By Maureen Post Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Mar 17, 2009 at 7:47 PM Photography: Maureen Post

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.

Maureen Post Special to OnMilwaukee.com

OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Maureen Post grew up in Wauwatosa. A lover of international and urban culture, Maureen received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

After living on the east side of Madison for several years, Maureen returned to Milwaukee in 2006.

After a brief stint of travel, Maureen joined OnMilwaukee.com as the city’s oldest intern and has been hooked ever since. Combining her three key infatuations, Milwaukee’s great music, incredible food and inspiring art (and yes, in that order), Maureen’s job just about fits her perfectly.

Residing in Bay View, Maureen vehemently believes the city can become fresh and new with a simple move across town.