often used to refer
the Guinness Stout, which is a strong, dark beer with a
heavy taste of malt. Guinness has been brewed in Dublin
for over 250 years.
Guinness is
normally served with a thick head of foam, and Guinness
experts claim that the only true way to appreciate a
Guinness is straight from the draught in an Irish pub.b.
Irish
whiskey is a generic term for several different
brands (each of which claims a distinctive taste and
personality). A few of the more popular include
Jameson's, Paddy’s, Murphy's, and Old Bushmill's. All
are brewed in a similar fashion that includes being
distilled three times rather than the single
distillation used in much of the rest of the world, and
aged in oak barrels for a minimum of seven years.
Poteen
was Irelands version of homemade “bathtub gin” or
“moonshine” normally brewed at home to avoid the
government alcohol taxes. Traditional Poteen was made
from potatoes (a source readily available throughout
Ireland). Although it is claimed to still be made and
available in Ireland today, it is an underground drink
not likely to be found by outsiders.
|
