MCGREEVY'S

By ALEXANDRA DEDNAH | PHOTOS BY DEREK KOUYOUMJIAN

del.ico.us | digg it! | reddit!

print | email | 0 Comments

I'm no Soxhead, and therefore imagined myself being grossly out of place in this replica of 1894's McGreevy's 3rd Base Saloon, which is brimming with Boston MLB history. Entering the former Foggy Goggle, I don't find day-drinking solidarity with some lonely old men, but with two young Berklee students who greet me with an alarmingly enthusiastic "Hey! How's it going?"—which is only strange until I realize the guys are already on their fifth. I'm at ease. Time to catch up!

Drink 1: Sangría ($8). The drink list at McGreevy's consists solely of wine and beer—it is, after all, a sports bar—so this was a special order. "I make really good sangría," says the bartender, Mary. The untraditional mix of Stoli Raz, Stoli Blue, Citron vodka, peach Schnapps, Shiraz and splash of soda water tastes like a light fruit punch with a hint of wine. I could drink this all day, I think, trying to savor it, but it's gone in less than five. So is my tolerance.

Drink 2: Crane Lake Cabernet ($6). At 3:30pm, most people are drinking Coke and ginger ale. I order a Michelob Ultra, since Berklee guys are downing them rapid-fire, but after noticing several red wine drinkers, I pass off the diet beer to my friend Rob and instead match the man's glass behind me. I'm usually better at this, but the subtly booze-filled sangr"Ia's really kicking in and I can only say this Cab tastes, well, like red wine. I'm summoned to chat with general manager Alison and Rafe Anderson, president and CEO of TruMedia Networks, who lets Alison and I play with his diamond-studded World Series ring and informs me the '04 World Series trophy is arriving!

Drink 3: Jameson Irish Whiskey ($8). This category was supposed to be saved, I think, for some mimosa or Bloody Mary-esque cocktail—the "quintessential daytime drink." Regardless of the time of day, Mary says, "I usually just drink Jameson." Rob concurs: "That sounds like a great idea." Jameson it is, on the rocks, along with some crab- and shrimp-stuffed mushrooms (they were out of the Traditional Irish Boxty). If we're gonna drink before 5pm, might as well go with a real drink.

Drink 4: Black & Tan ($5). Well, it's an Irish sports bar, so Pale Ale plus stout seems to sum it up. The mix of Bass' maltiness and Guinness' creaminess is a nice follow-up to a cup of whiskey. "I pour a great Guinness, but not so much a Black & Tan," says Mary. Though my haze is developing, it looks like a perfect pour to me. I can't stop staring at this old Yankees team photo, superstitiously turned upside down. Was it like that before?

Drink 5: Bombay Sapphire gimlet ($9). With little time and few drinks to choose from, I opt for my favorite: gin. The gimlet is especially delicious, not because I'm already four drinks in, but because Mary takes the time to squeeze in some fresh limes, adding a splash of tonic. Usually it's just a mix of gin and Rose's sugary lime juice, which I don't mind, but this may be the greatest gin drink I've ever had! Above the blaring Dropkick Murphys, a woman behind us shouts, "I am the koala!" Well, can't argue with that. I take some time to snap a few blurry pictures of the gleaming trophy before we stumble out the door.