Denver’s Irish Rover Pub merits its name, if only by its wide selection of beers.
   Their tap list includes myriad of the Emerald Isle’s brews, such as Smithwick’s Irish Ale, Harp Lager, Murphy’s Red, Murphy’s Stout and Guinness.
   Every draught beer except the Pabst Blue Ribbon runs at $4, making the Rover an ideal location to celebrate the alcoholic side of St. Patrick’s Day.
   The March 17 celebration will tout Irish step dancers, live music and an all-day party with doors opening early.
   The pub’s owner, Alan O’Gorman is a genuine “Paddy” (meaning he’s from Ireland.) His origins are mirrored in the authentic nature of the planned celebration.
   When asked if green beer will be thrown into the mix on St. Patrick’s Day, a waitress at the Rover said since it’s not a tradition in Ireland, green beer might be absent.
Along with the Irish brews that aren’t green, The Irish Rover Pub serves authentic dishes such as an intriguing appetizer called the “The Ploughman’s Lunch” ($5.95.) This starter consists of Dublin ham, Irish cheddar, red onions and Branston pickle served with toasted Irish bread. Most of the ingredients, from the ham wrapped in cheese to the onions, could pass as an American snack. The Branston pickle, which looks like small cubed-sliced beets, had a sweet, savory and distinct relish flavor.
   To keep a minimal tab, the menu lists “14-inch Pizza Perfections” that vary in cost from $11.95 to $17.95. The cheapest of these is “The Four Provinces,” which has pizzialo sauce, mozzarella, provolone, feta and Parmesan cheese.
   The grilled sandwiches are sold at an affordable price rage of $5.95 to $7.95 and include “The Galway Roasted Veggie” for vegetarians. This sandwich served on grilled focaccia bread is stuffed with melted mozzarella cheese that glues together artichoke hearts, roasted peppers, and sun-tried tomatoes. Despite the array of ingredients, the overall taste of this entree was dry and a little tart due to the abundance of pesto and artichoke hearts.
For those looking for the best deal, “Happy Hour” is from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday and all day Sunday with $3 pints, wells and wines.
   Of the 12 beers on tap, 11 are imported, with the English Boddington’s Ale being one of the more interesting. It has a light golden color, with a thick milk-like texture. Boddington’s is extremely smooth going down, with none of that hoppy bitter-beer aftertaste.
   It would seem one couldn’t go wrong in patronizing a bar that is kept impeccably tidy on this part of Broadway. Still, the ambiance suffers from an overly manufactured
feel. Everything from the bookshelves holding randomly-stacked vintage tomes to the corporate “Touch Tunes” jukebox makes the atmosphere feel less like a public house (the origin of the word “pub”) and more franchise-ready.
   As a personal and endearing quirk, the Rover Pub offers pub drink cards at the bar. Beyond the standard information, it can come in handy as a communication tool between patron and bar tender. The white card states, in green letters, “Gone To Pee. Leave My Drink Alone.”
   The Rover Pub’s hours are 3:00 p.m. to close Monday-Sunday and the kitchen closes at 2:00 p.m.
Unfortunately, the parking in the area is on metered streets, but is free after 6:00 p.m. Monday-Saturday and all day Sunday.

– Nicholas Dewart • dewart@mscd.edu

Duffy’s Shamrock Restaurant and Bar
1635 Court Place

   St. Patty’s Day is a holiday steeped in Irish tradition. From Irish beer, to Irish whiskey, to Irish coffee and the common Irish staple of corned beef and cabbage, few restaurants have as much to offer the once-a-year Irishman than Duffy’s Shamrock restaurant and bar.
   “ What makes us so popular on St. Patty’s Day is that we have Irish step dancers, the Budweiser Irish Clan and the bagpipers,” said 20-year bartender veteran Johnny Naffah. “We have green beer, if that’s what you’re after, and a nice crowd that’s been coming in for 35 years.”
   Duffy’s is arguably the most traditional Irish establishment in the city, gracing Denver’s downtown since Bernard Duffy opened the joint in the 1950s.
Another draw to Duffy’s is a certain bond that is becoming harder to find in trendy, quick-paced pubs with little character and lots of clichés. Three of Duffy’s bartenders have more than 60 years of combined experience.
   “The camaraderie between the patrons and the bartenders is just so strong,” manager Todd Knutowitz said. “There’s just such a past with everybody that it’s like everybody’s old friends when they come here.”
   In 1963, Joseph Lombardi moved to Denver from Montana and purchased the restaurant from the original owner, Bernard Duffy. Lombardi was satisfied to build upon the tradition Duffy had established.
   Lombardi’s sons, Ken and Frank, took over the restaurant when their father died in 1969 and they moved the restaurant to its current location at 1635 Court Place in 1974. They’ve remained there since, despite economic adversity and attempted corporate buy-outs.
   “ I think there’s longevity through consistency,” manager Jeff Elam said. “Being in the same place day in and day out, week in and week out, year in and year out—people just know where to find us.”
   Duffy’s décor is the staple of tradition. From the four-leaf clover door handles, to the obligatory green bow ties and the neon signs buzzing their claim, “World Famous for Irish Coffee,” there is nothing flashy or overly refined about Duffy’s. Instead, the staff and the surroundings have an antique style that is hard to come by.
   “ It’s kind of a landmark in the city,” Knutowitz said. “It’s probably one of the last neighborhood bars in this area. It’s definitely a dying breed.”
   Duffy’s claims to have the longest bar in Denver. Until a patron sits at one end of the 72-foot bar and tries to make out the faces sitting at the other end, its magnitude
can be underappreciated.
   Perhaps the most attractive element of Duffy’s food menu is a variety of reasonably priced food. Duffy’s is one of the few places where a hungry patron can still get a meal and a beer for under ten bucks until 1:30 a.m. Those who show up between 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. get two beers for the price of one on the first round.
   The holiday itself encourages libations and fun, but beware of partaking in too much of either.
   “ My favorite part of working St. Patty’s Day?” Naffah asked with a grin. “Cutting
people off.”

