Guinness ,Murphys, beamish

sxt

How would you rate them and which is your favourite

I think Beamish and Murphys are quite a bit ahead on overall taste and character, but maybe that is because of the few years of drinking nothing else but guinness


Are there any other good creamy stouts available worth trying?

I rarely drink stout but when I do it's Beamish. Can't understand the fuss over Guinness

BeerNut

sxt wrote: »

I think Beamish and Murphys are quite a bit ahead on overall taste and character

Trying them blind is the only way to find out for sure. Worth doing.

sxt wrote: »

Are there any other good creamy stouts available worth trying?

Well, I wouldn't regard creaminess as a measure of quality -- as the fella says, who drinks a pint of cream? -- but I think Wrassler's XXXX is one of the best draught stouts made in this country. It manages to avoid the flavour-killing effects of nitrogenation really well. Oyster and O'Hara's are decent on draught, and the latter on cask is fantastic, when it's available. For a dryer experience, bottled Dungarvan Black Rock is absolutely spot-on, as is Whitewater Belfast Black. And there are few can match the caramel and liquorice intensity of O'Hara's Leann Folláin.

the beer revolu

I think Trouble Dark Arts is probably the draught stout I've liked the most.

blueshed

being drinking btls of dungarvan black rock and o haras stout the last few weeks and i love them.
also had the o haras stout from M&S and its also very good.
had some pts of guinness in my local this week and find it ok but not a patch on the above.
today i bought a few cans of Murphys and Beamish,yet to try them.

matrim

the beer revolu wrote: »

I think Trouble Dark Arts is probably the draught stout I've liked the most.

Agree with this. It was fantastic, but isn't it a porter (I'm not sure exactly what the difference is)

Mo14

Haven't found anywhere locally yet that has Beamish on tap, and I don't want to buy cans. I'd like to try it though. Out of the other two I'd say Murphy's has more flavour. Neither I'd go out of my way to have though, I much prefer Dungarvan Black Rock and The Porterhouse's Celebration Stout.

oblivious

matrim wrote: »

but isn't it a porter (I'm not sure exactly what the difference is)

Gravity and hopping rate (18-19 and early 20th century, mid to late 21th century feck all

ciaran76

I didn't vote because Trouble Dark Arts is my favourite stout/ porter.

-Corkie-

I am shocked by how popular other stouts are compared to Guinness. I am a long time Guinness drinker and even though I live in Cork I only drank Murphys once and I thought it was horrible and I never tried Beamish..

If I knew of a pub that had savage pints of either I would love to try them..:)

wonderfulname

Of the above I have to say Guinness, its hard to get a good pint of anything else in a Dublin pub, you never do know what you're going to get when ordering a stout somewhere for the first time...

Aside from those though, I'm a big fan of the porterhouse. I must try O'Haras, I've always wanted to but I worried about freshness and cleanliness with a draught that seems seldom ordered. Want to try this Trouble Dark Arts too, where can I get it?

BeerNut

wonderfulname wrote: »

Want to try this Trouble Dark Arts too, where can I get it?

L. Mulligan Grocer in Stoneybatter, Against the Grain on Wexford Street and I think the Bull & Castle still has it on too.

-Corkie-

-Corkie- wrote: »

I am shocked by how popular other stouts are compared to Guinness.

Why? There's nothing special about Guinness unless you believe everything their advertising department tells you!

MattKane

BeerNut wrote: »

I think Wrassler's XXXX is one of the best draught stouts made in this country. It manages to avoid the flavour-killing effects of nitrogenation really well. Oyster and O'Hara's are decent on draught, and the latter on cask is fantastic, when it's available. For a dryer experience, bottled Dungarvan Black Rock is absolutely spot-on, as is Whitewater Belfast Black. And there are few can match the caramel and liquorice intensity of O'Hara's Leann Folláin.

Do you know if Wrassler's or O'Hara's are available in Cork?

Beamish over Guinness anyday.

BeerNut

MattKane wrote: »

Do you know if Wrassler's or O'Hara's are available in Cork?

You'll get bottled Wrassler's in any of the good offies, though it's not as full-on as the draught version, which isn't available outside the Porterhouse chain.

O'Hara's you'll get in the Bierhaus and possibly the Abbot's Ale House too. The cask version will likely make an appearance at the Easter Festival at Franciscan Well, or if not there'll be a different, really good, Carlow stout.

MattKane

BeerNut wrote: »

You'll get bottled Wrassler's in any of the good offies, though it's not as full-on as the draught version, which isn't available outside the Porterhouse chain.

O'Hara's you'll get in the Bierhaus and possibly the Abbot's Ale House too. The cask version will likely make an appearance at the Easter Festival at Franciscan Well, or if not there'll be a different, really good, Carlow stout.

The Franciscan Well does a stout, or is it dark ale? Can't remember the name.

BeerNut

Shandon Stout.

