TOPIC:

What am I thinking of then, jaysus maybe it was Carling that came in that bottle.
I'm talking about 22years ago with a hazy memory at the best of times!

Almost 20 years ago, I did some work in Macardles. At that stage they were still brewing Macardles but the new Bud bottling plant had just been installed and, looking back, I suppose the writing was on the wall.

At that stage Phoenix was still being brewed by Cherry's (in equally small quantities I would imagine).

Cherries brewery started out in New Ross where it made Phoenix ale! It was bought by Guinness in 1953 (roughly)I think and shut down but they opened another brewery in Waterford in 1955 with the same name and also brewed Phoenix ale.

I'm originally from about a 100 yards from Cherrys Road bellow where the brewery was situated!

Not sure but I believe it might havebeen a red ale! Would love to give it a go!

"sbillings":27z52six wrote: I remember it being in the standard 1 pint bottle, like Bulmers or Smithwicks. I also remember concluding that it was rebadged smithwicks. So young, yet so cynical.[/quote:27z52six]

Phoenix was my first love! It was indeed in a standard pint bottle (only - no small bottles or draught) but you could be run out of Waterford on a rail for suggesting it was rebadged Smithwicks. I have seen many an argument about that in pubs.
When ale was overtaken by the imported lagers Phoenix sadly disappeared in the 90s and Cherrys made the execrable Hoffmans which was only available on draft or cans.
I think McArdles is the closest I have tasted to Phoenix and it may explain why McArdles is now available in so many Waterford pubs.
Cherrys brewery only makes the guinness extract for export to other countries to be brewed now.

Any one remember "Smithwicks barley wine "

I have a Phoenix handled glass/tankard (half pint, I think) that my Dad had years ago. I'm quite fond of it, though oddly never used it. It's buried in a box somewhere, but I'll take a pic when I find it next.