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Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale
Smithwick's Brewery / Irish Ale Breweries Ltd
- 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:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jan 02, 2024
- Added:
- May 08, 2002
- Wants:
- 31
- Gots:
- 80
Now brewed here:
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/209/52083
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/209/52083
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by 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
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, 2009This 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.
More User Ratings:
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
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, 2024Reviewed by Nass from Florida
3.44/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
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, 2022Reviewed by tapper888
3.84/5 rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
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, 2022Reviewed 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
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
Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale from Smithwick's Brewery / Irish Ale Breweries Ltd
Beer rating:
79 out of
100 with
406 ratings
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