Walk into any Irish pub and you’ll find a Guinness tap. Walk into a few others and you’ll find Murphy’s and Beamish too. Together they make up Ireland’s “Big Three” stouts, three dark, creamy pints that look almost identical in the glass but taste surprisingly different once you start paying attention.
Here’s how they stack up, and how to pick the right one for your taste.
What is Irish stout?
Irish stout is a dark, dry beer made with roasted barley, which gives it that near-black colour and the slightly bitter, coffee-like edge that sets it apart from sweeter English stouts. The Big Three are all brewed in Ireland, all served on nitrogen for that famous creamy head, and all sit around 4% ABV (sensible enough for a long evening). Learn more about the best ways to drink them here in Ireland.
Guinness: the Dublin original
Founded by Arthur Guinness in 1759 at St. James’s Gate, Guinness is the stout that put Ireland on the map. It’s known for its robust, slightly bitter flavour, thick mouthfeel, and roasted barley character. Coffee, dark chocolate, a touch of toffee, and a dry finish, that’s the classic Guinness profile.
It’s the most widely available of the three and the default pour in most Dublin pubs, including ours.
Murphy’s: the smooth Cork challenger
Murphy’s was founded in Cork in 1856 at the Lady’s Well Brewery, named after a holy well on the site. It’s now owned by Heineken, who acquired it in 1983.
Where Guinness leans bitter, Murphy’s leans sweet. Expect notes of toffee, chocolate, and coffee with very little of the dry bitterness you’d get from a Guinness. The texture is lighter and creamier, many drinkers describe it as the easiest of the three to get into if you’re new to stout.
Beamish: the Cork classic
Beamish has the longest history of the lot. The Beamish & Crawford brewery was founded in Cork in 1792 and was Ireland’s leading brewery until Guinness overtook it in the 1830s. The original brewery closed in 2009, and Beamish is now produced at the Heineken-owned Lady’s Well facility in Cork.
Flavour-wise, Beamish sits between Guinness and Murphy’s. It’s smoother than Guinness, less sweet than Murphy’s, and known for a chocolate malt character with a hint of coffee and smoke. If Guinness is too bitter and Murphy’s is too sweet, Beamish is the middle ground.
Which one should you order?
A rough guide:
- You like bitter, roasted, and bold: go for Guinness
- You like smooth, sweet, and chocolatey: go for Murphy’s
- You want something balanced between the two: go for Beamish
The truth is that all three are great pints, and the best way to settle the debate is to try them side by side. Pop into The Temple Bar, grab a pint, and decide for yourself which one earns a spot as your regular order.
