Smithwicks !

Agricola · 11-07-2011 10:43PM

In summer time, I love a pint of Smithwicks with a good shot of red lemonade. Lovely speckly red head on it! Goes down easy. Great thirst quencher.

Its funny how its mainly viewed as an old mans beer. You would think Guinness would be the ultimate old mans drink, but the power of marketing has sorted that out.

Voodoomelon · 11-07-2011 10:47PM

Smithwicks is very popular in my pub in Louth, serve it by the barrel load to the Northies. Also drunk by many locals.

Nothing unusual about Smithwicks and a Guinness head around here, standard practice. As is Smithwicks shandy.

Lawrence1895 · 11-07-2011 10:48PM

Chris P. Bacon wrote: »

Only people from Kilkenny/Carlow drink it

And Germans

voz es · 11-07-2011 10:52PM

If the 300th birthday was properly marketed it would be a different story now. Its a great drink if there is a flow, guinness head (special) if there is not. if the bottom of the glass is bright almost golden then you gota give it a go, if is real dark and cloudy wise to keep away.

A smithwicks drinkers club would get people into it again, if an inner city pub marketed it right there should be no reason for the brand not to take off.

jack presley · 11-07-2011 10:52PM

It's becoming popular in the States. A lot of bars over there have it now.

jaffacakesyum · 11-07-2011 11:08PM

I would/do drink it in pubs if it's cheap/cheaper than having a slightly nicer tasting pint.

Yeah, I know, I'm a cheaparse. But hey, I'm a student

DEFTLEFTHAND · 11-07-2011 11:19PM

Smithwicks is great if your going on a big session, flows down the hatch nice and easy. I hate the new glass their serving it in though, I always ask for my mine to be poured in a stout glass.

Links234 · 11-07-2011 11:28PM

this is kinda odd, but since I started HRT, my tastes have really changed, and I've gone mad for Smithwicks!

like, before I thought it was ok, but lately I adore it!

LostinBlanch · 11-07-2011 11:38PM

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Smithwicks is very popular in my pub in Louth, serve it by the barrel load to the Northies. Also drunk by many locals.

Nothing unusual about Smithwicks and a Guinness head around here, standard practice. As is Smithwicks shandy.

It's a load of ****e. McArdles is a miles better drink, if you can get it that is. Smithwicks (along with Harp) was only bought by Guinness to diversify from stout and capture the rest of the beer drinking market over here before people actually tasted proper beers.

Nordies lager of choice is Harp - enough said. I wouldn't be going by their taste buds.

mikemac · 11-07-2011 11:57PM

It's big around Kilkenny and surrounding areas
That's about it

Voodoomelon · 12-07-2011 12:32AM

LostinBlanch wrote: »

It's a load of ****e. McArdles is a miles better drink, if you can get it that is. Smithwicks (along with Harp) was only bought by Guinness to diversify from stout and capture the rest of the beer drinking market over here before people actually tasted proper beers.

Nordies lager of choice is Harp - enough said. I wouldn't be going by their taste buds.

I never said I liked it.

We're just outside Dundalk and stopped selling McArdles about a year ago, don't think its available any more at all? Open to correction on that.

Was 50:50 as to whether someone asked for McArdles or Smithwicks, if we ran out of one they'd usually have the other 99% of the time. I'd challenge anyone to tell the difference between the two after the first few pints.

joshrogan · 12-07-2011 12:35AM

Had a can of the shtuff a couple of months ago, wasn't too fond of it meself now I'll tell ya that much!

admiralofthefleet · 12-07-2011 12:39AM

i like it a lot but i prefer mcardles

PaulKK · 12-07-2011 12:56AM

Its true that its popular moreso in Kilkenny, most young lads would drink it anyway, i've drank it since i was 18. My local only had a guinness and smithwicks tap for years. Delicious nectar it is.

Nobody asks for a pint of smithwicks either, its a pint of ale.

