Smithwicks Ale

[thenino34]

I heard that Smithwicks Ale is coming to America...is this true? For those of you who never heard of Smithwicks, it's a beer made in Ireland. Great stuff!

[Wilson]

I agree, I love the stuff! I seem to remember people being able to get it at select locations before, but since I think they are owned by Guinness, maybe they are getting some better distribution. Man I hope so, but with my luck it wont come to Louisiana....nothing comes here. We all gotta have dreams though!

[MeridianFC]

It's here already. Well at least in DC. They started a big push a few months ago and it's in most of the Orish bars around town.

I've never been a fan of the stuff myself. I've always thought it way too thin and almost devoid of flavor. It doesn't taste bad, but it doesn't taste like much IMHO. Before you ask I've had it both here and there. I also don't care for any of the native Irish clones (Cherry's, McCardles, whatever else is still being made).

If I'm going to go for an Irish red ale I'll reach for a Biddy Early Red Biddy (or Real Biddy!), Big Rock's McNally, and I'll think fondly on the troubled Dempsey's (R.I.P.) from back in the day.

http://www.beb.ie/ (Inagh, Ennis, Co. Clare, Eire)

http://www.bigrockbeer.com/ (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)

It is interesting how popular Smithwick's is with folks here in the States. On Michael Jackson's website he claims it's one of the things he most often gets asked about ("what's this beer from Ireland, etc.")

[steveh]

They serve it in Germany as Kilkenny's, because (as Ray, the Irish bartender working in Bamberg told me) the Germans were having trouble pronouncing Smithwicks (Smith - icks)!

I once watched a young lady order 2 Guinness and a Smithwicks at the Brazenhead bar in Dublin - she handed one Guinness to her female friend and paid the bartender, who asked if she was paying for the Smithwicks as well? She told him, "Hell no, let him pay for that swill!" pointing to her boyfriend! At that point, there was no way I was going to tell her that I actually liked "that swill" too! Fortunately, I was drinking a Guinness at the time, so I escaped with my manhood unscathed. ;)

S.

[chazwicke]

For being a huge mega brewer, Guinness does a pretty decent job with most of it's brews. When any one says of me "he hates all the big brewers." I say "I'm rather fond of Guinness."

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by steveh
They serve it in Germany as Kilkenny's, because (as Ray, the Irish bartender working in Bamberg told me) the Germans were having trouble pronouncing Smithwicks (Smith - icks)!

I once watched a young lady order 2 Guinness and a Smithwicks at the Brazenhead bar in Dublin - she handed one Guinness to her female friend and paid the bartender, who asked if she was paying for the Smithwicks as well? She told him, "Hell no, let him pay for that swill!" pointing to her boyfriend! At that point, there was no way I was going to tell her that I actually liked "that swill" too! Fortunately, I was drinking a Guinness at the time, so I escaped with my manhood unscathed. ;)

S.

I hope you were drinking Rauchs in Bamberg and not Smithwicks. I have been wanting to take my son to Germany. He is 17. I will most definitely take him to Bamberg. It was there that I had one of the most perfect beers of my life. One October morning at Schlenkerla. It was one of those very rare moments when everything was absolutely perfect. That memory is very clear still and it was over a decade ago since that particular trip.

[steveh]

Originally posted by chazwicke
I hope you were drinking Rauchs in Bamberg and not Smithwicks.

We had started the day with trips to a couple of the Rauch breweries (what's the big one on the mountain - in the schloss with the museum?), found our way to a quaint tavern to discover St. Georgan Keller Bier and made some new friends, then stumbled on an Irish Pub (first one I ever saw in Germany - but not the last) on the walk back to the hotel. And yeah, that was about 10 years ago too - wow, time flies. Bamberg is just magical.

S.

Oh, and I never drank Smithwicks in Germany. Kilkenny, maybe! ;)

[steveh]

Originally posted by Wilson
... but since I think they are owned by Guinness...

