St. Patrick’s Day is a time for shamrocks, leprechauns, and festive food and beer. Today, you’ll learn how to make green beer to celebrate the holiday in the simplest way possible.
This easy St. Patrick’s Day beer recipe uses just two ingredients and takes only minutes to make. A few drops of food coloring turn a light-colored beer into a bright green pint that’s perfect for parties and celebrations.
No special tools or skills are needed — you just pour, add color, and enjoy a fun holiday tradition.
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Who invented green beer?
Legend has it that green beer didn’t originate in Ireland, but in America. In 1914, Thomas H. Curtin, owner of the Schnerer Club in New York, added a few drops of a laundry whitener called “Wash Blue” (not intended for consumption) to beer to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
The yellowish beer reacted with the whitener, turning it green. That party sparked the tradition of coloring beer for St. Patrick’s Day, though today we use safe, non-toxic food coloring.
Since then, green-colored beer has become synonymous with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. There’s even an unofficial holiday called Green Beer Day, which started at Miami University in Ohio and is celebrated on the Thursday before spring break.
How to make green beer
Whether you’re hosting a St. Paddy’s Day party or simply enjoying a cozy night in, special St. Patrick’s Day beer recipes are a fun way to get into the spirit of the holiday.
Today, we’ll be making green beer. All you need to make it is your favorite light-colored beer, green food coloring, and a glass or mug.
Pour your beer into a mug, add a few drops of green food coloring, and gently stir until the color is evenly distributed. That’s it! In just moments, you’ll have a pint of green beer ready to enjoy.
Best beers to use for green beer
When it comes to choosing the best type of beer for making this green beer, light beers such as pilsners, lagers, or light ales work best. Their pale color allows the green dye to shine through brilliantly.
How much food coloring is needed?
A little goes a long way! Start with just a few drops of green food coloring per pint of beer and adjust according to your desired shade of green.
The amount depends on how green you want your beer to be! 1 drop in a 12-ounce glass of light beer will result in a very pale, lime-green color.
Three drops will give you a solid shamrock color. I used 2 drops with 12 ounces of beer to get this color:
More than this gives a darker pine-green shade. Remember, it’s easier to add more color than to take it away, so start conservatively.
Be sure to use liquid food coloring, not gel food coloring, which doesn’t mix as well in cold beer.
Here is the step-by-step green beer recipe!
This recipe is super easy to make. All you need are two items:
Ingredients to make green beer
- 12 ounces of light colored beer
- 1-3 drops of green liquid food coloring
Making the green beer recipe
Choose your favorite light-colored beer.
Place 1-2 drops of liquid food coloring into a glass or mug. Slowly pour 12 ounces of beer into the glass and gently stir to mix the food coloring throughout the beer.
If you want a darker green color, add more food coloring, 1 drop at a time.
That’s all there is to it! You’ve got yourself a festive pint of green beer ready to enjoy for St. Patrick’s Day.
Gather your friends, get dressed in your green outfit, and toast to the luck of the Irish with a pint of your very own homemade green beer.🍀
Tips and fun variations for green beer
Want to take your green beer to the next level? Start with a chilled beer and add the green food coloring slowly for the perfect shade. Pour gently to avoid too much foam, and choose a clear glass to really show off the festive color.
For a twist, try a non-alcoholic version with soda, a flavored splash of lime or mint syrup, or even a green beer float with a scoop of ice cream. You can also experiment with different shades for a rainbow effect that’s sure to wow your guests!
More recipes to try
If you loved learning how to make green beer, check out these brownies and beer recipes:
- Michelada – A spicy Mexican beer cocktail
- Baileys Irish cream brownies – Fudgy dessert with a chocolate ganache
- El Diablo – Ginger neer & tequila vocktail
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If you enjoyed learning how to make this St. Patrick’s Day beef recipe, be sure to share how easy it is to do it with a friend. Here is a tweet to get you started:
Cheers to you, Thomas H. Curtin, and cheers to the green beer that brings joy to St. Paddy's celebrations everywhere! Find out how easy it is to make on Recipes Just 4U!🍻🍀 Share on XPin this recipe for how to make green beer
Would you like a reminder of this recipe for making a fun St. Paddy’s beer beverage? Just pin this image to one of your St. Patrick’s Day boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.
Admin note: This recipe for making green beer first appeared on the blog in February 2026. This post has been updated with new photos, a printable recipe care and a slideshow video.
How to Make Green Beer – Easy St. Patrick’s Day Recipe
Transform your favorite beer into a festive green beer in minutes! Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, this simple recipe is fun, quick, and sure to impress.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces of light colored beer
- 1-3 drops of green liquid food coloring
Instructions
- Place 1-2 drops of liquid green food coloring in a glass or mug.
- Pour over 12 ounces of light colored beer.
- Stir gently to mix the food coloring through the beer.
- Add more food coloring, 1 drop at a time if you want a darker color of green.
- Enjoy!
- Be sure to drink responsibly.
Notes
Liquid food coloring is best to use since gel food coloring does not mix well with cold beer.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
1Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 153Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 14mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 2g
Nutritional information is approximate due to natural variation in ingredients and the cook-at-home nature of our meals.