Is It Safe to Drink Green Beer?

Imagine this. You order a pint at your favorite local bar on a spring day. A few minutes later the waiter comes up and puts it on the coaster in front of you. It looks like beer, smells like beer, but … it’s green.

Did you wake up in a Dr. Seuss book? Has the beer gone bad? Did the bartender get your order wrong and bring you gatorade or kale juice instead? Or is it a pint of absinthe? Nope! It’s likely just a way to say “Happy St. Patrick’s Day!”

Green shamrocks, green hats, even green tablecloths and napkins in restaurants and bars all make sense. But green beer? Isn’t that taking the whole green thing a bit too far? After all, while Dr. Seuss might like “green eggs and ham,” we are typically skeptical of green foods that aren’t supposed to be green. (Anyone remember that green ketchup from the early 2000s?)

What’s the deal with green beer for St. Patrick’s Day? Why is it green? And is it safe?

As it turns out green beer is a thing — and has been for over a century.

What Is Green Beer?

Green beer is pretty much what it sounds like: beer mixed with food coloring to give it that festive St. Patrick’s Day look. But this wasn’t always the case! 

When “Green” Was a Red Light

Back in the day, “green beer” actually had a different meaning — the term referred to beer that wasn’t ready to be consumed. It was also dangerous: green beer wasn’t fully fermented and often contained traces of acetaldehyde, an alcohol metabolite that’s more toxic than alcohol itself. It usually takes at least a few extra days for the yeast to remove the acetaldehyde from the brew, at which point it’s considered to be “mature.”

According to a Vox article, back in the late 1800s and early 1900s “green beer” was, indeed, a problem — so much so that beer companies took to labeling their products with slogans such as “Schlitz is Old Beer” as a way of signaling, “Don’t worry! It’s not green.” Green beer was said to cause “biliousness,” and the Washington Times claimed that it was “extremely bad on the stomach.” 

Today, beer that hasn’t matured enough will probably taste a bit bitter, but it probably wouldn’t be harmful to our health. Production is highly regulated, so beer is not likely to leave the brewery with toxic chemicals still inside.

Green Beer Reborn

By 1910, “green beer” meant something entirely different: a festive St. Patrick’s Day brew that was literally, well, green. Ironically, the Irish homeland had nothing to do with the idea and weren’t in the loop until much later. What became the traditional St. Patrick’s Day “green beer” was the brainchild of a certain Professor Thomas H. Curtin, a physician who made green beer for his clubhouse in New York. According to that same Vox article, the beer made its debut in the First Avenue Bar, which “served the beer to patriotic Irishmen and anybody else who wanted to drink a green brew.” 

In 1926, the Washington Post referred to green beer as "an anomalous concoction” — and with good reason. As it turns out, Curtin spiked his batches with “wash blue,” a blue fabric dye used in many laundry detergents to keep laundry sparkling white (while apparently turning beer green). And let’s face it, nothing that comes from the laundry supplies aisle at Target belongs in our food — no matter how much we like the color. (If the Tide pod craze doesn't prove it, nothing will.)

While the first batches were not entirely drinkable, they were on the right track. Within a few decades, green beer became a St. Patrick’s Day staple and finally made its way overseas to the country it was meant to honor. These days, a whopping 4.2 billion pints of emerald-colored brew gets consumed in America during the holiday.

How Do They Make Green Beer Green?

It’s simple — food coloring. All it takes is adding a few drops of green food coloring to the glass before putting in the beer. Apparently the order makes a difference, though. For the color to come out right, it has to be added to the glass first.

Green Beer vs. “Normal” Beer

How does green beer compare to the usual kind? There’s not too much of a difference. The taste is the same, and the nutritional content is, too. A standard domestic or Irish “green beer” will have about 150 calories for a 12 oz serving, whereas a light beer will have closer to 100 calories. Heavier craft beers, however, can have 200 or more.

Is Green Beer Bad for You?

So is the new “green beer” free from all the risks that came with “green beer” of the past? Well, it doesn’t contain laundry liquid, but it’s still just as unsafe as regular-colored beer.

Here at Reframe, we’re all about reframing concepts in a positive light (and not using laundry supplies in our food). But while it’s impressive how “green beer – bad” became “green beer – festive,” let’s not forget one thing: it still has alcohol. As a result, green beer has all of the downsides that come with the usual brew.

