Almost hate to bring this thread back to the surface, but.... I had Smithwick's #2 last night, from the same 6-pack as the first one.
It was a completely different beer. The one I drank that caused me to post this in the first place had a slight creamy flavor/feel, and I swear I could taste some flavors that reminded me of Guinness. The head on it was awesome.... There was probably 1/4 inch of fine-bubbled, thick froth at the bottom of the glass when I finished it. Aside from the color and lighter flavor, it really did remind me of a Guinness.
Last night, not so much. Big-bubbled, soda-like head that went away quickly, and the taste didn't remind me at all of the one I had previously. That "creaminess" wasn't there at all, and it was more bitter than I recall the first one being.
These were the last two I had from a 6-pack that someone else had brought over. I had picked up another 6-pack of my own yesterday prior to drinking the second one. It was seriously different enough that I had convinced myself that something must have gone wrong with that second one in the short time that I had the first one. So I had one out of the new batch I bought yesterday, and it was equally disapointing as #2. It wasn't undrinkable or anything, but like others have stated here, it certainly wasn't anything special.
I don't know what to make of it. Both would have been served at about the same temp, from glasses that go through the same cleaning regiment, and on both occasions they were my first beer of the eve (so I wasn't loaded when I drank the one I was raving about). These were leftovers from a SuperBowl party, so there
were a lot of other beers around, but I personally opened & poured both, so I know for a fact that they both came out of Smithwick's bottles.
For the record, I no longer think those of you who were disagreeing with me are so crazy now.
And I don't think the difference is psychological from getting roasted here.
Weird.