Smithwick's Superior Irish Ale - Guinness Ltd.

kojevergas

California

3.95/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is a canned version of Smithwick's I've only seen in Ireland. It differs from Smithwick's other offerings in its taste and ABV (this is 3.8% compared to the 4.5% of the others).

Appearance: Poured from a can into an Irish pub style (real) pint glass in low altitude Galway, Ireland, on September 28th, 2010. Pours a dark red with a four finger head that reduces to two fingers over the course of two minutes. The head is thin but creamy. An appealing appearance.

Smell: A smell of moderate strength. Biscuity. Difficult to detect individual notes with me broken nose. There's definitely something coming from the yeast.

Taste: Multiple notes: first a hint of cream from the head, then three well balanced notes - one of roasted ale, one of malt, and one of nuts, then my favourite part: the finish, a perfect amber counterpoint to the early flavours. Very well built for an Irish red. I think I prefer this to the bottled Smithwick's I've had in the USA, and even to the Smithwick's I've had in the pub on-tap.

Mouthfeel: Thick but as smooth as it needs to be. Not too wet, either. The dryness ups just a little bit in the finish to make you crave that next sip.

Drinkability: I'd certainly have another, but this version isn't available in the pub. Will I buy it over a Guinness Foreign Extra at Dunnes? Probably not every time I go, but every so often.

This beer will satisfy fans of Irish reds, but Irish stout-lovers needn't reach for it too often.

Serving type: can

09-28-2010 20:18:21 | More by kojevergas

rarbring

Sweden

3.13/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A clear ruby ale with a compact off-white head leaving some lacing, but small curtains.

Smelling weak of bread, nuts, some grass and pears.

A sweet bread start, some red apples and walnuts.

Medium high carbonation, rather refreshing texture, a small body and a light dry finish.

A light beer, and a bit boring-

Serving type: nitro-tap

09-18-2012 19:32:10 | More by rarbring

beer2day

North Carolina

3.05/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Deep red color with dark streaks running through. Darker cream head, 2 fingers worth, with nice retention but lacking in lace.

Nose is weak. Get a light caramel malt intertwined with very faint strawberry licorice. Some light citrus and a faint whiff of booze round things out. Just too little to grab one's attention, though.

Very mild flavor. Lemon-infused iced tea comes to mind. Get a stiffer shot of strawberry licorice in the finish. Fairly refreshing on a hot day, though.

Feel is unremarkable, but for 3.8% abv I was not expecting much.

Overall, one to seek out in Ireland if the temperature gets above 18.

Serving type: can

08-15-2012 01:06:54 | More by beer2day

Cozzatoad

Italy

3.58/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Draught version of the classic Smithwick's, mainly avialable in Ireland though i found it on cask in a Irish themed pub in Italy

A- Poured on a pint glass. Perfect pour, dark coppery colour with some lighter orange-ish hints if seen through light. Some extra-small bubbles slowly floating up and reaching, a dense, creamy, perfectly white head, that shows great retention throughout the whole tasting while still leaving an amazing load of thick lacing on the sides of the glass. Awesome, i could just watch this beer the whole day

S- Only a light hint of malty sweetness passes through the everlasting head. Malty smell is caramel, vaguely biscuity, maybe theres a slight floral hint

T- More than the smell suggested. Creamy sweet malts, a mix of caramel, sweet biscuits, a slight nuttines; quite bready overall. Some slight fruity notes showing up on the tongue. Finish is slightly hoppy though not bitter at all: a slight earthyness, some floral notes. Overall taste is slightly but somehow pleasantly metallic. Everithing is pretty much subtle, but all in all very nice and perfectly integrated

M- Decently thick though not at all heavy body, just a minimal hint of carbonation, resulting in what is posssibly the creamiest feel i've ever had in a beer

O- The perfect example of what a session beer should be. Not complex or super-flavourful, just highly drinkable and perfectly balanced. Worth a try if you are able to find it

Serving type: nitro-tap

05-16-2012 09:43:35 | More by Cozzatoad

Hoppsbabo

United Kingdom (England)

3.3/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Sold throughout Korea in major supermarkets.

SMELL: Very, very faint beer smell.

APPEARANCE: Clear, dark copper and not a bad head.

TASTE: Dry, lightly carbonated and malty. Some citrus in the aftertaste.

OVERALL: A real old man's drink. If I wasn't in South Korea I wouldn't have bothered with this but I was in the mood for something mellow and this fitted the bill. A perfectly drinkable average beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 14:17:17 | More by Hoppsbabo