– Jeremy Johnson • jjohn308@mscd.edu

Top St. Patrick’s Brews

Guinness – Whether it’s the extra stout, draught or original, having a Guinness
is a must. Its dark, smooth and rich flavor makes it a great beer for any occasion.

Smithwicks – Pronounced “smid-dicks,” this dark ale has a sweet taste that makes it easy to drink.

Harp Lager – This pale lager is meant for those unaccustomed to drinking
heavier beers like Guinness and Smithwicks.

O’hara’s – Although not quite on par with the other two dark beers, O’hara’s holds its own with a nice chocolaty
flavor.

Killians Irish Red – True, it’s not a real Irish beer since it’s made by Coors, but its smoothness and subtle flavor cannot be dismissed.

– Joe Nguyen • nguyejos@mscd.edu

Top St. Patrick’s Bands

The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem– Their renditions of traditional Irish folk tunes are heartfelt and rousing, even as they are harmonically
and melodically refined.
The Dubliners – Luke Kelly’s piercing banjo combines with Ronnie Drew’s Spanish guitar to create a sound that is lilting and stark. Many of the same folk songs performed by the Clancy Brothers and Makem find a fresh interpretation in the raw sound of the band.
The Pogues – This groundbreaking ensemble takes all the vim and vinegar
of traditional Irish music and translates it for a younger, hipper crowd.
– Adam Goldstein • goldstea@mscd.edu

St. Patrick: A Legendary Life
   Everyone’s a bit Irish on March 17. People wear green to avoid getting pinched and go down to the local pub to enjoy a Guinness. But what is the origin of St. Patrick’s Day?
Saint Patrick is patron saint of Ireland, but he is also the patron saint of Nigeria, engineers and excluded people.
   He was born Maewyn Succat in 387 A.D. There is debate on where he was born, but most place his birth in Kilpatrick, Scotland.
   During his teenage years, Succat was kidnapped
by Irish pirates and sold into slavery. It was during these years as a slave that strengthened his faith. His master was a druidic high priest and Succat learned the Celtic language and the custom of the Druids.
   At 22, he claimed to hear the voice of God and escaped. Succat made his way to a monastery in Auxerre, France. He spent the next 12 years training to become a priest and adopted the name Patrick. After hearing voices that begged him to return to Ireland one night, he traveled back to become one of its first Christian missionaries in the winter of 433.
   For the next 30 years, Patrick and his disciples traveled throughout Ireland. They constructed churches and monasteries while converting the population. Their success came from assimilating the Celtic beliefs into their own.
Patrick died on March 17 in either 461 or 493 and the date became the day of his feast.
   Today St. Patrick’s Day is recognized as a legal holiday in Ireland, Montserrat, Newfoundland
and Labrador. It is celebrated all over the world by Irish and non-Irish alike. Parades and festivities are held in areas with large Irish populations.
   Many objects and symbols are associated with the holiday.
   The four-leaf clover is a symbol of luck, perhaps because of its rarity. Each leaf represents a different quality; the first is hope, the second is faith, the third is love and the fourth is luck.
   The Blarney Stone is a block of limestone that was built into Blarney Castle near Cork, Ireland.
   Legend says an old woman cast a spell on the stone after a king saved her from drowning. From then on, those who kiss the stone are imbued with “the gift of gab,” or an ability to speak eloquently. In order to kiss the stone, one must lean backward and kiss it upside-down.
   The holiday falls in the middle of the Lent season, a time in which many Christians practice fasting for the 40 days between Mardi Gras and Easter. Traditionally in Ireland, people may break their fast during St. Patrick’s Day.

– Joe Nguyen • nguyejos@mscd.edu