09 Mar 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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