Smithwicks alternative

Tunage

Hello..

Just out of curiosity I thought I'd post here instead of wrecking my head and not getting anywhere. I did see the other Smithwicks post but thought it rude to hijack it.

Anyway, long story short, I only drink Smithwicks now. Mostly for reasons to do with how it doesn't affect me (bloat etc..) and how drunk I get on it (unlike devil vodka or cider which makes me violently ill the day after).
I'm for the states next month for a while and I certainly don't want to be teetotal when I go over so am trying to figure out what alternative or closest relative to Smithwicks I'd be able to get. I'll be based mainly in Salt Lake City so if anyone has any idea of what I could drink I would be really really really appreciative of the information!

budgemook

Is SLC not a dry city no?

"Irish Red" is a popular type of beer in the US. Various manufacturers offer it. Keep an eye out for that.

EDIT - just looked it up, not dry at all (although has some strict alcohol laws), wonder how I got that in my head.

Tunage

I've had a few people ask me that, I must ask the rest of the wives what the story is (joke, I'm not actually going to be a sister wife :D )

I've been on some of the 'Irish' pubs websites and they advertise lots of beer and whiskey but possibly other areas are dry.

budgemook

In the movie SLC Punk I'm sure they head off to another state to get drink. Maybe it's to get stronger drink than available in Utah or maybe they are under 21.

I googled "Irish Red Utah" and got a good few results back.

Tunage

Cheers, good to know these important things before one even buys travel insurance.

L1011

budgemook wrote: »

In the movie SLC Punk I'm sure they head off to another state to get drink. Maybe it's to get stronger drink than available in Utah or maybe they are under 21.

I googled "Irish Red Utah" and got a good few results back.

It's definitely not dry - either the city or state

Just avoid Killian's if that's still sold over there. Think it's claimed to be a 'red lager' though

Zaph

I remember reading before that while there are bars in Utah, you had to be a "member" to buy drink in them. However membership could be obtained for a nominal fee when you're in the bar. I think that was scrapped a few years ago. There's also something about screens around bars so that customers can't see the alcohol. There are also laws about the strength of alcohol that can be sold in various establishments. All told, the Church of Latter Day Saints have made it tough to enjoy a decent drink there.

BeerNut

Try all the beers. Stick with the ones you like.

Tunage

Thanks guys,

Was reading up and they scrapped that 'members' thing back in 2009 as far as I know. Will have to mail the family I'm staying with and I'm sure they'll set me straight

MarcoAntonio23

Utah state law states that all draught beer for sale must be below 4% ABV
Derailleur Red Ale, by Utah brewery Moab is available in most places.

n97 mini

I lived in Utah and by and large it's more liberal about beer than Ireland with a few exceptions. SLC isn't Portland but it has a fantastic craft scene and the best bars stay open late (like 2am) 7 nights a week.

You got the best advice in an earlier post: try them all. Nothing on draught is going to make you pissed much quicker than Smithwicks anyway.

rubadub

Tunage wrote: »

Mostly for reasons to do with how it doesn't affect me (bloat etc..) and how drunk I get on it (unlike devil vodka or cider which makes me violently ill the day after)

Smithwicks is only 3.8% so this would be a factor. So if they are under 4% you should be OK.

I find going from say a 3.9% to 5% beer has a significant difference. It is technically 28% stronger than the 3.9% beer but will have a more dramatic effect if drinking the same number of pints per hour.

My theory is that a certain amount of alcohol would have no effect on me, say drinking 2 pints of 1% beer per hour. So the first 1% can be deducted off the drink. So the 3.9%,5% are more like 2.9% and 4%, the stronger one is now 38% stronger.

poitinstill

iagree with rubadub. big difference between drinking a 4% pint and a 5% pint.
only thing is i think smithwicks is 4.3% these days.

rubadub

poitinstill wrote: »

only thing is i think smithwicks is 4.3% these days.

still shows as 3.8% on tesco and o'briens, unless draft is different. Many think it is 4.3%, I was saying this in the other smithwicks thread. I presumed it was 4.2 or 4.3 myself for years.

budgemook

Smithwicks is 3.8% AFAIK.

I read something about the whole 4% vs 5% thing a while back. If your body can process 3% of the alcohol in an hour then it's the 1% left that gets you drunk. This means 5% beer would get you twice as drunk as 4% beer.

My case studies have shown this to be pretty accurate too!

EDIT - 3.8% confirmed on their website - http://www.smithwicks.ie/landing.html

poitinstill

3.8 it is so. Don't tackle it much

Krusty_Clown

Lots of Bass sold in the US. It's similar enough to Smithwicks, though it comes in at around 5%. Fat Tire is another pretty benign amber ale, that is quite widely available, but certainly another vote for trying everything and finding a beer you like.

That 4% rule in Utah applies to draught beer only, IIRC. Bottled beers (in an establishment license to sell liquor) don't have the same restrictions. Certainly we used to drink a lot of Sierra Nevada in Provo (which is about as prohibitive as it gets in Utah). Other archaic rules include only allowing an individual to have one drink at a time in front of you (so you're next drink is only served once the previous drink has been taken away), and only getting a glass of wine once food has been served in front of you.