Smithwicks Winter Spirit

bennyineire

Just wondering if anyone has tried this yet, just seen it in Tesco who are doing a special 4 bottle back for 8 euro (2x Smithwicks pale ale, 2x Smithwicks Winter Spirit). Also I think I heard that Smithwicks will be doing seasonal beers from now on, can anyone enlighten me some more.

BeerNut

bennyineire wrote: »

I think I heard that Smithwicks will be doing seasonal beers from now on, can anyone enlighten me some more.

Yes, Diageo are saying this is the first in a series of single batch seasonals.

Lovely Bloke

Is it in pubs or just shops?

the beer revolu

BeerNut wrote: »

Yes, Diageo are saying this is the first in a series of single batch seasonals.

They haven't seen all the out of date Blue Moon specials about the place (which are quite drinkable just not very exciting) ?

I's a flawed marketing strategy IMO - the craft beer drinker wants proper craft beer and the conservative drinker doesn't want any funny stuff.
Don't think it worked for Blue Moon.

BeerNut

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

Is it in pubs or just shops?

Should be both.

MonkstownHoop

Bought the box as I like the pale ale and wanted to try the winter spirit, nothing special though, should have got Sierra Nevada 3 for 7

Bigcheeze

BeerNut wrote: »

Yes, Diageo are saying this is the first in a series of single batch seasonals.

I thought they said that about the pale ale.

Aglomerado

MonkstownHoop wrote: »

Bought the box as I like the pale ale and wanted to try the winter spirit, nothing special though, should have got Sierra Nevada 3 for 7

Agreed, it's nothing special. It was worth a try though, as I like the Pale Ale when I see it on draught.

bennyineire

mmm only two people actually gave a review and even at that it was "nothing special", can anyone elaborate a little more, thanks

Lovely Bloke

bennyineire wrote: »

mmm only two people actually gave a review and even at that it was "nothing special", can anyone elaborate a little more, thanks

It's a Macro-produced attempt to gain a foothold in the craft beer sector.

Lots of people already think people who drink Smithwick's are "weird", so a Smithwick's in strange packaging os going to look even weirder.

BMJD

bennyineire wrote: »

mmm only two people actually gave a review and even at that it was "nothing special", can anyone elaborate a little more, thanks

I had a bottle of it at the weekend, nothing special is the best way of describing it! It has very little aroma or flavour. The pale ale is a lot better imo.

Aglomerado

I found it quite watery if that's any help.

Saruman

It's better than ordinary smithwicks, probably more like smithwicks should really taste.

Heroditas

It reminds me of a slightly less carbonated Hobgoblin.

Rewind

Supping on the Winter Spirit now and it's pretty underwhelming. I'm a fan of the Pale Ale so assumed the deal would be worth a punt. I wouldn't recommend it. It's not offensive or unpleasant, just not much going on at all.

mikewest

I wish I'd spotted this thread before I bought a bottle. Tasteless, watery, weak, undercarbonated for a tasteless beer, nothing to recommend it.

munchkin_utd

mikewest wrote: »

I wish I'd spotted this thread before I bought a bottle. Tasteless, watery, weak, undercarbonated for a tasteless beer, nothing to recommend it.

sounds like erdinger.
might be a winner yet!

BeardySi

Very weak flavour, nothing particularly wintery about it... Won't be bothering with it again.

Heroditas

Treadhead wrote: »

Very weak flavour, nothing particularly wintery about it... Won't be bothering with it again.

An Irish winter surely, i.e. nondescript, mild and nothing too extreme!

BeardySi

Wet, bland and lacking excitement?

Heroditas

Treadhead wrote: »

Wet, bland and lacking excitement?

Exactly!

um7y1h83ge06nx

Talking about Smithwick's my girlfriend is a picky drinker but has been getting interested in pale ale.

During the summer I was away in Sligo and the hotel had Smithwick's Pale Ale which was nice for the good weather. Recently though I made my own IPA (Cooper's IPA, 1.5kg of LME and dry hopped with 50g of Cascade) and it blows Smithwick's Pale Ale right out of the water, far tastier and with better aroma. Even the girlfriend admits it's far better, it's similar enough to Proper Job. SPA is just too bland.

And I'm not saying that to pat myself on the back, it's only my 2nd beer brew so I'm a noob really, but it's not good if a noob can make a far better version.

bennyineire

Brooke Hissing Raisin wrote: »

Talking about Smithwick's my girlfriend is a picky drinker but has been getting interested in pale ale.

During the summer I was away in Sligo and the hotel had Smithwick's Pale Ale which was nice for the good weather. Recently though I made my own IPA (Cooper's IPA, 1.5kg of LME and dry hopped with 50g of Cascade) and it blows Smithwick's Pale Ale right out of the water, far tastier and with better aroma. Even the girlfriend admits it's far better, it's similar enough to Proper Job. SPA is just too bland.

And I'm not saying that to pat myself on the back, it's only my 2nd beer brew so I'm a noob really, but it's not good if a noob can make a far better version.

I was gonna make this brew next week, how long did you dry hop for

um7y1h83ge06nx

17 days, checked my notes. Should have only been a week but noticed my fermentation got a little stuck so left it for longer. Turned out really hoppy, closest thing would be Proper Job which they have in Tesco, far hoppier than the Smithwicks. But Proper Job was what I was trying to imitate so I was happy out.

bennyineire

Yep Proper Job is my favorite IPA, so you reckon 17 days of dry hopping, seems like a very long time

um7y1h83ge06nx

Well that was purely accidental as I said.

50g is a decent amount of hops, I want it to be sharp. I reckon dry hop with that amount of Cascade after 2 weeks of fermentation, leave it for a week and then take a sample.

donaghs

I thought it was tastier than expected. Not up there with the with my favourite micro-brews, but a bit more flavour to it than the Smithwick's Pale Ale. I'd have it in a pub if the only other alternative was the standard Lager/Guinness/Smithwicks/Cider.
Saying that, I bought it as it was on offer for €2, and wouldnt bother paying more for it in a shop.

rubadub

Saw this in the gin palace in abbey street dublin, signs up promoting it as being on offer, €4.50. A pint of guinness was 4.90 there.

suicide_circus

rubadub wrote: »

Saw this in the gin palace in abbey street dublin, signs up promoting it as being on offer, €4.50. A pint of guinness was 4.90 there.

Ah gin palace, with this extraordinarily generous offer, youre really spoiling us

suicide_circus

Had a bottle there. Very light. Says full bodied on the label. Lol