Saint Patrick's Day and beer: why March 17th is celebrated with a pint in hand
Every March 17th, bars and breweries around the world turn green to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. But why did this Irish festivity become one of the most universal excuses to raise a glass? And more importantly: how is it experienced in the craft beer scene of Santiago del Estero?
Who was Saint Patrick?
Saint Patrick was a Christian missionary from the 5th century, considered the patron saint of Ireland. He was born in Great Britain around 385 AD and was captured by Irish pirates as a teenager. After escaping and training as a priest, he returned to Ireland with the mission of evangelizing the Celtic population.
The most popular legend says he used the three-leaf clover to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity. Since then, the green shamrock has become the most recognizable symbol of the festivity.
March 17th marks the date of his death and, over time, it transcended the religious sphere to become a cultural celebration of Irish identity around the world.
What does beer have to do with it?
Everything. Or almost everything.
Ireland is one of the countries with the greatest brewing tradition in the world. The connection between the festivity and beer is as old as the Irish diaspora itself: when the Irish emigrated en masse to the United States during the Great Famine of the 19th century, they brought their customs and recipes with them. Saint Patrick’s Day parades in New York, Boston and Chicago turned the occasion into a global celebration where Irish beer —and especially Guinness Stout— became the undisputed star.
Today, March 17th is one of the days when the most beer is consumed in the world.
The style of the day: the Stout
If there is one style that defines Saint Patrick’s Day globally, it’s the Stout. This dark beer, with a medium to full body, notes of roasted coffee, bitter chocolate and a dry finish, has its roots in the British Isles of the 18th century.
The Dry Irish Stout —Guinness’s style— is the most consumed on March 17th worldwide. But in the craft world, every brewery plays with the date: Stouts with oats, Belgian chocolate, specialty coffee, or spices.
The local twist: green beer
While Irish tradition points to the dark side, the craft breweries of Santiago del Estero have their own way of celebrating: a special-edition green beer. Each venue takes its base recipe —usually a Blonde Ale, a Lager, or an American Wheat, styles friendlier to the general palate— and transforms it into a vibrant green beer that’s accessible and festive for everyone.
What makes it even more interesting is that every brewery adds its personal touch: some add a citrus note with lemon or lime peel, others play with subtle spices, and some simply let the base recipe shine in its new green outfit. The result is that on the very same March 17th you can explore the route and try completely different versions of a beer that share only one thing: their color.
March 17th in Santiago del Estero
The Santiago del Estero craft beer scene keeps growing and this festivity doesn’t go unnoticed. The breweries of Ruta Cervecera SDE prepare for the day with themed décor, promotions and —the most anticipated part— the launch of their special-edition green beers.
The dynamic is simple and exciting: each venue brews a small batch of its own version of the green beer, available for a limited time on that day or that week. Some tap it from the regular lines, others save it for special evening events. What never changes is the spirit: celebrating as a community, meeting new people and making the Santiago craft circuit more visible every year.
It’s a great opportunity to:
- Visit more than one brewery and compare how each interpreted their green version
- Bring friends who have never tried craft beer: green beer is a friendly entry point into the craft world
- Follow the venues on social media to find out when it launches and not miss your special pint
If you’re curious about which breweries participate each year, explore the venues listed on this site and follow them on Instagram. The Santiago craft beer community is small, tight-knit and very active when it comes to sharing their news.
We hope this March 17th finds you in a great craft brewery, surrounded by good people and with a pint —whatever color it may be— in your hand.
Sláinte! (“cheers” in Irish Gaelic) 🍺