Emerald Hen

by Robb Zerr
(Beer Delegate, FL, USA)

The Emerald Hen pub, Sanford, FL, USA

Emerald Hen pub
Sanford, FL, USA

The otherwise quiet town of Sanford, Florida, 45 minutes north of Orlando, has a beehive of beer swilling excitement that few have heard of. Over the last two years, I’ve had the true pleasure of tasting some mighty fine brews at The Emerald Hen.

Owner Heather has done a fine job of making this little Irish oasis a welcoming place to have a toddy, listen to some fine entertainment and enjoy an authentic pub feel.

Unfortunately, my conscience has finally gotten the best of me. I must come clean and let my little secret be known to the world.

The Emerald Hen is a terrific find and it's worth the drive any time, day or night.

Unlike many "Irish" themed pubs around here, The Hen doesn't offer up any pseudo Irish décor. The place is as honest as can be, right down to the dark wood beams, soccer memorabilia and intimate quarters.

If you think Disney's Raglan Road is the "be-all and end-all", don’t bother coming here. There's no ersatz Irish, just great beers served up in tall glasses with little fanfare. To me, that's what a good Irish pub is all about. Let the beer do the talking.

Now this is not to say you won't be entertained here. Quite the opposite.

The Emerald Hen always has something going on. Wednesdays are trivia night with Dan the Man, Saturdays usually feature sing-alongs with John on the piano. You name it, he plays it. Every once in a while you'll be treated to authentic Irish fiddle or Irish bands that will keep you glued to your pub stool all night long.

If gaming is on your mind, there's even a pool table in the back and plenty of fun board games.

Our own gang had a rousing evening of playing Keel Over Drinking Jenga, which only got funnier as our motor skills headed south.

Okay, enough about the atmosphere. Let's get down to the important topic at hand: the beer!

Most beers are $5 for a solid pint. All the usual suspects are there – Guinness, Harp lager, Bass – as well as some lesser-known favorites. I particularly like the Kronenbourg 1664, which is delightful as an all-night choice. It has a solid flavor, even when it reaches room temperature and no odd aftertaste.

Other selections include Weihenstephan, which could be a food group all by itself, Stella Artois and Smithwick's Irish Ale. Of course, there’s also plenty of bottled beer, but I'm a fan of beer as it was meant to be enjoyed: straight from a tapped keg.

And why would anyone drink a Miller Lite or Budweiser at an Irish pub that stocks real bear for real men and women? You might as well be sloppin' down a glass of brackish bilge water from some Sanford storm drain for that matter. For crying out... But I digress.

The Emerald Hen is located at 118 S. Park Ave., Sanford, Florida.