Smithwick's Imported Premium Irish Ale
Guinness Ltd.

Smithwick's Imported Premium Irish AleSmithwick's Imported Premium Irish Ale
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From:
Guinness Ltd.
 
Ireland
Style:
Irish Red Ale
Ranked #106
ABV:
4.5%
Score:
79
Ranked #28,192
Avg:
3.47 | pDev: 14.99%
Reviews:
917
Ratings:
3,193
Status:
Active
Rated:
Yesterday at 04:52 AM
Added:
Apr 01, 2006
Wants:
  77
Gots:
  701
SCORE
79
Okay
Smithwick's Imported Premium Irish AleSmithwick's Imported Premium Irish Ale
Notes: Smithwick's is a clear beer with a rich ruby color and creamy head. Clean and delicate aroma with different individual notes: from the top fermentation by the Smithwick yeast come aromatic esters creating a fruity aroma. The Aroma Hops added late in the boil contribute clean fresh floral notes. Ale Malt contributes aroma hints of biscuit and caramel.
Refreshing and clean taste with a gentle balance of bitterness from the hops added early in the boil, sweet/malty notes from the ale malt, and hints of roast/coffee from the roasted barley.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.5 by TrashPanda93 from Canada (SK)

Yesterday at 04:52 AM
 
Rated: 3.9 by Humanusfermentum from Virginia

May 27, 2023
Photo of JesseJames81
Reviewed by JesseJames81 from California

3.26/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Appearance: pours a dark copper color, raspberry red when held up to the light.

Aroma: sweet caramel malts.

Taste: follows the nose. Very slight happiness.

Overall: This is a smooth beer with a very clean finish. No real death or complexity, but drinkable.
May 24, 2023
 
Rated: 3.47 by Roejogan from Canada (BC)

May 16, 2023
 
Rated: 3.57 by QuintusHorace from California

Apr 06, 2023
 
Rated: 3.58 by louiebianchi from New York

Mar 29, 2023
Photo of Spade
Reviewed by Spade from Pennsylvania

3.94/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz. bottle pour. Nice dark amber color with reddish-beige foam. Easy-drinking malt flavor with some dryness in the finish. Been a long time since I had an amber ale; glad I bought a six of this one.
Mar 18, 2023
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Reviewed by Tilley4 from Tennessee

4/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I drank several of these yesterday with Reubens amd really enjoyed them....

Easy drinking and smooth with a solid malt base and the merest hint of hop bitterness on the finish. I only see it this time of year and wanted to give it a try...not a ground breaking beer but I did enjoy this sixer and will more than likely buy more until they disappear from the shelves...

A good food beverage
Mar 18, 2023
 
Rated: 3.47 by DrewTheBrew from Ohio

Mar 18, 2023
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Reviewed by TwilightBeerCareer from Illinois

3.79/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
I usually purchase Smithwicks around St. Paddy's every year. It's a smooth, creamy red ale for the holiday. Nice ruby red color with a creamy head. Malt forward with a firm enough bitterness to back it up. A tradition beer for me.
Mar 15, 2023
Photo of dofo777
Reviewed by dofo777 from Maryland

3.59/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Clear but dark Red ale, can't do wrong with this, but won't write about it either. Had on draught, Not too bitter, refreshing, but slightly heavy. Paired with fish and chips.
Mar 04, 2023
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Reviewed by tekstr1der from New Hampshire

3.44/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This was a go-to for some time back in the day when Killian's was so popular. No comparison as this is actually a pretty decent quality and tasty beer. Haven't seen it in ages but wouldn't mind revisiting.
Mar 02, 2023
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Rated by OSOLO

3.06/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Weak!
Feb 14, 2023
 
Rated: 3.43 by Mardinae from Texas

Jan 23, 2023
 
Rated: 4.77 by Spark420

Jan 19, 2023
Photo of Profundobaso
Reviewed by Profundobaso from New York

3.68/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Look - 11.2 fl oz bottle poured into a standard pint glass. Copper in color, clear, with a small half-finger head and moderate lacing retention.

Smell - sweet roasted malts dominates the scent, and not much else. simple, but scent is inviting.

Taste - roasted malts with a nice creamy flavor, accompanied by a light hoppy bite towards the finish. caramel-notes detected, and malt flavor lingers from the start to finish, which is very clean.

Feel - light bodied, high carbonation, and low ABV at 4.5%.

Overall - high in malt flavor and low in bitterness, this is a textbook representation of the style that is simple, clean, and refreshing. nothing to write home about, but certainly not bad.
Jan 17, 2023
Photo of SuperGrover
Reviewed by SuperGrover from Minnesota

4.92/5  rDev +41.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
Irish Red is my favorite style of beer, and Smithwick’s does not disappoint. Beautiful color. Smooth, slightly sweet flavor. Bartender, I’ll have another!
Jan 07, 2023
 
Rated: 3.69 by emerge077 from Illinois

Dec 04, 2022
 
Rated: 4.1 by NicolaiMacKenzie from Canada (ON)

Nov 16, 2022
 
Rated: 3.9 by Mikeking99 from Florida

Oct 08, 2022
 
 
Rated: 3.61 by JohnhatesIPAs from New Hampshire

Sep 30, 2022
 
Rated: 3.28 by Rainintheface from Florida

Sep 26, 2022
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Reviewed by IvoryBilledWoodpecker from Florida

3.62/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Expecting ruby color as is stated on bottle, instead it is the color of dark tea, very clear and with an off-white brownish leaning head of good size and persistence, decent lacing is immediately present. Smell is mild but hops and malt are clearly identifiable. Flavor is nice, lightly roasted malt flavors and mild hops. Finish is quick, feel is average. An all-around average beer, and though not exactly my cup of tea, I respect it.
Sep 24, 2022
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Reviewed by TheOccasionalBeer from Wisconsin

