Smithwick's Draught has a ruby red tone with a stable, but slightly thin head. Its texture is smooth and refined, with a bitter and complex finish. Although of lesser fame than Guinness, Smithwick's is often regarded as the 'local favourite' amongst Irish pubgoers. In 2004, Diageo PLC began distribution in the USA. Smithwick's had previously been marketed in Canada with great success.
Smithwick's Barley Wine is now brewed by Macardle Moore Brewery, another Guinness-owned brewery.
Kilkenny Cream Ale is a similar beer to Smithwick's Draught, however it has a cream head similar to Guinness and has a stronger taste (more bitter than Smithwicks). The 'Kilkenny' name was originally used during the '80's and '90's to market a stronger version of Smithwick's for the European and Canadian market due to difficulty in pronunciation of the word Smithwick's; but it now refers to a similar yet distinctly different beer.
Favorite Pubs
Lawlor's Bar & Guesthouse
Cleeres
Victor's Bar
Biddy Earlys
Matt the Millers
Langtons
Rafter Dempseys
Kytelers Inn
The Pumphouse
The Widows
O'Faolains
Syd Harkins Pub
Thelokes
Kieran Bollard
Lenehans
Anna Conda
The Long Man of Kilfane
Fox and Goose
Carrolls
Kilford Arms
Bollards Bar and Restaurant
Caislean Ui Cuain
Rasher Tierney
Finn McCool's Irish Pub
Kelly's
Maloney's
Paddy O'Quigley's Pub & Grill
Byrne's Pub
Tipperary Inn
PJ O'Connor's
Fox and Hound
I'd like to meet:
Lovers of great beer.
Music:
How do you say it?
When pronouncing the name Smithwick's, the 'W' is silent. In Ireland, it is generally pronounced as 'Smithicks', 'Smitticks', 'Smidicks' or 'Smeth-icks'. The variation of pronunciations is mostly due to differing accent and dialects of the Irish. When ordering in the US, 'Smithicks' is the preferred method, while 'Smiddicks' is the most prevalent pronunciation in Canada.
Movies:
Some more Smithwick's history
In the early 1700's Richard Cole and John Smithwick established a partnership and operated as a small retail brewery. Smithwick's Brewery expanded during the lifetime of John's son, Edmund (1800-76). A large nineteenth century brewery was constructed by Edmund Smithwick. E. Smithwick and Sons was established as a private company in 1898 and continued to grow throughout the twentieth century.
In 1965, Smithwick's became a public company as part of Irish Ale Breweries. In the same year, Arthur Guinness, Son and Company (Dublin) Ltd. took complete financial control of the operation. A modernisation plan was launched in 1964 with the construction of a new brew house. A large fermentation block, a storage vessel block and packaging plant were also installed. This twentieth-century construction has subsequently been updated and replaced by a twenty-first century, computer-operated brewery.
Television:
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Smithwick's Comedy on Tap Festival
Letterkenny
July 2007
Smithwick's Erkina Festival
Rathdowney
July 2007
Heroes:
St. Patrick, Micheal Collins, John Smithwick, Richard Cole, Arthur Guinness
