The Smithwick’s Experience at Saint Francis Abbey Brewery in Kilkenny, is a popular visitor attraction that immersed guests in the 300-year history of Ireland’s oldest ale, brewed on a site with medieval roots. The Smithwick’s Experience was supposed to close permanently in 2021 due to challenges from the pandemic, but reopened in July 2022.
Located on Kilkenny’s Medieval Mile, the experience is set in a Victorian brewing building on Parliament Street, near Kilkenny Castle and Saint Francis Abbey, a 13th-century Franciscan monastery where monks brewed ale using water from Saint Francis’ Well. The tour traces brewing from these medieval origins to John Smithwick’s establishment of the brewery in 1710, through its family ownership until 1964 when Guinness (Diageo) took control.
- Multi-Sensory: The 45–60-minute guided tour features interactive elements like holographic “talking portraits,” aroma sampling of brewing ingredients (hops, malt, barley), and visual displays of the brewery’s history and brand evolution. Visitors learn about the Smithwick family’s resilience through challenges like penal laws, famine, and wars, as well as their contributions to Kilkenny, such as supporting Saint Mary’s Cathedral.
- Tasting Session: The tour culminates in the Smithwick’s Bar, where guests over 18 enjoyed a complimentary pint of Smithwick’s Red Ale, Pale Ale, or Kilkenny beer (a nitrogenated red ale). An optional tasting paddle upgrade allowed sampling multiple ales, while under-18s receive soft drinks. A “Masters of Ale” tour offers a deeper dive into ale styles and a pint-pouring tutorial.
- Sensory-Friendly Tours: In partnership with AsIAm’s National Autism Charity, the experience offers sensory-friendly tours with reduced noise and light, sensory kits, visual guides, and trained staff to accommodate autistic and sensory-sensitive visitors.
Additional Features:
- Gift Shop: The on-site shop sells Smithwick’s merchandise, including branded glassware, clothing, and bottled ales, allowing visitors to take home a piece of the experience.
- Event Spaces: The venue offers indoor (Smithwick’s Bar, 65–100 guests) and outdoor (Barrel Yard, 65–150 guests) spaces for private hire, ideal for events like corporate functions or celebrations.
- Saint Francis Abbey Ruins: Visitors can view remnants of the 13th-century abbey, including the nave, chancel, and a restored oratory, discovered during the brewery’s 1854 expansion. The abbey’s great east window, with seven lancet lights and slender mullions, was a highlight, though its setting amidst brewery buildings was noted as less than ideal.
- Flavour Room and Mural: A striking mural depicts Kilkenny’s vibrant history and a Flavour Room for ingredient exploration were added in 2022, augmenting the sensory experience.
Visitor Amenities and Atmosphere:
- Situated at Parliament Street, Kilkenny, R95 VH31, the attraction is a 5-minute walk from Kilkenny Castle, part of the Medieval Mile, and 90 minutes from Dublin, making it easily accessible by car or public transport (Kilkenny’s MacDonagh Station).
- Operating Hours: seven days a week, March–October (10:00 AM–6:00 PM, last tour at 5:00 PM) and November–February (11:00 AM–5:00 PM, last tour at 4:00 PM), closed December 24–26.
- Guided Tours: Local guides, praised for their knowledge and enthusiasm (e.g., Morgan, Emma, Katie), delivered tours in English, with audio guides in French, German, Spanish, and Italian. Private evening tours for groups are available by arrangement.
- Atmosphere: Reviews described the tour as lively, informative, and more intimate than Dublin’s Guinness Storehouse, with the tasting session and interactive elements like ingredient nosing being highlights. Some noted the lack of an active brewery as a drawback, but the historical storytelling and ale quality compensated.
Practical Details:
- Admission: Standard tickets cost around €10 (over 18s only), with upgrades for tasting paddles. Group bookings were available via phone (+353 56 7786377) or email (info@smithwicksexperience.com).
- Tours lasted 45–60 minutes, with extra time recommended for the bar, shop, or tastings.
- Nearby Attractions: The experience was steps from Kilkenny Castle, Rothe House, the Medieval Mile Museum, and Kyteler’s Inn, making it easy to combine with other Kilkenny highlights.
- Check updates and purchase tickets on the official website www.smithwicksexperience.com.
- The abbey’s historical significance, including its oratory and holy well, could inspire new heritage-focused initiatives, though no specific projects are documented. Visitors interested in the site’s history can explore nearby attractions like the Medieval Mile Museum, which houses artifacts like skeletal remains from Saint Mary’s Church, reflecting Kilkenny’s medieval past.
The Smithwick’s Experience offers a vibrant, multi-sensory journey through 300 years of brewing history, blending medieval monastic origins with the Smithwick family’s legacy, interactive displays, and ale tastings.
