About
Sullivan’s Brewing Company opened for business over three hundred years ago in The Maltings on James’s Street, smack bang in the middle of Kilkenny City. After Sullivan’s Brewery closed for the final time in the early 1900s the tales of the good deeds of this Sullivan Family began to fade into memory.
The Smithwick Family in partnership with direct descendants of the Sullivan Family had a vision to re-open the once-great brewery in the city where it all began. They enlisted the help of Ian Hamilton, one of Ireland’s most eminent contemporary master-brewers. Together they are bringing artisan brewing back to Kilkenny. If people thought that brewing in Kilkenny was dead and buried, they are in for a rude awakening…
Brewed at Dundalk Bay. Some small batch beers brewed in the taproom.
The Smithwick Family in partnership with direct descendants of the Sullivan Family had a vision to re-open the once-great brewery in the city where it all began. They enlisted the help of Ian Hamilton, one of Ireland’s most eminent contemporary master-brewers. Together they are bringing artisan brewing back to Kilkenny. If people thought that brewing in Kilkenny was dead and buried, they are in for a rude awakening…
Brewed at Dundalk Bay. Some small batch beers brewed in the taproom.
7.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
7574 16
Opaque, Cloudy Haze, Brownish Amber Color, Huge Dense Thick Foam Head, Creamy Clouds on Top, Good Retention, Thin Creamy Dashes of Lacing. Malty, Earthy, Hop Aroma. Moderately Sweet, Malt, Some Earthy Notes, Some Sour Notes, Moderate Hop Bitter. Same In Aftertaste: Moderately Sweet, Malt, Slight Notes of Earthiness and Sour Notes, Moderate Hop Bitter. Past its Prime... Just OK At This Point...
Opaque, Cloudy Haze, Brownish Amber Color, Huge Dense Thick Foam Head, Creamy Clouds on Top, Good Retention, Thin Creamy Dashes of Lacing. Malty, Earthy, Hop Aroma. Moderately Sweet, Malt, Some Earthy Notes, Some Sour Notes, Moderate Hop Bitter. Same In Aftertaste: Moderately Sweet, Malt, Slight Notes of Earthiness and Sour Notes, Moderate Hop Bitter. Past its Prime... Just OK At This Point...
Tried
from Can
on 10 Jul 2026
at 15:11
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
8584 18
Opaque, Dark Mahogany Red Brown Color, Huge Thick Dense White Foam Head, Fluff Cream Top, Thin Creamy Drip Rings of Lacing. Sweet, Slightly Fruity, Caramel Aroma. Moderately Sweet, Malt, Fruity, Caramel, Light Hop Bitter. Slightly Sweet, Slightly Roasted Malt, Fruity, Caramel, Light Hop Bitter Aftertaste. Good. Enjoyed It. Recommended...
Opaque, Dark Mahogany Red Brown Color, Huge Thick Dense White Foam Head, Fluff Cream Top, Thin Creamy Drip Rings of Lacing. Sweet, Slightly Fruity, Caramel Aroma. Moderately Sweet, Malt, Fruity, Caramel, Light Hop Bitter. Slightly Sweet, Slightly Roasted Malt, Fruity, Caramel, Light Hop Bitter Aftertaste. Good. Enjoyed It. Recommended...
Tried
from Can
on 03 Jul 2026
at 17:22
7.3/10
—
Appearance 9
Aroma 7
Flavor 6.5
Texture 8
Overall 7
Pours really dark but not pitch black, over a finger of foam, retention and lacing are excellent.
Smell is dark chocolate, roasted malt, light coffee, bitter overall.
Taste is roasted malt, dark chocolate, coffee, some anise in the background. Bitter, earthy.
Smooth mouthfeel, I would not bother to drink this again.
From Beer Drop.
Smell is dark chocolate, roasted malt, light coffee, bitter overall.
Taste is roasted malt, dark chocolate, coffee, some anise in the background. Bitter, earthy.
Smooth mouthfeel, I would not bother to drink this again.
From Beer Drop.
Tried
from Can
from Beer Drop
on 12 May 2026
at 19:27
4.9/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 4
Texture 7
Overall 4
Weak-sauce Irish red, with a little bit of toasted bread but mostly acidic notes of apple and a off-kilter floral bitterness.
Tried
from Can
on 30 Apr 2026
at 00:46
7.3/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Can from Kvickly Mega Syd @ Home. Pours black with a creamy light brown head. Aroma of roasted malt, coffee, dark chocolate. Flavor is light sweet, light bitter, roast malt, coffee, dark chocolate. Medium body, soft carbonation, light sweet light bitter finish. 290426
Tried
from Can
on 29 Apr 2026
at 16:26
6.8/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 6.5
Can from Kvickly @ Home. Pours clear very dark amber with a tan head. Aroma of malt, caramel, bread, light nuts. Flavor is sweet, malty, caramel, bread, nuts. Medium body, soft to average carbonatio, sweet finish. 270426
Tried
from Cask
on 27 Apr 2026
at 16:28
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 8
Texture 9
Overall 8
Really nice but it took the full 4 pack to really grow on me. Its hard not to compare this to guinness and so it presents initially as drier, roastier, and the roasted malt really comes through. A very different less sweet profile than Guiness. But after the 2nd one I thought "yea I want some more of that" and found myself happily taking down the 4th one. Cans from Cavallari Gourmet, Oviedo FL. Not sure its entirely worth the $16.99 price tag for the 4 pack but hey.
Tried
from Can
on 22 Apr 2026
at 20:53
7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
EB - Can 440ml. @ [ Petalax 🇫🇮 💻👀 Virtual Tasting ] - fonefan & Brugmansia House. 🏠🇩🇰 🍀 ☁️☂️ [ As Sullivan's Black Marble Stout ]. ABV: 5.1%. [20260412]. 7-/4/7-/4/15
Tried
from Can
on 12 Apr 2026
at 13:24
7.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
A sample at Croatian Homebrew Competition Judging School. Clear amber to copper, small off-white head. Aroma is caramely and surprisingly fruity, hints of strawberry, cherry and some candy. A touch of nuts, such as almonds. A hint of toast. Flavour is malty, caramely, a touch of butter. Soft toasty notes. Smooth, light to medium body, finishes sweet.
Tried
from Bottle
on 12 Apr 2026
at 12:52
7/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
500ml bottle. Pours an opaque black with a medium, creamy, long lasting, tan head that leaves soapy curtains of lace. Aroma of roasted malt, dark chocolate, licorice, ash and coffee. Semi-sweet flavour of roasted malt, plum, licorice and cocoa in a dry, bitter coffee finish. Medium body with an oily texture and soft carbonation. Tasty.
Tried
from Bottle
from
Andrew Hilton Wine and Spirits
on 12 Apr 2026
at 04:28