Hmm, rather confused now - a quick bit of research on Beer Advocate tells us that Kilkenny is, indeed, a brand owned by Guinness. However, Smithwicks is a brand owned by Irish Ale Breweries Ltd., and brewed at the St. Francis Abbey Brewery - Kilkenny, Ireland (to muddy the waters even more). Searching the web finds a Smithwick's site with little info. Curiouser and curiouser...

S.

[Wilson]

I think you've stumbled upon a beer-conspiracy! Its like searching for little "tax shelter" companies in the Caymans...you might get close but no real answers! Everytime I search for Smithwicks on the web, invariably, the Guinness site (or their web-store) pops up. I think I also read @ ratebeer.com that it was owned by Guinness. Very interesting though!

[MeridianFC]

Guinness owns Irish Ale Breweries. LTD. At one time or another Guinness has had in its Irish Red Ale portfolio Wexfords (there's some cream ale in a can crap out there that is not this), Cherry's, McCardles, Killkenny's, and Smithwicks. One of the Michael Jackson books discusses this.

Most people are aware that Guinness own Harp too, even though it has a separate facility (in Dundalk).

BTW I'm serious about the Biddy Early's. Sup a pint of that and you'll forget all about this Smithwicks nonsense. :D

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by steveh
And yeah, that was about 10 years ago too - wow, time flies. Bamberg is just magical.


I think it is time we both went back there!

[steveh]

Originally posted by MeridianFC
BTW I'm serious about the Biddy Early's. Sup a pint of that and you'll forget all about this Smithwicks nonsense. :D

I'll have to see if it's available in my area.

The, now defunct, Chicago Brewing Co. used to brew an Irish Red Ale that outshined any of the reds that popped up during that craze a few years ago. I wish they were still around.

S.

[steveh]

Originally posted by chazwicke
I think it is time we both went back there!

Indeed, I've been thinking the same thing for a few months now.

S.

[MeridianFC]

I find it surprising that a decent Irish red is so hard to come by. A slightly buttery sweet malt flavor, full mouthfeel, with hops being a distant memory from long ago in the boil? Not quite the roast taste of scotch ale, but something entirely session worthy none the less.

The old Grant's Celtic Ale used to be excellent. Oddly enough it was low cal too. It had a bit more of the dark roasted edge to it (just barely) but plenty of that hard to achieve butteriness(a bit of DMS perhaps) .

In addition to the Biddy's and Big Rock that I've mentioned I think Goose Island's Irish Red is pretty decent.

I've gotten into some discussions about the old Dempsey's too, though not the utterly crap one that was made in Iowa.

The Murphy's Red isn't much to write home about.

I don't remember the Chicago Brewing Co., where were they located?

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by steveh
Indeed, I've been thinking the same thing for a few months now.

S.

Steveh cleared 1000 posts! Hooray! :D

[noby]

Originally posted by steveh

I once watched a young lady order 2 Guinness and a Smithwicks at the Brazenhead bar in Dublin - she handed one Guinness to her female friend and paid the bartender, who asked if she was paying for the Smithwicks as well? She told him, "Hell no, let him pay for that swill!" pointing to her boyfriend! At that point, there was no way I was going to tell her that I actually liked "that swill" too! Fortunately, I was drinking a Guinness at the time, so I escaped with my manhood unscathed. ;)

S.

Smithwicks does have a bit of a bad name here, for no apparent reason.
Chances are, that young lady never tasted it. I think it's seen as an 'old mans drink' by younger people.

There was a pub in our town, run by an old lady. She had two taps, Guinness & Smithwicks. On the shelf was pint bottles of Guinness, Smithwicks, Cider, and possibly a lager (usually Carling or something). A great place to go for a pint.
Then about 5 years ago the pub, and the next 2 buildings were bought, and turned into a super pub, and the Smithwicks disappeared.Why? because it's not a 'young persons drink'

[steveh]

Originally posted by MeridianFC
I find it surprising that a decent Irish red is so hard to come by.

Me too. :(

[The old Grant's Celtic Ale used to be excellent. Oddly enough it was low cal too. It had a bit more of the dark roasted edge to it (just barely) but plenty of that hard to achieve butteriness(a bit of DMS perhaps).