3.78/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A very persistent just slightly off-white head of foam filled two-thirds of my glass (so about 4 fingers) as I poured none too vigorously from the bottle. A scent slightly malty and slightly hoppy came from the bottle and the glass. Color of a slightly tarnished copper penny and transparent, the taste was also splitting the line between hops and malt. The initial sip started out a little creamy with some citrus shot through. Citrus never dominated, but it did become more pronounced as it moved back toward my throat as well as the farther into the bottle I went. There was a little astringency on the swallow, but not terribly noticeable. This is a fairly inoffensive beer, jack of all trades and master of none. A good beer to have when you don't feel a need to pay close attention to what you're drinking.
Jul 02, 2022
 
Rated: 4.47 by superwho24 from Arkansas

Jun 06, 2022
 
Rated: 3.69 by darkfruits from Virginia

Jun 06, 2022
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Rated by rclangk from West Virginia

3.79/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
5/2022 The Wine Shop, 4000 Emerson Ave., Parkersburg
May 27, 2022
Photo of Luscious_Malfoy
Reviewed by Luscious_Malfoy from Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
poured from a 330mL bottle into a forager pint glass. pours a foggy amber with a creamy off-white head. roasted malts on the nose and taste. really easy drinking but also something you can sip on. nice mouthfeel; creamy and smooth. got to dig this beer. i haven’t had one in years and it delivers just like it used to.
May 27, 2022
 
Rated: 3.53 by Beecham from California

Apr 02, 2022
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Reviewed by magikbagel from Wisconsin

3.25/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
To me this beer was good when i’ve tried it on tap. Having a bottled one doesn’t really have the same effect, which I understand goes for many beers but its almost a completely different experience bottled, and not in a good way. I’ll stick to tap smithwicks going forward.
Mar 27, 2022
Photo of Wattie83
Reviewed by Wattie83 from Pennsylvania

3.71/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Had on tap at local spot. Looks reddish-brown, clear in the glass with some carbonation rising up. Off-white head stuck around for a while and left some lacing behind. Smell was caramel, malty, with some herbal hop presence. Taste started sweet and malty. A balancing bitterness crept in in the middle with a nice herbal, lightly fruity flavor. Finish is more sweetness, caramel and pretty clean with little aftertaste. Feel is smooth, easy to drink medium bodied with a nice easy carbonation to keep the flavors moving. Overall, I had a few of these and they went down nicely. Not a beer I jumped at before, but would gladly revisit again.
Mar 22, 2022
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Reviewed by JZH1000 from Colorado

3.84/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 33cL bottle into a pint.

The look is quite impressive big 2 finger head with a slight column forming over the top of the pint glass. Recedes slightly, leaving it rocky but still above the rim of the glass. Lively carbonation on a dark amber red brew. This head is pretty insane. Lots of lacing here.

Aroma is all malt and ale character, but not all that strong to be honest. Some caramel and sweet herbal notes but I'm reaching. The aroma is pretty basic 70% malt, 25% yeast, 5% hops. Similar to an Alaskan amber in aroma but more covered up by the big head.

Taste follows the aroma but with more presence. Very easy and smooth to put down. Some toastiness in the malts with a nice sweetness coming through. Very clean despite being an ale. Some bitterness slowly builds from the hops used however its more in the back providing some balance. Very malt driven beer, but not too big.

Mouth feel is where this one shines. Creamy and frothy like a latte, very very smooth like a cloud. This is how drinking a lighter beer should feel. Not watery, but cloud like. Poundable and a good st pattys day brew even though I'm 15 minutes late now local time. Could be a nice summer brew as well.

Overall a nice light irish ale with a n absolutely killer amount of head retention and lacing. High quality it seems at least but still light enough to have a few with friends. Good baseline for an Irish red. Sweet wothout being too much and with a light kiss of hops on the finish.
Mar 18, 2022
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Reviewed by jgido759 from New Jersey

3.92/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a ruby amber color with a 2 finger, fluffy, off-white head. Nice lacing down the sides of the glass as you drink it.

Taste is slightly bitter with a malty sweetness to it. Light carbonation in the mouthfeel.

Overall, a good, easy-drinking ale.
Mar 17, 2022
Photo of GABronco
Reviewed by GABronco

4.5/5  rDev +29.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I really liked this beer--it's going to be a regular in my house because it seems really versatile for food pairings and it's not too expensive.

Look - nice dark brownish red color that poured with a really nice 2+ finger head. Beer left a lacy foam down the cup as I drank it.
Smell - Very pleasing smells of malt and caramel
Taste - I really get the taste of malt, caramel, and just enough bitterness to offset it. I found it to be quite creamy and it went great with my burger at dinner.
Feel - Just a hint of carbonation and a good medium feel.
Mar 16, 2022
 
Rated: 3.54 by M4CDO from Massachusetts

Mar 16, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by Giggy from Michigan

Mar 13, 2022
 
 
Rated: 3.1 by Jsalz21 from New Jersey

Mar 10, 2022
Photo of MarkieT
Reviewed by MarkieT from Kentucky

4.89/5  rDev +40.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
I like a BEER beer not watered-down sissy beer that tastes like carbonated water with just a hint of anything resembling a beer. Smithwicks is good stuff. A man's beer. Bottoms up. Enjoy one for yourself.
Mar 10, 2022
Smithwick's Imported Premium Irish Ale from Guinness Ltd.
Beer rating: 79 out of 100 with 3193 ratings