Agree about the new glass too, what a bollocks they made of it, bring back the old one!

log22 · 12-07-2011 01:19AM

Smithwicks was my first drink when i was 17 or that yeah it would be popular here in kilkenny.i agree with another post if they marketed the 300th birthday properly it would have been alot better but the big lights accross from the market yard were nice.yeah was a very good pint but i went off it a good while ago.i new glass doesent look that good but shur its only a glass.

mjcom4d · 12-07-2011 01:43AM

Only 16 and thought I was the only one in the group to drink how wrong I was good stuff in Kilkenny

red bull · 12-07-2011 02:10AM

Great stuff after a few pint of guinness, but must be served in the special smithicks glass it makes all the difference:D

buck65 · 12-07-2011 08:58AM

Smithwicks is waaaay ahead of the likes of Carlsberg, Heineken, fosters, Coors, Miller etc. They are just flavoured water. At least Smithwicks tastes something like real beer. Still though I wouldn't rate it more than 6/10, Guinness would be a notch above for me but there are far better Irish beers out there if you look at the micro breweries and the Porter house.

jimthemental · 12-07-2011 09:13AM

Love the stuff, my local does a powerful pint because the flow is always good. It travels well too, got a few good pints in a pub in Chicago called Grealy's. It's always been my favorite beer along with Guinness. Guinness is more of a winter drink.

jemser · 12-07-2011 09:21AM

When I started going to the pub I used to drink smithwicks by the barrel load but cant stand the taste of it these days

replica · 12-07-2011 09:27AM

Have only ever drank a couple of pints of it here in Ireland and thought it was woeful. However, I was recently on holidays in Chicago and wandered into an Irish pub... it was 92F outside so I fancied something really cold and thirst quenching. There before me was a Smithwisk tap so I tried a pint... 6 pints later and I was pleasantly surprised as it tasted lovely. Tried it at home when I got back and yes it tasted woeful once again... it appears that our US neighbours are doing something to it that makes it taste a lot better than here at home.

jimthemental · 12-07-2011 09:38AM

replica wrote: »

Have only ever drank a couple of pints of it here in Ireland and thought it was woeful. However, I was recently on holidays in Chicago and wandered into an Irish pub... it was 92F outside so I fancied something really cold and thirst quenching. There before me was a Smithwisk tap so I tried a pint... 6 pints later and I was pleasantly surprised as it tasted lovely. Tried it at home when I got back and yes it tasted woeful once again... it appears that our US neighbours are doing something to it that makes it taste a lot better than here at home.

You're just drinking it in a bad area I'd say. Dundalk, Kilkenny and Tipperary seem to be the best pints due to greater demand and more flow in the tap. If kegs are left out in the sun for a few days too they go off and you'd nearly be as well to drink Bud. Nearly but not quite.

By the way what pub in Chicago was it?

stephen_k · 12-07-2011 09:39AM

Ghost Buster wrote: »

In mayo just ask for a pint of Special;)

Used to drink when I was 16/17 or so, went back to it since moving to Mayo, very partial to a pint of Special...

12-07-2011 10:02AM

buck65 wrote: »

there are far better Irish beers out there if you look at the micro breweries and the Porter house.

Completely disagree, imo the stuff from micro brewerys is piss water. Smithwicks is miles ahead.

Orando Broom · 12-07-2011 10:06AM

I drink Smithwicks during the Lent.

sbsquarepants · 12-07-2011 10:28AM

I have a stomach like a billy goat and usually i will drink whatever is put in front of me, but one of the very few exceptions is smithwicks, i absolutely can not stomach the piss. I had 1 mouthfull of it about 20 years ago and 1 more about 10 years later to see if there was something wrong with the first one i tasted.......there wasn't it just tastes like shít. I would quite honestly drink my own piss, long before i'd drink smithwicks.:mad:

Scanlas The 2nd · 12-07-2011 10:47AM

The best beers come from Germany, France and Belgium. Delicious.

buck65 · 12-07-2011 11:24AM

Raphael Sticky Listener wrote: »

Completely disagree, imo the stuff from micro brewerys is piss water. Smithwicks is miles ahead.

I could name 3 better Red beers alone that aren't widely available - have you ever drank in the Franciscan Brewery in Cork? their red beer is superior as is Porterhouse red and I would rate Finians red beer ahead of Smithwicks too.
Listen I like it and drink the stuff when it is available and the Guinness is bad or it is too warm but your attitude to Micro breweries is bewildering.

HoggyRS · 12-07-2011 11:27AM

Had it once in Canada about 5 years ago and thought it was great. Its simply never crossed my mind to have a pint of it since. Must try it again soon!

prinz · 12-07-2011 11:31AM

Yep, very partial to the pint of Smithwicks every now and again. If you are feeling a bit dodgy or taking it slow then a few pints of it is great to settle you.

Smithwicks !

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