All Alcohol Carries Risks

According to the WHO, “When it comes to alcohol consumption, there is no safe amount that does not affect health.” Alcohol impacts every system of the body: it overtasks the liver, strains the heart, and disrupts our immune system, making us more susceptible to disease. Research shows that over time, drinking increases our risk of liver disease, heart problems, and certain types of cancers. Drinking too much also puts us at risk of developing a dependence as the brain adjusts to the alcohol-induced neurotransmitter shifts as the “new normal.” (To explore the risks of alcohol further, check out “Alcohol’s Long-Term Effects on the Body — Adverse Outcomes To Be Aware Of.”)

Beer Has Some Unique Downsides

When it comes to beer in particular, there are some additional downsides to consider. Ever heard of the dreaded “beer belly”? While beer won’t necessarily go straight to your midsection, it has more calories than many alcohol types, and many of them are likely to get converted to fat. According to Harvard Health, beer “can add to abdominal obesity by contributing calories.” 

In men, those calories tend to get stored around the abdominal area. And “whether it's called a beer belly, a spare tire, the apple shape, or the middle-age spread,” the article goes on to explain, abdominal obesity is a serious health risk that ups our chances of having a heart attack, stroke, or diabetes. A waist size over 37 inches for men starts to “inch up” into dangerous territory, while one that is over 40 inches is officially risky. For women, the risk starts at 31 inches and amps up at 35.

Research backs up the connection between beer and abdominal fat. One study found that men who drank 1000 ml of beer per day had a 17% higher risk for weight gain in the abdominal area compared to those who drank smaller amounts. Cutting back on beer, however, had the reverse effect — the men’s waist circumference decreased as a result. 

Moreover, beer is associated with higher cholesterol levels. Drinking in general tends to raise both “good” and “bad” cholesterol levels in our blood. Beer specifically contains large amounts of carbohydrates, which increase our levels of triglycerides. Coupled with weight gain from the excess calories, this shift leaves us more likely to experience higher levels of “bad” cholesterol, setting the stage for cardiovascular problems down the road.

Want to learn more about the risks of beer? Check out “What Happens If You Drink 6 Beers a Day?” and “What Is Beer Potomania? The Symptoms and Causes.”

What About the Green Stuff?

Is the coloring itself bad for you? It depends on the type of food coloring that’s used, but these days it’s generally safe. The FDA regulates food dyes, and unless you decide to use fabric dye for old times’ sake (please don’t), it won’t cause any harm. Of course, some of us might be allergic to specific dyes, so it makes sense to be careful.

Drink Your (Healthy) Greens

Finally, let’s consider some  alternatives to green beer that might just make your liver, heart, and brain a bit happier this St. Patrick’s Day. Let’s look at some ways to tap into the naturally healthy side of the many green ingredients out there that make for delicious and festive drinks. 

1. Celery lime tonic. Combine celery and lime juice with tonic water and garnish with a celery stick for a refreshing mocktail that’s perfect for a warm spring day. Celery might be simple, but it packs all sorts of benefits, from reducing inflammation to lowering blood pressure and helping regulate cholesterol. Plus, it’s a great source of calcium and is chock-full of antioxidants.
2. Kiwi smoothie. Want something a bit creamier? Try blending some kiwi and frozen yogurt for a delicious smoothie. Add some pineapple for that little something extra! Kiwi is an excellent source of vitamin C, copper, and vitamin K to keep your immune system in top shape, reduce blood clotting, and lower cholesterol. Plus, did you know that it has twice the antioxidant power of apples?
3. Spinach and kale smoothie. Craving something more savory? Try mixing some of these green powerhouse ingredients for a superfood smoothie. Spinach is famous for its immune function and digestive benefits, and could even protect us against cancer. Kale is right up there as well, helping lower the risk of diabetes and protecting our eyes while supplying us with a healthy dose of antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin K, and beta-carotene.
4. Green tea. Too cold for a cold drink? Snuggle up with some warm and fragrant green tea. In addition to naturally relieving anxiety, green tea is famous for its antioxidant properties, bone health benefits, and cholesterol-lowering powers. The best part? It will keep your brain sharp by helping stave off age-related cognitive decline!

Need more ideas? Check out “Cheers Without Beers: Sober Bachelor Party Ideas to Remember.” And remember, no matter what color your drink is, a celebration is about so much more than what’s in your glass. It’s all about the laughter, shared memories, and time spent with loved ones. If you need a bit of extra support, Reframe is here to help! Check out our 24/7 Forum where folks just like you have learned to change their relationship with booze and are having more fun than ever.

The Grass Might Be Greener Outside the Bar

As we wrap up our exploration of green beer through the ages, let’s keep our mind open to other options as well. Sure, it might be a St. Patrick’s Day go-to, but traditions can evolve and change. With all the perks of cutting back on booze — better sleep, a stronger heart, and lower risk of disease, just to name a few —  there’s so much to gain and nothing to lose.