Why Alcohol is Associated with St. Patrick’s Day and Where to Party in 2020

Why Alcohol is Associated with St. Patrick’s Day and Where to Party in 2020

by Mark E. Lasbury for Indiana On Tap

UPDATE: BE SURE TO CHECK WITH EACCH LOCATIONS TO SEE IF THE EVENTS ARE STILL BE HELD, WHAT WITH THE END OF THE WORLD COMING AND ALL.

St. Patrick is the best known of the patron saints of Ireland, but he wasn’t Irish, he was English (update: recent evidence suggest he was actually born in Scotland to Roman parents and then grew up in England under Roman rule). He was kidnapped when he was 16 and forced into slavery in Ireland, and after he escaped and became a priest (then bishop), his visions drew him back to minister to the people of Ireland. And the snakes he drove out of Ireland – most likely this refers to driving paganism from the island.

St. Patrick died on March 17 (duh) in the year 461. To celebrate his life, the Irish held/hold feasts on the anniversary. If you’re Catholic, you probably realize that St. Patrick’s Day is during Lent. This is a period when many people of the faith gave up alcohol and observe dietary restrictions – so what gives? The Church loosened the restrictions just for that day, and people generally took full advantage. This is why drinking beer and whiskey is so closely associated with the holiday – they were allowed!

As for the green of the beer (sometimes) and the costumes; it could be for the “Emerald Isle,” the shamrock (which Patrick used to teach the Holy Trinity), or the color associated with the Great revolt in 1641 (before that, Ireland’s color was light blue). But it was also thought that wearing green made people invisible to leprechauns and fairies so that they could avoid the mischief carried out by those creatures. That’s why people pinch you if you don’t wear green; it’s to remind you that the leprechauns could sneak up on you and pinch/play tricks on those they could see.

Whatever the reasons, we now drink beer, wear green, and celebrate like the Irish. Here’s a list of Indiana craft beer and spirits St. Patrick’s day events by date and short description, but watch out for multi-day events, I list them only on the day they begin.

Walter’s Words of Wisdom: Patrick is an English form of the Irish name Padraig. Patrick is shortened to Pat or Patty while Padraig is shortened to Paddy. Since St. Patrick was English not Irish, it’s actually more historically accurate to call it St. Pat’s Day or St. Patty’s Day rather than St. Paddy’s Day. Or we could just leave it as St. Patrick’s Day.

 

March 6:

The Tap – Bloomington, 6-8 pm, Irish Beer Dinner

ticketed ethnic dinner with pairings

 

March 12:

Centerpoint Brewing in Indy, 7:30-10pm, Trivia Night: St. Patrick’s Day

trivia, prizes

 

Studebaker Brewing in South Bend, 6:30-9:30pm, Irish Ale & Whiskey Dinner

ticketed event – dinner, drinks, pairings

 

March 13:

Four Day Ray Brewing in Fishers, March 13-15, St. Patrick’s Day Party

ticketed event for some activities – tent party, drink specials, Irish/Scottish music, 5k race, food

 

Tried & True Alehouse – North Indy, March 13, 11 am – March 17, 10pm, St. Patrick’s Party

green beer, live music, drink specials

 

Centerpoint Brewing in Indy, 10am, St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Celebration

Reading of the Names, parade begins, celebration in the tent, bagpipes, Irish food

 

Mad Paddle Brewery in Madison, 6-9pm, Taste of Ireland Trolley Crawl

ticketed pub crawl

 

Hopwood Cellars Winery – Zionsville, 7-9pm, Celtic Rain and St. Patrick’s Season

live music

 

Pax Verum Brewing in Lapel, March 13-14, St. Patrick’s Day Tent Party

live music, Irish beer release, food specials

 

Metazoa Brewing in Indy, March 13-17, 11am – 11pm (9pm on 16th, 17th), St. Paddy’s Day Celebration

drink specials

 

Black Circle Brewing in Indy, 7pm, Angel Burlesque Presents: Lucky Charms

$10 at door – party

 

March 14:

Deer Park Irish Pub in Fort Wayne, March 14, noon – March 17, midnight, 22nd Clover Classic | St. Paddy’s Day Celebration

$5 at door – beer, games, music

 

Backstep Brewing in Crawfordsville, noon, St. Pat’s Party and Blessing of the Kegs

Blessing of the kegs, giveaways, live music, sing-a-longs,

 

Crown Brewing in Crown Point, 9-11am, Leprechaun 5K Fun-Run/Walk

registration required – race, buffet, pint glass, beer

 

Vincennes Brewing Co. in Vincennes, open hours, St. Patrick’s Day at VBC!

