Monastic Brews
Kilkenny is well known as a city of art and culture and one with a rich food and drink heritage, with a history of distilling and brewing that goes back a long way. The story begins not with modern breweries, but with a community of monks of St. Francis Abbey in the 14thcentury who liked to brew themselves some ale, which they also dispensed to travellers in the city. It’s here that the monks crafted their own beer as part of daily life and where the tradition of brewing in the city begins. Within the medieval walls of Kilkenny, weary travellers and pilgrims would visit the abbey for their liquid sustenance.
The Kilkenny Franciscan brewers weren’t all that unusual as monks throughout Europe were known for creating ales and beers, but in Kilkenny it cemented the city’s status as one of the homes of traditional Irish brewing, one that has lived on in the centuries since. But it isn’t just beer that monks in Kilkenny became known for; they also had a liking for distilling a drink a little stronger…
Whiskey (Uisce Beatha) and Kilkenny
Back in 1324 the Bishop of Ossary made a record of Aqua Vitae or the Water of Life in English and Uisce Beatha in Irish, being distilled in Kilkenny. Bishop Richard de Ledredehas just formally recorded the first written account of a precursor to Irish Whiskey being distilled in the city. It’s also the first recorded instance of whiskey being made on the whole island of Ireland, marking Kilkenny’s beginnings as a hotspot for the spirit’s production.
When you wander through Kilkenny today and sample some of the local whiskeys, you’re sampling some of the tradition learned over generations and the city’s links to both whiskey and beer run deep.
Tradition on Tap
Long before 21st century craft brewers and IPAs, the monks of Kilkenny were brewing up a storm. In the centuries since the 1300s, the city has become synonymous with some well-known beer brands in Ireland and abroad, but it wasn’t really until the 18th century that truly commercial brewers took hold. The city hosted lots of breweries including the Sullivan family’s operation on James’s Street and names like McCreery, Daly and Brennan also featured among city brewers. Sullivan’s was soon followed in 1710 by a John Smithwick, who gave his name to what would become the world famous Smithwick’s Brewery. It brewed at the on the site of St. Francis Abbey, the very place where ale was brewed centuries beforehand. Smithwick’s was brewed in the city right up until 2013 and today you can still enjoy a great visitor attraction at the Smithwick’s Experience.
Brewing and distilling in Kilkenny City and county is experiencing somewhat of a renaissance with Sullivan’s Brewing Company re-establishing in 2016 and Ballykeefe Distillery creating some interesting whiskeys and gins. Kilkenny, also known as a great placefor food lovers, is now a go-to destination for visitors looking to sample all the artisan food and drink the county has to offer and long may it last!
Brewery Hops Kilkenny Experiences
If you’re interested in an expert guided tour of some great artisan food and drink producers, our Kilkenny Countryside Tour might just be what you’re looking for. Check out details here. We’ll be delighted to show you the rich cultural, food and drink history of the county, with lots of samples along the way.
