1. Murphy’s Irish Stout
The subject of this article is Murphy’s Irish Stout. I had a brief stay in Ireland in the past, but I mostly drank Guinness and wasn’t familiar with Murphy’s Irish Stout. So, this is my first tasting and review of Murphy’s Irish Stout.
This product comes in a 500ml can, with an alcohol content of 4%. Before tasting, I noticed, similar to Guinness, that there’s a widget (ball) inside the can, suggesting it would have the same nitrogen-infused foam.
Seeing a widget in a product other than Guinness was intriguing. Since I like Guinness, I was quite excited to compare it with Murphy’s Irish Stout.
2. Murphy’s Story
1) Murphy’s Brewery
While Guinness started in Dublin, the capital of Ireland, Murphy’s is an Irish Stout brewed in Cork, the country’s second city, since 1856 (as mentioned on the can).
The brewery was established by James J. Murphy who converted a hospital site and building into a brewery, initially known as Lady’s Well Brewery due to a holy well located nearby. In 1983, Heineken acquired the brewery, renaming it Murphy’s Brewery. Since then, it has been distributed worldwide through Heineken’s network.
2) Tasting Notes
Murphy’s Irish Stout, being another Irish beer like Guinness, felt very similar. The foam and texture appeared akin to Guinness Draught when poured into a cup. The visual of nitrogen foam rising to the top upon opening the can is particularly eye-catching.
The visual reminds one of real coffee or cappuccino, and there’s a scent of roasted malt, giving off coffee and caramel aromas. The aroma was quite appealing. The taste reveals a very creamy foam. The nitrogen-induced foam makes it smooth to drink. Additionally, the beer itself has a body, making its taste and flavor robust.
3) Product Information
Product Name: Murphy’s Irish Stout
Type of Food: Beer
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Alcohol and Volume: 4%, 500ml
Ingredients: Purified Water, Barley Malt, Barley, Hops, Hop Extract, Nitrogen
Manufacturer: Heineken UK Limited
Separate Collection: Outer Packaging – Can (Aluminium), Inner Ball (Widget) – Plastic (PP)
3. Overall Review
It’s a stout similar to Guinness, yet slightly different. If Guinness has a more bitter finish, Murphy’s is more mellow. And I really liked the nitrogen foam.
The taste isn’t strong. It’s smooth and subtly comes through. The drink is easy on the throat, and the nitrogen foam makes it very creamy. Therefore, some may find its taste a bit bland. However, this feature makes it very enjoyable to drink. I found myself quickly finishing a can during this review.
I would consider repurchasing it. I’m also interested in doing a comparison tasting with Guinness Draught to understand the precise differences. For those who like Guinness or enjoy stout beers, Murphy’s is worth trying.