Technocentral

O' Haras Leann Follain is my favorite, beats the bland 3 you have in your survey hands down, if your a stout drinker perhaps you should broaden your taste, its not the 1980s anymore, loads more choice then those ones now.

Big Nasty

Love my beer and very open to different types, stay well away from anything bland, but when you get a proper pint of good draught GUINNESS there is no other drink that will beat it for me! Have tried both Murphy's and Beamish but who's to know if I ever got a really good pint of either? The few pubs I know that stock either in Dublin would never really have a good flow on tap.

As for 'draught' cans - I can't be doing with them. At home, were most of my drinking is done these days, I tend to drink Westmalle Triple, Rochefort 8, Chimay Blue, or Staroprammen if I intend having a good few!;)

grenache

Beamish for me every time. Guinness is the most over-rated stout ever. Shandon Stout is very nice too.

MANUTD99

If I'm drinking stout at home I prefer cans of Beamish. Oyster Stout from the Porterhouse is really really nice to have in the pub

MattKane

BeerNut wrote: »

You'll get bottled Wrassler's in any of the good offies, though it's not as full-on as the draught version, which isn't available outside the Porterhouse chain.

Finally got to try Wrasslers XXXX the weekend just past in Porterhouse, Dublin. To date, the best stout I've ever tasted. Would put Guinness, Murphys and Beamish to shame.

rubadub

-Corkie- wrote: »

I am shocked by how popular other stouts are compared to Guinness. I am a long time Guinness drinker and even though I live in Cork I only drank Murphys once and I thought it was horrible and I never tried Beamish.

I think it is far more shocking that there tens of thousands of guinness drinkers who have probably never even considered trying another stout.

I never understood peoples loyalty to beers, esp. stout. I have had people look at me like a complete nut case if I order 3 different beers in a row. Imagine saying you love twix's but never tried another bar in your life, and no intention of ever risking it!

I have said before I think beamish would sell more if they increased their prices in line with guinness (hope they don't though!), by saving money on advertising they can offer it at a more reasonable price -but people think there is some stigma about drinking a "cheap imitation".

Dark arts was my favourite in against the grain, I had been on the O'Haras and thought it couldn't get much better.

BeerNut

rubadub wrote: »

Dark arts was my favourite in against the grain, I had been on the O'Haras and thought it couldn't get much better.

I don't like the Dark Arts in Against the Grain as much as in the Bull & Castle and Mulligan's where it's served with less nitro.

MattKane

rubadub wrote: »

I think it is far more shocking that there tens of thousands of guinness drinkers who have probably never even considered trying another stout.

In fairness I would probably still be drinking Guinness if I hadn't become more adventurous through drinking so many different wines. My love for beer has really gathered pace since getting into wine. You use chocolate bars as an example, wine's another great one. Why do so many people struggle to deviate from what they're used to? I suppose that's just the way folk are.

I also noticed the distribution and advertising of Beamish has increased since Heineken bought it over. That's not a bad thing. I can still get a pint of Beamish in Cork City for 2.90 euro, and if I'm in Dublin I have another option to Guinness in a lot of places. I just hope they don't start to toy with the recipe. Some people think they already have.

rubadub

BeerNut wrote: »

I don't like the Dark Arts in Against the Grain as much as in the Bull & Castle and Mulligan's where it's served with less nitro.

I saw a couple of you mention that in some other thread, must try it in bull & castle so. It'd be handy if they could have some special beer tap that could just change to be more or less nitro as ordered, or just get a second tap.

Big Nasty

BeerNut wrote: »

I don't like the Dark Arts in Against the Grain as much as in the Bull & Castle and Mulligan's where it's served with less nitro.

Are they using a lager gas mix for serving stout in Against the Grain?

BeerNut

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Are they using a lager gas mix for serving stout in Against the Grain?

Nope, all high nitro, unfortunately.

thelynchfella

Stout is my drink of choice, and I really think Guinness is a very poor one. If any of you ever find yerselves in Canada, check out St Amboise Oatmeal Stout....Feckkkk me!! Beautiful!!!! I'd love to see a really good oatmeal stout brewed in Ireland

BeerNut

Dungarvan do a very nice coffee and oatmeal one for the festival circuit.

Corvo

Never really adventured into the Beamish and Murphys stouts, but I love Guinness in all its forms, even the dreaded large bottle.

oblivious

Griffin1988 wrote: »

even the dreaded large bottle.

Much better than the Nitro crap, that is for Guinness

rubadub

BeerNut wrote: »

Nope, all high nitro, unfortunately.

I had a pint of dark arts in against the grain last night, and I am pretty sure they have changed it. I think he poured it all in one go, and I could see no real settling going on. Had more of a head than bottled stouts I have poured so it might still have some nitro in it, but looked nothing like a guinness.

LaBaguette

Among these 3 I'd go for a Beamish, although I'm not really used to Murphy.

But as someone said before, the Wrasslers 4X kicks the **** out of 'em. I tried it the first time out of curiosity for this weird name, and I had a hard time ordering anything else in the following months.

