A traditional Irish ale named after a green town in the southeast of Ireland. Kilkenny beer is an export version of the Irish brand Smithwick’s.
Guinness, which bought John Smithwick’s brewery in the 90s of the last century, decided to export ale known only in Ireland, but the name Smithwick’s was too difficult to remember – so marketers decided. And they named the drink for foreigners after the town where the brewery was located. At the same time – to please the same foreigners, they increased the strength of beer by a degree and added bitterness with hops. Now these are two independent brands from the same brewery: the soft traditional Smithwix and Kilkenny – stronger, bitter and foamy.
Brand History
The recipe for red Irish ale was invented in the 1710th century by the Franciscan monks, the inhabitants of the Abbey of St. Francis Abbey. The ancient recipe was used by the enterprising John Smithwick, who took over the Abbey’s brewery in XNUMX and soon became its sole owner. Smithwick & Sons, which he founded, brewed and sold the drink throughout Ireland. At the time it was just a good red ale with no name. But on the kegs they put a brand: “John Smithwick”, and over time, the inscription began to be perceived as the name of the drink.
John was succeeded by his youngest son Edmond. During the first 10 years of management of Smithwick’s Brewery, he managed to increase production volumes from five thousand barrels to forty. And his son, named after his grandfather John, began to sell beer outside of Ireland, establishing connections with foreign partners.
At the end of the 1893th century, Smithwick & Sons had difficulties – in connection with the crisis, alcohol sales fell throughout the country, which also affected beer. The crisis did not prevent Smithwick’s ale in XNUMX from receiving the gold award of the exhibition in Dublin, but the company had to reduce export volumes and launch a new line – for the production of mineral water.
In 1930, according to polls and peer review, Smithwick’s became the #1 beer brand in Ireland. It was sold in bottles and for bottling, advertised in the press, drawings and the logo of the drink were placed on public transport. And on the eve of World War II, he even received the Grand Prix at the London bottle beer competition.
Smithwick’s Brewery is still successfully operating today, remaining the oldest brewing company in Ireland. For three hundred years the company has been a family business run by 9 generations of Smithwicks. But in 1965, when the era of monopolization began around the world, the merger of small enterprises and their accession to industry leaders, the Smithwick family brewery, along with the family-owned brand, was acquired by Guinness. Then Guinness became part of the French alcohol giant Diageo, which today owns the Kilkenny trademark.
Fun fact
Irish advertising agencies created the legend that El Kilkenny became the prototype of the cartoon character. We are talking about the American TV series SouthPark and its main character Kenny, whose life is constantly hanging in the balance. The plot of each episode is a plan to kill Kenny. Advertisers thought it was a funny play on words: Kill Kenny, which means “kill Kenny”, and the name of the beer sound the same.
Characteristics of Kilkenny beer
Kilkenny Draught (4,3%) is a red ale (top-fermented beer), an excellent aperitif with a pleasant fruity caramel aroma. The color of the drink is ruby red, the secret of brightness lies in the original processing of barley grains – barley is roasted over an open fire to the color of dark gold. Experts note a well-pronounced taste of malt with nutty nuances and a harmonious aftertaste with a pleasant bitterness. Creamy foam is dense and persistent.
Beer is served chilled to 8 °C. The drink goes well with salted jerky, smoked sausages, spicy cheeses. In some restaurants, it is even served with pasta with meat sauce. But connoisseurs and connoisseurs of Irish ale prefer not to snack on this beer – they just enjoy the color, aroma, nuances of taste and slightly pink lush foam from small bubbles.
Ale is exported in cans with a built-in Floating widget capsule – for the effect of freshly poured beer, and delivered to elite pubs in kegs.
