Kilkenny (beer)

Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale

Kilkenny Irish beer
Manufacturer	St. Francis Abbey
Introduced	1987
Alcohol by volume	4.3%
Style	Irish Red Ale
IBU scale	29
Website	www.diageobrands.com/indexx.html

Kilkenny is a nitrogenated Irish cream ale from Guinness, which originated in Kilkenny, Ireland. The brand is produced and managed by Guinness owner, Diageo. It is available in draught, bottles and cans. It is brewed in Ireland. Kilkenny is similar to Smithwick's Draught; however, it has less hop finish, and it has a nitrogenated cream head similar to Guinness. The 'Kilkenny' name was originally used during the 1980s and 1990s to market a stronger version of Smithwick's for the European and Canadian markets due to difficulty in pronunciation of the word 'Smithwick's'. It now refers to a similar yet distinct beer.

Kilkenny was brewed in St. Francis Abbey Brewery in Kilkenny, which was the oldest operating brewery in Ireland until its closure in 2013. It is now brewed at Guinness brewery, Dublin.^[1] It is served in similar manner to Guinness; fully risen with a head of ¾ to 1" approx. The ingredients are water, malted barley, roasted malted barley, hops, and yeast.^[2]

While Ireland is the primary market for the brand, Australia and Canada are the two largest importers of Kilkenny.^[1]