Smithwick's - Guinness Ltd.

CharlesDarwin

Rhode Island

2.83/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Originally reviewed March 21, 2005. On tap at the Irish Times Pub - Laurium, MI. Deep clear ruby pour with copious offwhite head and decent lacing. Strong rich malty aroma. Flavors of dry bread, yeast and light caramel malt. The strong dry oak and bitter finish kind of bother’s me, but is probably typical for the style. Leaves too much of a bitterish astringent aftertaste for me.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2006 23:47:30 | More by CharlesDarwin

xtremejammn

Michigan

4.47/5  rDev +27.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

My favorite beer to date.

A: Incredibly long lasting head with a dark copper brown body. Perfect.

S: Smell's a bit burned, but it also smells of roasted coffee yum!

T: Tastes a bit sweet with a strong hop pressence to balance it. With almost no aftertaste.

M: Not too bubbly at all, perfect.

D: Goes down smooth, finishes clean, fantastic.

I would reccomend this to anyone especially guiness fans. God it's so drinkable! Adios

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2006 00:17:37 | More by xtremejammn

nicksta

Michigan

3.88/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

A: The beer pours a dark brown/red hue. A big, pillowy head sits on top and leaves some nice lacing on the glass as it recedes. It is a beautiful beer.

S: Damn reds, I never can decipher them. Um, it is very malty sweet with a hint of maple?

T: This beer has to beer pretty warm, otherwise it is to weak. I am talking as little as 20 minutes in the fridge if you want to get the most flavor out of it. It starts out with caramel sweet/smoothness. It gets a little sour in the middle with the carbonation and It ends with some hop dryness.

M: The mouthfeel is a little watery, just like the taste.

D: This beer is extremely drinkable. If I felt like It I could take down this six pack in a 1/2 hour.

A good brew for me since I have been away from reviewing for a while.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2006 05:27:56 | More by nicksta

Drew966

Florida

3.15/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Smithwick's pours a reddish brown with a white head from a brown twelve ounce bottle. I'm just not getting much aroma at all. Taste has a caramel flavor. Not much to it, not a terribly exciting ale. Nothing to particularly recommend it. Inoffensive and uninteresting.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2006 00:53:41 | More by Drew966

mwrseeley

Ontario (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I have enjoyed Smithwick's over the years but it has been a while since my last taste. Things haven't changed - Smithwick's is as I remembered - a hearty ale that reminds you that there is , in a brewing world dominated by non-descript blandness, still an old standby to be had and appreciated..

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2006 01:17:41 | More by mwrseeley

jmz62565

Connecticut

2.85/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

This pours a dark amber with a large white head and good lacing. The smell is light with only a small amount of malt detectable. The taste is thin with a real metalic undertone only some hops and malt were present. The m/f is light ,but the balance was off with the sweet malt clashing with the bitter hops. This really isn't a beer that I would try again unless it was free.

Serving type: on-tap

06-25-2006 00:05:27 | More by jmz62565

tubbnik

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Drank this on tap several times in Ireland before they began to export to the U.S. Supprisingly drank many more of these than I did of the famed Guinness. Upon returning home I was infatuated with Irish Red Ales, and this one holds its own against all I've had.

A - Deep mahogany on pour. Frothy yet carbonated head. Better than most.

S - Average. Not much really.

T - Wonderful. Slightly carmalized. Alittle sweet in the beginging with a nice subtle hoppy bitterness on the finish.

M - Decent carbonation. Like goldilocks, not to much, not too little. Refreshing.

D - Highly drinkable. I just mowed the lawn and am on my third. Ultimate session beer.

Reccomended.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2006 19:01:56 | More by tubbnik

ITK4ever

Maryland

3.38/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured a rich mahogany/cedar clear color with an off-white head that subsided to about an inch. Not bad lacing. Color is the most impressive trait of this macro. Grainy/malty nose with a hint of carmel. Smooth taste, nothing overpowering. I like this one chilled to cover up some of the grainy-ness. Mouthfeel again good, but nothing overpowering. Good offering from Guinness for the macro/import Amercan crowd that's constantly looking for a fad. This is one of those fads, so I keep this on-hand for my import buddies.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2006 13:47:32 | More by ITK4ever

doppelmeup

North Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

An exceptional looking beer. Crystal clear, deep, deep brown with some yellow highlights that reminded me of a Tiger's eye gemstone. Inch tall head that slowly subsided leaving beautiful lacing behind all the way down the pint glass.

