ERIN GO BREW
By Colin Burch
For Weekly Surge
On March 8, TBonz Gill & Grille at Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach tapped the season's first keg of Irish Stout from Myrtle Beach's own New South Brewing Co., and I had dinner there the following day. My pint was a gorgeous black with an off-white head so creamy, I could hardly see a bubble.
The flavor this year has a stronger presence of roasted nuts. Local brewer Josh Quigley would later point out that roasted barley is what distinguishes a stout from a porter; even so, I think the taste of roasted nuts in this year's New South Irish Stout is more pronounced, in a good way, than other stouts I have tried (more about Quigley's brewpub in a moment). After I had eaten some of TBonz's food, the beer's roasted nut flavor was less noticeable, and the coffee tones became more obvious. All the while, it wasn't bitter. If you like dark beer, even a little bit, or just occasionally, try this Irish Stout soon. It's seasonal, so it will only be around as long as Irishmen leave it in the kegs. Irish Stout is also available at the TBonz location in Seaboard Commons in Myrtle Beach. That'll be $2.50 during Happy Hour, or $3.50 at other times, per pint.
OTHER LOCAL IRISH BREWS
Quigley, who owns Quigley's Pint and Plate down in Pawleys Island, is tapping his Irish Stout on Friday to kick-off the Saint Patty's Day weekend. He described his as a typical, dry, Irish Stout, $2 per pint during Happy Hour and $4 otherwise, served as a "proper pint," in a 20-ounce glass to account for the head. Quigley will also have corned beef and cabbage and Ruebens on the menu for the weekend.
As it would happen this year, Saint Patty's Day falls on a Monday, and the weekly Monday promo at Quigley's is Happy Day, with Happy Hour prices from open to close. And with the end of Monday Night Football, the Happy Day live evening music program returned. It became a hit on the South end because many restaurants are closed on Mondays in the Waccamaw Neck area and with the proliferation of live music around on weekends, few if any restaurants and bars were hosting performances on Mondays. Quigley said the Happy Day live music gained a following among food and beverage workers.
By the way, Quigley's Happy Hour specials - available all day on Mondays - are $2 pints of beer, $3 house liquor, and $2.50 house wine, plus half-price on an appetizer or two. Quigley's Pint and Plate is located at Mingo at Litchfield, 257 Willbrook Blvd., Pawleys Island.
Meanwhile, Liberty Steakhouse and Brewery, at Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach, recently rolled out its Oatmeal Stout and its Irish Red, $2.50 for Happy Hour and $3.75 otherwise, remaining the same for the Saint Patty's weekend. Throughout March, 50 cents of each pint of Irish Red is going to the American Red Cross Heroes campaign. Liberty will have corned beef and cabbage and Reubens on the menu throughout the weekend.
Remember: don't drive after enjoying these local brews.
And if you're looking for Irish-themed entertainment to get your St. Patty's fix, check out Danny Boy, er, Paul Grimshaw's Music Notes column on page 30.
TAKE HOME ST. PATTY'S
If you're not going to a restaurant or bar this Saint Patty's Day, take the holiday spirit home. Pick up some Irish or Irish-inspired beers you haven't tried, maybe haven't even heard of, before. Look for these at grocers and specialty stores:
- Murphy's Irish Stout, from the famous Murphy's Brewery in Ireland.
- Kells Irish Style Lager, from Rogue Ales in Oregon.
- Thomas Creek Red Ale, from Thomas Creek Brewery in Greenville [South Carolina].
- Highland Gaelic Ale, from Highland Brewing Co. in Asheville, N.C.
- Mackeson's XXX, a milk stout - dark and sweet - from the United Kingdom.
- The Duck-Rabbit Milk Stout, from The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery in Greenville, N.C.
- Contact Colin Burch - the Beerman - at beerpour@yahoo.com.