Smithwick's Experience — Attraction in The Municipal District of Kilkenny City

I honestly can't say enough good things about the Smithwick's Experience after visiting Kilkenny! I see some reviews mentioning that they do not make Smithwick's on site any longer taking from the experience which is true but we found during our visit that it was very pleasant.

You will have to go to the car park but it is very close & convenient. When we first walked in to the experience they had an original cobble part that was really cool to see showing you the way it was back in the original days. Our guide was on time and professionally took us on the journey into the evolution of Smithwick's. The animated experiences were well done and had a nice balance on our tour with the guide taking us through some parts & movie/animated parts for others. We learned how the beer was made and then came the best part of the experience for me, we went to the end of the tour into the ingredients table. Here you actually get to see, feel, and if you want to taste the ingredients in the steps. I LOVED this part!! I didn't know what hops tasted like in its harvested form for example, but I do now! Put up all the displays you want, this makes the experience for me. For us this really made it cool after hearing the history and how they make it. While Guinness does own the brand now, I feel like this tour is much better than the Guinness tour giving a more personal feel on the guided tour so I'm glad they haven't mimicked what they have at the Storehouse tour.

At the end of the tour you end up at the bar for your pint or in my case flight which was very good. I didn't realize that the Kilkenny is essentially Smithwick's with nitro but it was great. It also wasn't crowded which was a pleasant experience for us to be able to talk, especially after the Guinness bar was unbelievably busy so another feather in the cap of the quieter more personal feel of it. You end up in the merch store after having your pint or two & they have some nice things to try out.

I highly recommend this one for a great experience. If I am ever in Ireland again I would divert myself here just to come back & enjoy this experience again. When asked about memorable experiences from our trip to Ireland this comes up every time already with me telling people to add Kilkenny & the Smithwick's experience to their trip. Kilkenny is a great place to visit & if you want an experience away from hustle and bustle this is a great...

We were recommended to do the tour when we visited and it was one of the best things we did in town. We were unlucki while choosing the hour, as around 3pm there are not so many tours and we had to wait for 45 min to the next one to start. We were able to go around for a walk and stop in a very cosy Caffè near by to make some time, so it really was not too bad. Apart from that, the tour was nice and the information very interesting. The guides are really good at keeping it engaging without been overwhelming. For me, the place and the tour is not as impressive as the Guinness tour in Dublin, but I considered it more enjoyable and they totally made more jokes with an opener atmosphere. For the final tasting, I got the 3 samples instead of the pint, which I totally recommend, as you can try all of the beers and not focus on a single one. And if you don't like beer and you still want to visit it, that is fine, because they even have soft drinks for those who don't like it or...

The Smithwick’s Experience in Kilkenny is an absolute must for beer enthusiasts and anyone interested in Ireland’s brewing heritage. The tour offers a fascinating blend of history, interactive displays, and insights into the traditional brewing process. The combination of modern multimedia presentations and the rich legacy of Smithwick’s creates a truly engaging experience.

The guides are knowledgeable, friendly, and clearly passionate about their work. Their storytelling brings the brewery’s history to life. A particular highlight is the tasting session at the end, where you can enjoy a freshly poured pint of Smithwick’s – the perfect way to round off the tour.

The ticket price is reasonable for what’s on offer. The central location in Kilkenny makes it easy to find and an excellent addition to a day exploring this charming town.

The Smithwick’s Experience is a fantastic mix of history, brewing craftsmanship, and great beer. Highly recommended for anyone...