Aroma was pretty mild. No real smells stood out. Weakest part of this beer.

Taste was smooth with some hop bitterness in the middle No strong tastes, but all in all a nice overall tasting beer.

Mouthfeel was creamy with slight carbonation, leaving a nice clean aftertaste.

Extremely drinkable brew. Could have many of these in a row, and probably will!! Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2006 21:07:31 | More by doppelmeup

weeare138

Pennsylvania

3.28/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to globob3jen for this...
Appears a dense, dark, red toned mahogany color with a creamy, thick, light tan head that floats atop the brew and slowly dies out. Scattered bits of lacing are left around the glass.
Smell is of mild sweetness with some crystal malt caramel standing out with a light metallic, wet coin-like smell buried in there mixed with grains.
Taste is a step up from the sub-par aromas. Decent amount of caramel and toffee right up front with the malt dominating with a sweetness.
Mouthfeel is a light-medium bodied with a sweet malt and breadiness that is overly dominant on the front the front of the tongue and in need of a bit of bitters and a more full mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2006 22:46:19 | More by weeare138

HochFliegen

Oregon

3.95/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had this on tap in Ireland in many pubs over the course of 3 weeks. Much better on tap than at home in the bottle.

Poured a red/brown color with a nice tan head that had the staying power to the last drop. Nice lacing on the glass as well.

A very light malty smell with buttery tones and a carmel or toffe scent as well.
Flavor was a rush of carmel/toffee right up front nice and sweet and slowly fades into a hoppy bitter flavor with a nice semi-dry aftertaste.

It was very smooth and creamy with a medium body that compliments this beer quite well.

Its serves slightly warm in N. Ireland where I had it 1st in the town of Bushmills (after the whiskey), but in the republic its chilled. I couldnt really notice any major differences in the flavor profile. Both were enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

05-27-2006 02:55:52 | More by HochFliegen

HimerMan

New Jersey

3.7/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

On tap and bottle.

Great pour with a fast rush, like guinness but settles rather quickly. Dark brown/golden with a moderate head - really neat the first time I had it.

This was the beer at the bar that no one knew, so I tired it.

Taste was great, absolutely easy to drink, nothing terribly special about it. Great malty flavor, little to no hops (which I like) and easy to have another one.

Reliable and safe beer, definitely one you don't need to think about having.

Cheers.

Serving type: on-tap

05-11-2006 11:40:47 | More by HimerMan

AaronHomoya

Indiana

3.13/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz brown bottle part of a six-pack from the local grocery store.

Amber color, acceptable head. Not much in the way of aroma except maybe a little malt. Taste is not bad, with sweet malt and an almost toasty finish. Very little hops. Mouthfeel is very clean and smooth, this beer almost has a lager characteristic to it, in my opinion. Overall, a very smooth and drinkable beer with okay taste. I wouldn't turn it down if someone offered me one.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2006 13:51:46 | More by AaronHomoya

Freshie

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a caramel toffee color, with creamy lace.

Smells of toasted grain and light hops.

Tastes the same, with smooth texture. Light tanic quality. The hops is grassy but the toasted grain malt rains supreme.

Very well-balanced, with the toasted grain flavour staying with you as you drink.

Serving type: on-tap

05-01-2006 01:22:04 | More by Freshie

atigerlife

Hawaii

3.85/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at a local pub.

Poured a nice dark brown with reddish highlights. Beautiful creamy light brown head. Little carbonation and light lacing. Nice start.

Aroma is quite light with some sweet malts. Taste is sweet up front with some hops coming through at the finish. Very creamy with no aftertaste.

