What has happened to my old Smithwicks?

Discussion in 'United Kingdom & Ireland' started by FDSJr, May 26, 2019.

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  1. FDSJr

    FDSJr Initiate (0) Apr 25, 2018 Pennsylvania

    A few years ago (2004, to be exact) I spent 5 weeks in Ireland. During that time I discovered a beer called Smithwicks. It was a relatively dark ale, which I believed was brewed by Guiness. When I returned to the U.S. I was able to find this same beer here (Central PA area). Recently, within the last year or so, I tried to find it again and discovered that the only Smithwicks that I can find is something called Smithwicks Red Ale. The bottle and label, and even the bottle cap, are different from what I remember. In fact, the beer itself, tastes somewhat different - not bad, but different. Can anyone tell me what is going on here? Appears to be a major change in the brand.
     
    #1 FDSJr, May 26, 2019
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  2. alovelydrop

    alovelydrop Initiate (0) May 21, 2018 England

    The main thing that has happened in that time is that brewing was transferred to the Guinness plant in Dublin (it has been owned by Guinness for ages but was still brewed elsewhere until recently).

    I don't know, I'm not Irish, but I think it was probably re-branded at some point recently as the Smithwick range is *everywhere* in pubs in Ireland, so it's most likely Diageo cashing in on the strength of the name.
     
    #2 alovelydrop, May 29, 2019
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  3. FDSJr

    FDSJr Initiate (0) Apr 25, 2018 Pennsylvania

    As I recall from my time in Ireland, Smithwick's was originally brewed in Kilkenny, Ireland. I am sure that would have been the version of the beer that I found in 2004. I am going to guess that there was a change in the formula (since it seems to taste a bit different) when they made the change in the brewing location and did the re-branding. That's my "best guess" on it. Thanks very much for your input on this.
     
    #3 FDSJr, May 29, 2019
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  4. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    The Smithwick's you found in the US starting in 2004 was not the same beer you had in Ireland, according to the Guinness' "promotional" brewmaster, Fergal Murray was doing a promo tour of the US, he even - refreshingly - admitted as much to the Washington Post in 2007:

    Guinness and, later, Diageo has apparently brewed and marketed different ales using both the Kilkenny and Smithwick's brand names in different markets over the years.
     
    #4 jesskidden, Jun 24, 2019
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