In the land of castles, meadows and rock parties, there is another attraction that means much more to gourmets than any medieval entourage. Famous Irish drinks are a good reason for a tour to the green island, where every first guest finds the four-leaf clover lucky.
Alcohol of Ireland
Located in the European Union, Ireland is governed by common customs rules for the import and export of goods across its own borders. Without paying duties, it is allowed to import into the country no more than a liter of strong alcohol or two liters of weaker drinks - wine, beer or sparkling wine. It is possible to export alcohol in Ireland within reasonable limits without restrictions, if the prices for it in Irish stores do not seem high. As of mid-2014, a bottle of local medium-aged whiskey cost between 20 and 25 euros, a pint of beer in a pub cost between 3 and 5 euros, and a bottle of Spanish wine under 5 euros.
Ireland's national drink
We say "Ireland", but we mean "Guinness"! It is this dark beer that has proudly held the status of the "National Drink of Ireland" for more than 250 years. For the first time, the Guinness brand was released back in 1759, when Arthur Guinness began its production and made this beer also the official drink of St. Patrick's Day - the main holiday of the Irish around the world.
The iconic Irish stout is made from barley, yeast, water and hops in just two days. The characteristic Guinness foam is formed by fortifying the beer with nitrogen, and each pint contains less than 200 kilocalories, making Guinness more dietary than skim milk. Modern Guinness produces several types of stout:
- Dry, or Dry stout - bitter with a special aroma and dense velvety taste, which is based on roasted barley. The foam has a creamy texture. Dry stout goes well with oysters.
- Milk, or Sweet Stout, has been replaced by roasted barley with chocolate malt, which is why the drink has a creamy, slightly sweet aftertaste. It is a traditional ingredient in Christmas pudding and is reasonably recommended even for nursing mothers.
- Oatmeal or Oatmeal Stout - Oatmeal is used in production for full flavor and "density". The foam of this variety is unusually thick, and the aftertaste resembles slightly milk chocolate melted on the tongue.
Alcoholic drinks of Ireland
In addition to the famous stout, the country is ready to offer guests other popular Irish alcoholic drinks. Traditional Irish whiskey tops the list, followed by decent European beers, wines and liqueurs imported from overseas.