Brunch from 10am-2pm, drink specials all day

 

The Guardian Brewing Co. in Muncie, noon-midnight, St. Patrick’s Day Party w/ The Bashville Boys

drink specials, food specials, live music, special tapping, drink specials

 

Summit City Brewerks in Fort Wayne, noon, St. Patrick’s Day 2020

green Old Crown, giveaways, Lucky Charms eating contest

 

That Sports Bar in Lebanon, March 14-15, Boone County Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day

ticketed event, Kegs & Eggs, team competitions, music both days, Irish food

 

Tin Man Brewing Kokomo, 1-4pm, Howard County CASA St. Patrick’s Day 5K

ticketed 5k race and party

 

Planetary Brewing in Greenwood, 6-10pm, St. Patrick’s Block Party!

block party, food, music, joined this year by Hoosier Brewing and Tap & Axe

 

Chapman’s Brewing – Columbia City, 8-11pm, St. Patrick’s Day Party

drink specials, live music, green beer

 

Grand Junction Brewing in Westfield, 5:30-10pm, St. Patricks Day / 6th Aniversary Party!

bagpipes, live music, drink specials, food truck

 

Brew Link Brewing in Plainfield, 11am – 11pm, St. Paddy’s Day Party and Beer Release!

You Cereal! Release, live music, bagpipes, food specials

 

Downtown Indianapolis, 4pm – midnight, Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Day Crawl

ticketed event – several downtown venues with drink specials, costume contest

 

Hard Truth Hills in Nashville, noon-7pm, Blood, Sweat, and Beers: A St. Patrick’s Field Day Extravaganza

ticketed event – field day competition, drink specials, food specials, live music

 

Ruhe152 in Nappanee, 9:30am-2pm, 5 Mile Leprechaun Chase

5 mile race, costume contest, afterparty

 

Riverfront Taproom in Shelbyville, 5-10pm, Shelby Shamrock Fest

ticketed event – food and drink specials

 

Urban Vines Winery & Brewery in Westfield, 2-9pm, St. Patrick’s Day at Urban Vines

drink specials, live music, Irish food

 

Chapman’s Brewing – Angola, 6-8pm, St. Paddy’s Day Celebration

ticketed event – Irish food, games, drink specials

 

Floyd County Brewing in New Albany, 8-11pm, Celtica Fae in the Grain Haus

live music

 

 

March 15:

Kopacetic Beer Factory in Monticello, noon, St Patrick’s Day @ The Factory

green beer, Irish beer, Irish food, live music

 

Off Square Brewing in Crown Point, 2-5pm, Sham-ROCK with Working Class Zero!

Irish brews, Irish fare, live music

 

 

March 17:

Gosport Brewhouse & Café in Gosport, open hours, Grand Opening and St. Paddy’s Celebration

https://www.facebook.com/GosportBrewhouse/

 

JK O’Donnell’s Irish Ale House in Fort Wayne, 11am – midnight, St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

pub 21+ all day, tent party will be open to minors until 7pm

 

Hog Molly Brewing in Columbus, 5-9pm, St. Patty’s Day!

drink specials

 

Primeval Brewing in Noblesville, 4-10pm, St. Patty’s at Primeval

drink specials, food special, family-friendly

 

Summit City Brewerks in Fort Wayne, noon, St. Patrick’s Day 2020

live music, green beer, party favors, jig dance off

 

New Boswell Brewery in Richmond, 3-11:30pm, St. Patty’s Day Party

Green beer, Irish buffet, live music

 

People’s Brewing in Lafayette, 6-9pm, Saint Patrick’s Day Bash

 

Books & Brews – South Indy, 7pm, St. Patrick’s Day Trivia (family friendly)

games, beer

 

District Tap – Northside in Indy, 7-10pm, St. Patrick’s Day with Celtic Rain

food, drink, live music

 

Books and Brews – mothership in Indy, 7-10pm, St Patties Day Bingo! and Special 5gal Beer!

games, special tapping

 

Rathskeller at the Athenaeum in Indy, noon-10:30pm, 23rd St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

live music, beer

 

Floyd County Brewing in New Albany, 7-10pm, St Patrick’s Day – Green Beer & Live Music

beer tapping, live music

 

Wasser Brewing in Greencastle, 7pm, The Fret Set

party, live music

 

March 20:

Books & Brews Zionsville, 7:30pm, St. Patricks’s Karaoke

special beer tappings and karaoke

 

Oakley Brothers Distillery in Anderson, 6-11pm, St. Patty’s Day Party at OBD

beer and spirits specials, games, live music

 

March 21:

Traders Brewing in Indianapolis, 2-10pm, 2nd Anniversary Party

live music, special beers, food truck, giveaways

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