Bridgid's Irish Red
Laurelwood Brewing Co.

This deeply sensuous red ale is named for St. Bridgid (or Brigid), a Celtic saint of the 5th Century known for her piety and love of the poor. Bridgid also was known to spontaneously produce copious quantities of food and drink when required. Her cows would suddenly triple their milk when the bishop arrived for example, and she was said to turn bath water into beer to quench the thirst of an Irish clergyman. She is also known for a poem she once penned that includes the lines, “I would like a great lake of beer for the King of Kings. I would like to be watching Heaven’s family drinking it through all eternity.” I wouldn’t mind sitting in on that one myself.

Today, February first is known variously as Candlemass, mid-winter, Groundhog Day, the day of the Virgin of the Candles, and the day of St. Bridgid’s Feast. Appropriately, the folks at Laurelwood have brewed a celebratious red ale that I recently savored in cask-conditioned form. “Fresh squeezed barley-pop,” announced the bartender as she served me a hand pumped pint.

Thankfully, Bridgid’s Irish Red tastes nothing at all like bath water. It features a relaxed body with ample flavor along the lines of a bitter cherry cola with a hint of grape and smart bittering hops. A soft carpet of dusty head caps a brew the color of a twinkling red star. The aroma is of distant juicyfruit. The head and lace are minimal.

At just 15 IBUs, nothing is overstated in this beer, leaving subtlety and balance as its key indicators. Bridgid’s Irish Red is easy to cozy up to. You could do a hell of a lot worse than spending eternity drinking a lake of it.