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.
7.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Draught at Grafton Street Pub, 2/7/26.
Bit of toast and caramel with some red berry and a touch of char.
Reasonably malty but drying out with toast and grain. Moderately fruity, clean and reasonably satisfying. Not over toasted or thin. I'll take it.
Bit of toast and caramel with some red berry and a touch of char.
Reasonably malty but drying out with toast and grain. Moderately fruity, clean and reasonably satisfying. Not over toasted or thin. I'll take it.
Tried
from Draft
on 08 Feb 2026
at 01:05
6.6/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 7
Smell of malt, earth. Deep copper colour, small beige head. Aroma of sweet malt, earth, metal. Medium bitter. Slightly dry palate. Medium carbon.
Tried
from Draft
at
O'Connell's Irish Bar
on 06 Feb 2026
at 22:17
7/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7
16 oz nitro draft. Mild coffee, soft roasted malt, yeast. Nice mouth feel from the Nitro and does show a decent amount of body. The typical Guinness clone. Although this may be a hint better than Guinness.
Tried
from Draft
at
The Tip Tap Room
on 31 Jan 2026
at 13:28
6/10
Kilkenny, Ireland! New region!
Ruby ale. Harsh bitterness but smooth malt
Ruby ale. Harsh bitterness but smooth malt
Tried
from Can
on 06 Jan 2026
at 03:30
6.9/10
—
Appearance 9
Aroma 7
Flavor 6.5
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Nitro can. Opaque colour with brownish nitro head. Roasted, a bit ashy aroma. Light-bodied, smooth palate. Roasted, bitterness, coffee in the flavour. Light finish. Like Guinness but with more taste.
Tried
from Can
from
K-Supermarket (Kampus)
on 02 Jan 2026
at 18:12
6.1/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Ruby colour, medium-sized beige head. A bit bready, caramelly aroma. Light to medium-bodied. Caramalty, some light hoppy bitterness. Maltier than Kilkenny's one. You probably guess how this tastes before trying it.
Tried
from Can
from
K-Supermarket (Kampus)
on 31 Dec 2025
at 19:06
7/10
Lci
Tried
from Can
on 21 Dec 2025
at 21:40
6.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7
Brown with off white head - Malt aroma - Malt body with some caramel notes and olso some nice bitterness - Malt flavours and bitterness goes into the finish - This was nice
Tried
from Can
from
Vinmonopolet Røros
on 18 Dec 2025
at 21:12
7.4/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Bottle 50cl. @home poured into a pint glass. Clear briljant deep amber colour, good frothy beige head, slowly diminishing, light lacing. Aroma roasted malt, caramel, dark fruits, prunes, grassy hops. Taste medium sweet and bitter, malty, light yet present roast, caramel, hint fortified wine. Medium body, oily texture, soft carbonation, malty sweetbitter aftertaste, lingering roasty nuances, some coffee groundings, very nice.
Tried
from Bottle
from Le Comptoir Irlandais
on 07 Dec 2025
at 18:06