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Post Info TOPIC: Smithwick's Brewery Tour
murphy


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We toured the Smithwicks brewery in March of 2011. The previous year, they had started giving the tours for the 300th anniversary(of the same family owning it). It was to be a one year event. They held it over into 2011 because of popular demand. As for 2012, I can't recall if anybody on the various blogs has mentioning taking a tour.

If.... it is still going on when you are in Ireland, I highly recommend it. We did the Gueiness tour, and it didn't hold a candle to the Smithwicks tour. Have toured a few brewery here in the states also, and the Smithwick one is the most comprehensive. It lasted about 2 hours, and the tour guide talked almost non stop for 90 minutes....with a wealth of information going back to the Monks who started it back in the 12th century. It took him about 15 minute (it seemed like an eternity) to draw the pints. They all had about 2 inches of compact foam(head) that protruded about an inch above the top of the glass! Always thought that the head on Guiness tasted like frosting, and this was almost as good!

You should be able to contact the brewery by phone or email, and possibly the Kilkenny Tourist Information office could be contacted...they should be in "the know"! At anyrate don't miss it!

The Jameson distillery tour was also great, and we intend to visit Bushmills in Oct.

Dan



-- Edited by murphy on Monday 2nd of July 2012 07:57:27 PM

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AKLR


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Have been reading Michele's book and didn't see this listed as a sightseeing item.  We want to do a "brewery" tour and have read some comments regarding Guinness or Jamison Distillery in Dublin.  We'll also be going to Kilkenny.  Any views on saving our "brewery" until then.  We only have two days in Dublin and will be using the HOHO so can't see everything on those stops in our time.  We'll have a full day or so  in and around Kilkenny.  Thanks in advance for any suggestions.



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Sue Johansen
susan


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Hi AKLR,
I have toured all three (and Bushmills in the north).Only Smithwicks and Bushmills are working brewerys.The Smithwicks brewery will be moving to Dublin in 2013,they don't know if the tour in Kilkenny will continue.
Susan

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Michele Erdvig


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Sue,

Since the Smithwick's Brewery tour was so "up in the air" it is not listed in my book. When you are in Kilkenny your hosts or the tourist office will know if the tours are on or not.

Michele

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tony2phones


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I would select which tour you want in Dublin and if Smithwicks are running a tour on the day you are in Kilkenny its a bonus, I believe they only run certain days . Guinness Storehouse is a museum/gallery type tour and you may be disappointed, I am told Jamesons is a good tour although I have only done the Middleton tour so cant say much about the Dublin tour personally.

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Geno


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Was told the Smithwick's Tour was outstanding, and gets high props on the TripAdvisor ratings.  Great discussion of history, how the beer is made, etc.  Their hours and when they are open are as follows:

Closed Sunday and Monday.

Tuesday-Saturday, 12-4:30 p.m.

I took the Guinness Storehouse Tour in Dublin -- against my better judgement from what I had heard -- and it was indeed anything but impressive.  Not really a tour at all, but more of a way of giving you the right to wander rather aimlessly around the building and eventually get your "free" Guinness at the Gravity Bar for 15 or so Euros!  smile

To each his own, but the Guinness Tour was not worth it to us.

Geno



-- Edited by Geno on Tuesday 3rd of July 2012 04:39:08 PM

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Geno


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A friend of mine was in Kilkenny last week.  They are still running the tour.

Geno



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AKLR


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Thanks to all. I was going to contact the Smithwick's Brewery to see about their schedules in October but appreciate everyone's input. Don't know why I'm worrying about seeing more than one brewery, when we were in Italy, we spent a day touring lots of winery and never got tired of them!!!!!


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Sue Johansen
Roy


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We were in Kilkenny on June 24 and the tour was open.

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Roy
AKLR


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Again, thanks to all recent input. Glad for the information as with our limited time in Dublin, it's nice to know we can concentrate our time there
on other sights.

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Sue Johansen
Geno


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In my opinion, something not to miss in Dublin is the tour of Kilmainham Gaol.

Really quite amazing how so much of the history of Ireland in some way or another went through that jail.

Geno



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AKLR


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Geno, Thanks for the Dublin tip, I do have that on our list. And glad for all the tips for Smithwick Brewery
, as I just e-mailed them and they are fairly booked for the two days we'in in Killkeny in October and suggested we pre-book now, which I did. (So, guess some of my advanced planning paid off for on this tour).

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Sue Johansen
Michele Erdvig


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Sue,

Advanced planning always pays of in many ways! My thanks to everyone for the up to the minute info for Sue.

Michele

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