Try?
Hey there, good
man. Put down that pint of Killian’s Irish Red and take a sip of
this. That’s right. It’s the real thing. No, it’s not Coca-Cola. It’s
Smithwick’s Ale, a classic Irish red that comes from, well, Ireland
(unlike Killian’s, which is made by Coors). Much better, isn’t it? Full of
flavor, yet easy to drink. It’s a great sipping pint indeed, something you
could leisurely enjoy glass after glass of at the local pub on a Saturday
afternoon.
Up until recently, there was one small problem: you couldn’t get the stuff in the United States. You had to go to Ireland to get it, and while I really like Smithwick’s, I don’t think I’d travel that far to get it. No worries, though. Guinness, owner of the brand, decided to finally roll it out here in the colonies. It started showing up in Atlanta Irish pubs like Fado and the James Joyce Irish Pub (and non Irish ones like Summits Wayside Tavern) in early March. Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day.
In the Irish pubs, they call the beer “Smiddicks”, or something like that. It looks like Smith-Wicks to me, but however you pronounce it, it’s a darned fine beer. First brewed in Kilkenny, Ireland, in 1710 by John Smithwick (I wonder how he pronounced his name?), the brand has a long and honored history. It has also been sold in Ireland by Guinness under the name of Kilkenny Ale.
It’s been years since I enjoyed my first taste of Smithwick’s Ale. I had only tasted the bottled version in the past, however. It’s a much better beer on draft. Draft, it seems, is the only way you can get the beer for now, although I’m sure that you’ll see it in bottles and widget cans before long.
Smithwick’s Ale pours to a deep red color with a thick and creamy
head formation and a sweet, slightly fruity malt nose. The palate is smooth
and satisfying, with a generous does of crystal malt flavor and a delicate,
sweet and crisp maltiness. A touch of fruit adds depth and character. In the
finish, a light kiss of hops balances the beer nicely.
Eminently quaffable is a great way to describe this beer. I love it. It’s a classic, and it’s about time we saw it here in the states. I imagine it will sell quite well with the Irish pub set initially and later with the greater public at large. No doubt Guinness will give it some marketing attention in due time. Try it mixed with an equal portion of Guinness stout for a special treat, or just enjoy a glass with a plate of fish and chips. Anyway you pour it, Smithwick's was well worth the wait.
Up until recently, there was one small problem: you couldn’t get the stuff in the United States. You had to go to Ireland to get it, and while I really like Smithwick’s, I don’t think I’d travel that far to get it. No worries, though. Guinness, owner of the brand, decided to finally roll it out here in the colonies. It started showing up in Atlanta Irish pubs like Fado and the James Joyce Irish Pub (and non Irish ones like Summits Wayside Tavern) in early March. Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day.
In the Irish pubs, they call the beer “Smiddicks”, or something like that. It looks like Smith-Wicks to me, but however you pronounce it, it’s a darned fine beer. First brewed in Kilkenny, Ireland, in 1710 by John Smithwick (I wonder how he pronounced his name?), the brand has a long and honored history. It has also been sold in Ireland by Guinness under the name of Kilkenny Ale.
It’s been years since I enjoyed my first taste of Smithwick’s Ale. I had only tasted the bottled version in the past, however. It’s a much better beer on draft. Draft, it seems, is the only way you can get the beer for now, although I’m sure that you’ll see it in bottles and widget cans before long.
Smithwick’s Ale pours to a deep red color with a thick and creamy
head formation and a sweet, slightly fruity malt nose. The palate is smooth
and satisfying, with a generous does of crystal malt flavor and a delicate,
sweet and crisp maltiness. A touch of fruit adds depth and character. In the
finish, a light kiss of hops balances the beer nicely. Eminently quaffable is a great way to describe this beer. I love it. It’s a classic, and it’s about time we saw it here in the states. I imagine it will sell quite well with the Irish pub set initially and later with the greater public at large. No doubt Guinness will give it some marketing attention in due time. Try it mixed with an equal portion of Guinness stout for a special treat, or just enjoy a glass with a plate of fish and chips. Anyway you pour it, Smithwick's was well worth the wait.
Update 6/24/2018: Harrah's River Valley casino had Smithwick's on tap, so I got one. I'm not sure I've ever had this one on tap before. Smooth and malty with tasty stewed malt flavors. A bit pricey at $7.54 a pint, but hey, a $7.54 beer will last me a lot longer than $7.54 in the slot machines.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
(G)=Growler
