Limericks for Saint Patrick’s Day

- By Marsha Bryant

It might take years
To win your heart.
To grab a beer
Would be a start.
--Paul Muldoon

‘Twas in Limerick, Ireland, was born
This rollicking, frolicsome form
That refuses the haughty
(But relishes naughty)
In light, triple rhythms adorned.

On St. Patrick’s Day, let’s turn to Ale
With a triply delicious regal-
ing of tasty dark brews
I’ve selected for you
For this alcoholiday we hail.

1
Go and taste for the thirst time this classic.
The Extra Stout Guinness is basic:
For its foam, roasted malt,
And its hops hath no fault.
And ’tis good for digestion thoracic.

2
Try the nitrogenated Draught Stout
From Guinness in your whereabouts.
For these cans have a widget
(Hail Saints Patrick and Brigid)
Releasing the cream all throughout.

3
Boulevard’s Irish Ale you should try
As St. Patrick’s Day drinking draws nigh.
Not a lager dyed red,
‘Tis true Red Ale instead
With a sweetness that’s tangy, crisp, dry.

Tasting Notes:

Extra Stout, Guinness, St. James’s Gate, Dublin. 5.6% ABV.
The frothy, tan head topping your pour complements this ale’s mildly roasty and very tasty maltiness. Aiming truly for the back of your tongue tip, it finishes with a hint of bitterness. While this iconic stout pairs beautifully with meats and savory dishes, methinks we should enjoy it on its own more often.

Draught Stout, Guinness, St. James’s Gate, Dublin. 4.2% ABV.
Sweeter than the Extra Stout, this nitrogenated pour starts creamy before transforming to an opaquely dark brown ale with a smooth, creamy head. Pairs well with beef, potatoes, and pastry. The creaminess also makes this ale a dessert substitute.

Irish Ale, Boulevard, Kansas City. 5.8% ABV.
Pouring with a translucent Redwood color and a fine-bubbled head that disappears quickly, this ale feels almost crushable. Yet its crisply dry finish is worth savoring for its balance between tangy sweetness and mild bitterness.

MARSHA BRYANT writes about literature, teaching, and craft beer. Her recent essays appear in The Bloomsbury Handbook to Sylvia Plath, the online journal Humanities, and the textbook Impact of Materials on Society. Marsha teaches in the English Department at the University of Florida. Her Untappd profile is LimerickLady.