Green beer - the defacto and decidedly non-authentic Official Drink of St. Patrick's Day - is the liquid equivalent of shouting "Whoooo!!" when your favorite song comes on in the club: innocent fun, but a little amateurish.
Unless you're chugging from plastic cups at a frat party, there's no good reason to drink crappy, cheap beer that has the added "bonus" of turning your tongue - and...insides - an unhealthy shade of green.
As St. Patrick's Day approaches and you fortify your liver for a Thursday spent celebrating (i.e. drinking), consider these four festive boozy drinks in lieu of that green swill:
4. Half & Half - A pint glass filled halfway with lager (like Harp) and topped off with stout (like Guinness). Zero room for a drop o' green.
3. Margarita, Mojito, Caipirnha, etc. - In case you feel like being contrarian. Suggested drinks for Cinco de Mayo include Guinness, Black & Tan or straight vodka.
2. Spiked Shamrock Shake - If St. Patrick's Day just doesn't feel like a celebration without the ingestion of green food coloring, hit the McDonald's drive-through for the Holy Grail of fast food holiday-themed nonfat milk solids. Mix in a shot of Bailey's or Rumplemintz to really get the party started (or ended).
1. Irish whiskey - Something good - Jameson, Tullamore Dew or Bushmills - straight up. No fuss, just good old-fashioned booze poured directly down the gullet.
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