I remember that brew - low in alcohol too, wasn't it?

[In addition to the Biddy's and Big Rock that I've mentioned I think Goose Island's Irish Red is pretty decent.

Kilgubbin. It's all right, but suffers from the over-roasties.

[I've gotten into some discussions about the old Dempsey's too, though not the utterly crap one that was made in Iowa.

The Murphy's Red isn't much to write home about.

Don't know either of the Dempsey's, but I agree about the Murphy's.

[I don't remember the Chicago Brewing Co., where were they located?

It was a micro on a small side street called Besly Court, just off Armitage and just east of the Kennedy expressway. In fact, walking from the Map Room to Goose Island Fest at the Finkl Foundry last Summer, we walked past the old building and there was still an old sign for the brewery high up on the wall!

The place was owned by the Dinehart brothers, Steve was the marketing/sales guy and the other (forgive me on his name) was the brewer. Their flagship brew was Legacy Lager and they had a weizen, the red - another one... and some great seasonals. But they were only around for a couple of years, too bad too.

S.

[chazwicke]

I thought most tof the Grant's beers were good but I have not really seen them or had any for some time.

The Big Rock beers are also very good. I used to drink the Big Rock Cold Cock at the Brickskeller.

[Summer]

I envy you guys!! I just love Smithwick's Ale. And can't get it in Finland....

Like it's said before, Smithwick's is owned by Guinness. Used to be E.Smithwick & Sons in Kilkenny, I think Guinness bought it sometime during the 1960's (not sure).

Originally posted by MeridianFC
I find it surprising that a decent Irish red is so hard to come by.

I've thought that too, too often... (I miss Ireland :( )

In addition to the Biddy's and Big Rock that I've mentioned I think Goose Island's Irish Red is pretty decent.

Haven't tasted those.

The Murphy's Red isn't much to write home about.

I agree that totally!

I think one good Irish red ale that I've found is Moling's Traditional Celtic Beer, brewed by Carlow Brewing Company, Carlow, Ireland. Taste it if you can find it!!

J.

[Summer]

Is of course Porterhouse Red. Had it in The Porterhouse in Dublin.

see website: http://www.porterhousebrewco.com/

J.

[marksalehouse]

Originally posted by steveh
She told him, "Hell no, let him pay for that swill!" pointing to her boyfriend!

My kinda babe! Mind you, I live in the north where it even crappier and, as Guinness and Bass have an almost perfect 100% monopoly of what is on tap, we do not get much of a choice. Thank God for the two independant real ale breweries.

Mark

[Arassuil]

Had many a pint (568ml) glass of Smith-icks at the Giants Causeway in Renton Washington when I was local... Good brew but the session was too long.... glad I wasn't driving.

[Mill Rat]

Originally posted by Summer
[The best Irish red] Is of course Porterhouse Red. Had it in The Porterhouse in Dublin.

see website: http://www.porterhousebrewco.com/
J.
The porterhouse is indeed a great place, and plenty of live music, with the bands cruelly crammed onto a too-small stage that cantilevers into the middle of the main stairway between their 4 floors.

Messrs. McGuires, another brewpub, is a little further east on the quay is also well worth the trip.

[steveh]

I don't know if Summer is listening any more Mill, she hasn't posted in 3 years! :(

S.

[Mill Rat]

That's true, Steve, but I'm only quoting, not replying. The Porterhouse and McGuires are still there, and there are others that are currently reading these posts, so if I can give props to a couple of worthy Dublin establishments and help those who reside in or visit Dublin give their commerce to these establishments, I'm all in, even if Summer has long ago turned to winter.

[steveh]

Understood, just sayin'.

S.

[MrNate]

On a completely unrelated note, they pulled the Smithwicks from my local bar and replaced it with SA Winter Lager. I remain disappointed. Not that there's anything wrong with the SA, but I liked the Smithwicks much better. Got the impression I was the only one drinking it, though.

[toneyc]

Wow, I just had Smithwick's last weekend. My Brother brought it by. This thread rang some distant bells, fancy it surfacing again today!

:)
Toney.