How To Make Green Beer - Delish

Green beer just might be our favorite festive hack: All you need is a few drops of food coloring to transform plain old beer into the most festive St. Patrick’s Day drink. If you don’t have time to go all out with the St. Paddy’s Day decorations this year, then these green beers are the easiest way to add a little extra something to your celebration. Skip getting pinched (or sipping on plain Irish beer) this holiday—this is the simplest (and most refreshing) way to add some green to your day. Sláinte!

What is green beer?It's as simple as it sounds: beer dyed green with food coloring. A popular bar drink during St. Patrick's Day festivities, green beer is so easy to make at home, you can skip going out to the pub this holiday. Grab your favorite light beer and some green food coloring, and you're well on your way to toasting with this lucky drink. 

The best beer to use: It depends on how brightly-colored you want your beer to be. For the ultimate bright green beer, choose a light-colored beer like we did here. American lagers, pale-colored craft beers, or even pilsners will work. While you can experiment with darker beers, you won’t get the same effect. Warning: the darker the beer, the less likely the green will show up. For the brightest festive effect, the lighter the better.

How do I turn it green?All it takes is a few drops of food coloring. The amount added also depends on how green you’re looking for your beer to be, and how light it is. Add a few drops, stir, and adjust. Tip: Liquid food coloring works best in this recipe. Avoid gel, as it won’t mix into the cold beer as well.

Other boozy St. Paddy’s Day ideas: Looking for more ways to cheers? Check out our favorite St. Patrick’s Day cocktails, including our shamrockaritas, Irish mules, the Nutty Irishman, and pot o’ gold shots.

Made these bright green beers? Let us know how it went in the comments below!