As authentic as they come in Milwaukee, I guessed Brocach would be a mad house today for St. Patrick's Day.

But I was surprisingly wrong, and happy about it.

Both levels of the bar were packed with green wearing, Guinness drinking patrons but with a 70-degree day, the top level patio was the place to be.

Perfect for St. Paddy's Day, there was plenty of Guinness on tap, Irish music in every bar and shots of Jameson making the rounds.

Around dinner time tonight, there was a good mix of diners and drinkers; not the crazy Water Street crowd and I honestly didn't see many that I would guessed had been out since 6 a.m.

Whether it's cliche or not, I love St. Patrick's Day. Ever since a trip to Ireland a couple of years ago; two weeks spent with family looking for clues to our family tree, riding bikes along the western coast and sipping "authentic" Guinness in quaint pubs.

Even now, I get a smile on my face when given the chance to taste a tall glass of Guinness and bowl of Irish stew. The combination reminds me of a great vacation and a tinge of ancestral tradition.

You can still head to Brocach tonight, open until 2 a.m., they've got plenty of beer still flowing and I highly recommend the Irish American staff.