The return of an Irish ale

If you're tempted to raise a glass in commemoration of St. Patrick's Day, you might want to hold off toasting with that pint of Guinness. While the famous ale has been marketed as a classic signature of Ireland, and its Guinness Storehouse is one of the most popular tourist sites in Dublin, as a matter of national history, the brewers of Guinness had little to do with Irish nationalism and more than a little to do with frustrating the dreams of Irish independence from Britain.

If you're tempted to raise a glass in commemoration of St. Patrick's Day, you might want to hold off toasting with that pint of Guinness. While the famous ale has been marketed as a classic signature of Ireland, and its Guinness Storehouse is one of the most popular tourist sites in Dublin, as a matter of national history, the brewers of Guinness had little to do with Irish nationalism and more than a little to do with frustrating the dreams of Irish independence from Britain.…