It has a medium body with a light cleansing ability. Overall, very nice suprise since I had not heard of this beer and ordered it out of curiousity. Very drinkable. Easily a good session beer.

Serving type: on-tap

04-30-2006 17:25:50 | More by atigerlife

Phatz

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours beautiful thick amber brown with deep red hues. A 2 finger tan head fades into a frothy cap that lasts the entire duration of the beer. It has moderate lacing.

Smell: The smell is similar to an O’Hara’s Irish Red (but a bit muted, with the classic toasted caramel malts that are a signature to the style, a bit of a Pale Ale butteryness as well.

Taste: Very crisp malts, sugary up front, clean through the middle and it has a crisp dry finish. The hop character shows up mostly at the finish and after taste as does a touch of diacetyl.

Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel is a very smooth, creamy medium body that feels frothy straight through the palate.

Drinkability: This may be a pretty typical Irish Red, but as a fan of the style, I found it to be extremely drinkable. It is fairly straightforward in taste but sits lightly in your stomach and aftertaste begs you to keep sipping. This is certainly a sessionable ale. Very nicely done.

Hope this is helpful.
Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2006 08:13:20 | More by Phatz

jwc215

New Jersey

3.35/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

An Irish steakhouse that I enjoy going to has this on tap. I tried it between guinnesses, so couldn't rate it before. On my way home from work, and before any other beers, I decided to go to the store and pick it up to give it a fair review. It has become quite popular in this area.
It had a dark, reddish color with a white head that didn't last too long before becoming a decent lacing. Its carbonation was light to moderate.
The smell was faint. Couldn't quite pinpoint it, but had faint tea-like malt aroma with slight hoppy scent. The scent was not bad, but very subtle.
The taste was not bad either. Nothing great though. Some hints at a sweet tea at first. Later it became slightly more bitter. This was what it should be for this type. However, it was a bit too watery. The taste was thinner than the appearance led me to believe. To improve, it should have a bit of a stonger scent and more malty thickness.
It was refreshing, lending to its drinkability, but could become boring.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2006 02:30:06 | More by jwc215

JayTheFinn

California

2.95/5  rDev -16%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Picked up a six pack of Smithwick's at M & R Liquor (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/10885) in Carpinteria CA. Great place to find some good stuff.

Smithwicks is one of those beers I could drink and drink and drink. Not that I'm a big fan, but it goes down pretty darn easy. I'm not huge on hops and this wasn't overwhelming, so that's probably part of the reason I'm good with it. It doesn't leave much of an aftertaste either, so that's a bonus. Other than that it's pretty average and nothing to get terribly excited over.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2006 23:43:52 | More by JayTheFinn

IntriqKen

California

4.05/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a nice reddish amber with a full beige colored head which faded rather quickly to fine lacing...then nothing.
Aroma is light and clean...biscuits, sweet malts, and very light hops at the end.
Mouthfeel is rather thin and watery, even for this style with not quite enough carbonation to carry any body.
Taste is surprising. Very balanced between the hops and sweet malts with a bit of drying on the end, leaving little or no aftertaste.
A very mild Irish Red Ale. I prefer American Reds with their empasis on hops, but this is very drinkable.
Can be sessioned well and not too heavy for a summer day.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2006 17:44:16 | More by IntriqKen

plaid75

New York

3.1/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I had a few pints on tap while in Connemara, Ireland. Overall a decent ale.

The color was in keeping with its style as a red ale. I, however, have learned to be very leary of a red beer (Killians, Red Dog, Red Wolf - need I say more?).

I was impressed however with this ale's drinkability. It wasn't overly smooth and had a very good hop presence.

Serving type: on-tap

04-10-2006 20:56:41 | More by plaid75

Mebuzzard

Colorado

3.9/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this both on tap and by bottle.
A good pour, dark, caramel color with beige head that lingered a bit, that all but disappeared.

Aroma was light; soft hops, malt and nuts and biscuit.

Taste was about the same as aroma. The biscuit seemed to fade. A balanced beer between sweet (at first) and dry (finish).

Serving type: on-tap

04-01-2006 16:46:08 | More by Mebuzzard