Any chance of getting the Dungravan Black Rock on tap somewhere in Dublin ?

INEEDANID

http://www.dublinpubs.com/themes/porterhouse/inside/html/oyster.htm

CardBordWindow

Love a good pint of Guinness, but at the same time, I'm partial to a bit of Murphys.
Can't stand Beamish. Don't like the taste at all.

All this thinkin of stout has me developing a bit of a thirst.

TO THE PUB!!

Technocentral

Dark Arts and Wrasslers way better than Guinness, a lot of people on this site are living in the past when only 3 or 4 beers and stouts were available.

saintsaltynuts

Dont drink Beamish is your feelin Sqeamish!Only jokin' love the stuff.

rubadub

CardBordWindow wrote: »

Love a good pint of Guinness.

Can't stand Beamish. Don't like the taste at all.

I think this is quite odd, how many times have you ever had beamish? just the once? from BeerNuts link it seems lads well into their beers find it very hard to tell them apart. BUt I could imagine in some pubs the beamish might be very old due to the stigma it has, so I could imagine you might get an old one more likely than a guinness.

I think many people have their minds made up before drinking it, its like threads such as "whats your favouite ketchup", and lads saying they absolutely adore heinz and utterly despise chef, can't understand it, I have 4-5 brands of ketchup in my press most times! I bet if chef was secretly put in a heinz bottle they would lap it up.

Technocentral wrote: »

Dark Arts and Wrasslers way better than Guinness, a lot of people on this site are living in the past when only 3 or 4 beers and stouts were available.

I blame the publicans far more, many people may have never been in a pub with anything but the main 3 stouts, its hard enough to find O'Haras let alone the 2 you mention. Most guinness drinkers I know do not drink it at home, unless its a good offer going.

BeerNut

LaBaguette wrote: »

Any chance of getting the Dungravan Black Rock on tap somewhere in Dublin ?

It's on regular rotation in Against the Grain, L. Mulligan. Grocer and the Bull & Castle.

tony 2 tone

I am a longtime fan of Guinness, have tried Beamish and Murphys too. Beamish can be fairly good too. And have had the Porter house stouts over the years(I don't rate them at all) But recently I have had O'haras Leann Folain and Brooklyn brewery Black Chocolate stout. They have ruined all other stout for me now, and all "regular" beers you would find in pubs, every tastes so flat and boring compared to them.
Have yet to try the Dark Arts in Mulligans to see if there is a diffence with low/no nitro to me.

kkdela6

Now i have a question. Can you get a large bottle of guiness all over Ireland? i know i couldnt get a bottle in dublin, with some barmen asking me if they still even existed. Ive heard that around the Waterford area is the only place you can get a large bottle of guinness, this is surely not true?

tony 2 tone

kkdela6 wrote: »

Now i have a question. Can you get a large bottle of guiness all over Ireland? i know i couldnt get a bottle in dublin, with some barmen asking me if they still even existed. Ive heard that around the Waterford area is the only place you can get a large bottle of guinness, this is surely not true?

You can still get them, any of the "old man" pubs would have them.

PS By large you mean pint bottle right?

kkdela6

oh yes large pint bottle. Thats usually my choice if im in the pub for the night. I just heard that recently and when i think of it ive never had a large bottle of stout outside waterford, i remember being in killarney in a pub and they said they didnt think they still existed. but surely you can get them all over the country

BeerNut

Certainly all over Dublin.

kkdela6

I couldn't get a bottle anywhere in dublin! well out of the 4 or 5 places i visited at least :pac:

Technocentral

kkdela6 wrote: »

I couldn't get a bottle anywhere in dublin! well out of the 4 or 5 places i visited at least :pac:

They even sell the pint bottles in my local Spar in D6 for 2.99, didnt know it was that hard to find. The extra stout bottled stuff is way better than draught Guinness, which I find very bland and watery and haven't bothered with in about 6 years, but the only one I'd really rate is Foreign Export, absolutely world class, bursting with flavour like all real beers should.

BeerNut

Technocentral wrote: »

Foreign Export

Foreign Extra. Great beer, and a steal at €2 a bottle from the Storehouse giftshop. The only pub I've ever seen it in is The Village. I'd be tempted if it wasn't for all the beers from Irish breweries they have as well

ciaran76

I use the Foreign Extra(;)) for making my chilli. Always goes down a treat and always get a bottle for myself while cooking it too !:D

Tempted to try O'Hara's or maybe Blackrock next time see how it goes.

BeerNut

ciaran76 wrote: »

Foreign Export

Foreign Extra. Sorry, pet peeve.

Foreign Extra:


Special Export:


There's no Foreign Export.

Geuze

Can I ask a question about Guinness FES and the Special Export?

I have seen the FES in Tesco and maybe Dunnes for about 2.15. I have also seen it in Asda in NI.

But I have never seen Special Export anywhere. Where can I buy it?