Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale
Smithwick's Brewery / Irish Ale Breweries Ltd

Kilkenny Irish Cream AleKilkenny Irish Cream Ale
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Smithwick's Brewery / Irish Ale Breweries Ltd
 
Ireland
Style:
Irish Red Ale
ABV:
4.3%
Score:
79
Avg:
3.47 | pDev: 17.29%
Reviews:
155
Ratings:
406
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 02, 2024
Added:
May 08, 2002
Wants:
  31
Gots:
  80
Now brewed here:
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/209/52083
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by biboergosum:
Photo of biboergosum
Reviewed by biboergosum from Canada (AB)

3.49/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
440ml nitro-widget thingy can. Long ago, this was a go-to pint upon finding myself in any and all manner of Irish or English-themed pub, yet it has indeed been a while, so time to get reacquainted, me old son.

This beer pours (eventually) a clear, medium copper amber colour, after that overwhelming, cascading off-white foam settles to a few fingers of perfectly creamy ecru head, with a touch of spectral webbed lace left around the glass. It is indeed always a pleasure to watch that particular trope of physics in action.

It smells of lightly fruity drupe esters, grainy caramel malt, wet toasted bread, a bit of earthy yeast, and rather faint earthy, weedy hops. The taste is quite malty and fruity, both measures indistinct and pleasant at the same rate - the thinly bready graininess, and stale apple and banana chips having to suffice - as the mild floral, leafy hops really have little to offer here.

The carbonation is very low-key and beyond innocuous, the body medium-light in weight, and smooth, smooth is the operative word, unless you're into creaminess, and well, it's got that in spades too. It finishes barely off-dry, the malt kind of bleeding out, while the seemingly manufactured fruit and hop esters stick around as if by court order.

I've always been content with this as a perfunctory default at that sort of bar, both here and even in Eire herself; but now, upon closer circumspection, a few blemishes become increasingly evident - a certain plainness all around, be it malt, hop, or well, overall flavour. Which, I suppose is this one's appeal at the pub - toss in the lower than average ABV, and this beer is sessionability, incarnate.
Jan 14, 2009
More User Ratings:
Photo of paylstep
Rated by paylstep from Canada (ON)

2.16/5  rDev -37.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 2.75
tasteless piss, but smooth and foamy
Jan 02, 2024
 
Rated: 3.73 by BillyNoonan from Ireland

Oct 04, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by FarmerF from Netherlands

Apr 10, 2023
 
Rated: 3.05 by heerboth from Pennsylvania

Apr 02, 2023
 
Rated: 3.71 by QuintusHorace from California

Mar 16, 2023
 
Rated: 3.3 by Myboymi from Kansas

Nov 17, 2022
Photo of Nass
Reviewed by Nass from Florida

3.44/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
On tap, the pour is copper colored with a thick and creamy beige colored head of foam. The taste is between light to medium bodied and easy drinking. In addition to, I'm tasting some mild toffee, mineral water, & grains. This was not bad, I would drink this again. Cheers! B-
Oct 15, 2022
Photo of tapper888
Reviewed by tapper888

3.84/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
One of my Go-To's. It's like a Guinness but backed-off. From can, it gives me that on-tap experience at home. A bit filling due to the additives to produce the head - there may be some science there to that. Seems like more of a malt, has some mouth smack after a few. The water is soft and excellent compared to the hard mineral waters that Canadian beers are made of.
Mar 10, 2022
 
Rated: 3.17 by beerjerk666 from Florida

Sep 08, 2021
 
Rated: 4.84 by Can_if_you_can from Minnesota

Jul 23, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by Amoeba from California

Mar 07, 2020
 
Rated: 3.22 by BubbleBobble from New York

Feb 10, 2020
 
Rated: 3.62 by Youcaviar

Oct 06, 2019
 
Rated: 3 by JimboBrews54 from Michigan

Aug 01, 2019
 
Rated: 3.5 by toddsschneider from Canada (QC)

Dec 07, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by DmitryVolganin from Russian Federation

Aug 04, 2018
 
Rated: 3.44 by Eychung from New York

Jun 25, 2018
Photo of edc20
Reviewed by edc20 from Oregon

2.58/5  rDev -25.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 2.25
Had some in an irish bar. It's not bad, but it's like a creamy water. Almost no carbonation mouthfeel, but plenty of creaminess from the nitro. Has very little taste to it.
Mar 21, 2018
 
Rated: 3.48 by frykid from New Jersey

Sep 17, 2017
Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale from Smithwick's Brewery / Irish Ale Breweries Ltd
Beer rating: 79 out of 100 with 406 ratings