Since 1710, Smithwick’s Brewery has been making beer for Ireland and eventually the world.
After you take the brewery tour, stop on over to the tasting room. You have the option of getting a pint of one of their many beers or you can take a flight.
I went for the Smithwick’s Red Ale flight. The flight included:
Smithwick’s Red Ale
Smithwick’s Pale Ale
Kilkenny Draught (which is similar to Guiness)
I really enjoyed the red ale. They did not have that strong hoppy taste. They were somewhat sweet, smooth, and they felt light.
Make sure you take time to visit the brewery. And if you have enough time check out their gift shop.
When walking around Kilkenny we stopped at a pub called Paris Texas. One of the reasons we stopped was because of their name. We had actually been to the town of Paris, Texas and we had to see what this was all about. It truly was a Texas themed restaurant because their entire menu was Texas BBQ. While it smelled delicious when we walked in we were not going to get Texas BBQ in Ireland. We wanted to stick with local food.
We did hear that they offered the best Irish Coffee in Kilkenny. So that is what we all ordered. They were made with such care. There was a perfect balance of coffee and whiskey. There was a homemade cream on top that was sweet and oh so creamy. The coffee when down smoothly. It was almost scary how fast I was able to drink it.
If you are in Kilkenny and you want a great Irish coffee Paris Texas is the place. But they are also known as one of the leading Gastro pubs in the Southeast of Ireland. Check them out at www.paristexas.ie
We were heading southwest towards the charming town of Kilkenny. Along the drive it was amazing to see the old churches and structures that are still standing. It helps bring history to life as Ella would tell us stories about what we saw.
Kilkenny is a medieval city that is also known as the Marble City because of its distinctive black marble.
This was one of my favorite stops on the trip. As we rode through the town, I could not help but notice the blend of medieval structure with modern day conveniences.
We did not have enough time in this town. Almost everyone on our tour agreed. While this is the downside of being on a tour, it is perfect for when I come back. I know exactly where to go.
One of the must visits in Kilkenny is the Kilkenny Castle. It is just a few Euros, but it is worth it. What made this so interesting is how much history is in these walls. One family lived in it for over 600 years.
The paintings located throughout the great halls helped create a picture of the generations that roamed the halls.
The tapestries were awe-inspiring. They were huge and encompassed entire walls. It is amazing knowing that these were made by hand.
The dining rooms were renovated with great care. They actually were able to track down the original makers of wallpaper and carpets. As an American I was astonished by this because some of these companies are over 200 years old, which are older than our country.
The staircases were completely made of carved wood. They are like something out of a movie. The workmanship is spectacular. Even the walls were made of carved wood. We do not see this in modern day construction.
When you are in this castle, don’t forget to look out the windows. There are breathtaking views of the grounds and the gardens.
When we finished the castle tour, we were ready to get an Irish coffee. It was recommended that we check out Paris Texas; they are supposed to have the best Irish coffee in town.
Walking the streets of Kilkenny we popped into several of the local shops. It is an easy town to walk around. The blend of old and new made the town unique.
We came to Smithwick’s Brewery which started in 1710. You are able to take a brewery tour and then do a tasting at the end. They do an amazing job teaching everyone about the history of the brewery and how their beers are made.
The tasting room is large to accommodate everyone. You have the option of getting a pint of one of their many beers or you can take a flight.
It was time to get back on the bus and head to our next stop. It was a 2 hour drive and we were able to stop for a quick bite at McDonald’s to enjoy on the bus.
