Island's edge opinions

rob316 · 12-09-2021 1:12am #1

I would be solely a Beamish drinker so I like a strong bodied bitter stout. Saw this in the shop this evening so said I'd try it.

Gotta say it's some achievement making something so flavourless and watery. I downed the first and thought that was light and refreshing but I was bored of it half way through the 2nd. It's a nice creamy head sure probably more than the main 3 stouts, but the body is like water. It's blended with tea to take out the bitterness and make it refreshing but it really lacks that taste of "more" off it.

I couldn't see it appealing to any stout drinker but I'd imagine that's not their target market given they already have Beamish and Murphy's.

Definitely one for the rock shore, seltzer, gin drinking generation.

endacl · 12-09-2021 2:49am

Brewed by Heineken. It sounds like a beer for people who aren't really into beer. Like some kind of training drink? So, yeah. One for the Rock Shore demographic.

"Made in Cork, Island's Edge is aimed at people who don't drink stout..."

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/food-and-drink/drink/heineken-s-new-stout-its-head-is-creamier-than-guinness-s-but-does-it-taste-as-good-1.4615899

listermint · 12-09-2021 8:54am

I love stouts . Major fan of O Haras Nitro , Long hand and Leann Forlain . Love portors too. And like a Guinness when out.

Have tried this in draught and also yesterday in can since there was a glass free offer in SuperValu.

Frankly it's a good stout. Nice creamy feel to it. Much more flavoursome than Guinness and if it was between this and an overly bitter Beamish id take this. They've done a good job on it. Great all rounder.

It honestly reminds me of how Guinness used to taste before they flattened the taste out of it

Cloudio9 · 12-09-2021 9:40am

not much flavour in it, nothing offensive about it. I just can’t see what market there is for it. I expect it to be gone by this time next year.

Sadly Heineken seem determined to kill off Murphy’s. Almost impossible to find in Dublin now and musgraves have dropped it entirely. The cans are now brewed in Scotland and heard Brexit causing issues with stock.

Effects · 13-09-2021 10:10am

Murphy's is brewed in Scotland?

Weepsie · 13-09-2021 10:14am

A beer or stout that has on it's can "unexpectedly refreshing" is on to a loser immediately.

Murphy's or Beamish if on tap will get my preference, and then guinness, unless O'Hara's something else is available. Wicklow Wolf and O'Hara's Leann Folainn would be my preferred ones.

Cloudio9 · 13-09-2021 1:52pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117883705#Comment_117883705

The cans are. Draught still brewed in Cork.

One_More_Mile · 13-09-2021 2:02pm

Tried it the weekend. Its a nothing stout, neither memorable nor offensive. Cant see it taking off really

Effects · 14-09-2021 3:00pm

Might see if I can get a taster of it in the pub tonight!

L1011 · 14-09-2021 8:28pm

Not my review:

https://www.lisagrimm.com/2021/09/13/strange-times-in-stout-land/

But I'd agree that Guinness 0.0 tastes more like a "real" stout and Islands Edge tastes more like a NA stout. Bland and, erm, thin if that's the right term to use.

bennyl10 · 14-09-2021 8:28pm

Have had 2 pints of it now

absolute swill. Genuinely wouldn’t wish it upon my worst enemy.

rockshore has competition for the worst thing on tap

listermint · 14-09-2021 8:32pm

Genuinely surprised at the responses here. Three friends have tried it now seperately all reasonable reviews. At different times of trying it.

Beechwoodspark · 14-09-2021 8:41pm

Found it very watery almost like as if I tipped a bottle of ballygowan into a half drunk pint of Guinness

Knightofcydonia · 14-09-2021 8:50pm

It's thin, not much mouthfeel and I find it a little sweet. Not sweet like a milk stout but certainly sweeter than Guinness. Having said that it's drinkable, I got a 4 pack and that'll do.

Id have Guinness ahead of it for sure but there's plenty of other stouts I'd have ahead of Guinness too!

Butson · 16-09-2021 11:21am

The TV ad alone is enough to turn me off it.

Drivel.

rob316 · 16-09-2021 1:53pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117892002#Comment_117892002

Accurate and the color is more like a glass of coke than a proper stout. The only plus was it was probably the creamiest widget can I've gotten.

Have Heineken just given up on Murphys? Surely remarketing Murphys would of been better than this dishwater?

Wouldn't imagine Diageo are worried about it anyway, even the name is forgettable.

Lynk · 16-09-2021 8:49pm

Bit concerned to see, but I can't find cans of Murphys anywhere in West Cork ever since this got launched.

Their press release stated they wish to gain 10% of the stout market, given its made by Heineken who own both Murphys and Beamish, you'd wonder are they trying to faze them out in favour of promoting only one stout?

As for the product itself, its bland, like watered down Guinness. It doesn't have the beautiful coffee tone of the Murphys, or the bitter taste of a Beamish. Hope it doesn't take off because if it did, I can see those two brands being discontinued.

rob316 · 16-09-2021 8:57pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117901299#Comment_117901299

I don't think they'd ever discontinue Beamish, it's got about 40% of the stout market in cork and 8% nationally.

Don't even want to contemplate that to be honest. A world without beamish 😟

kheb · 16-09-2021 8:57pm

Tried a few cans. It’s definitely too bland compared to Guinness. However, they are clearly aiming it at people who don’t l8ke Guinness which is not me.

rob316 · 16-09-2021 8:59pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117901330#Comment_117901330

They said it's aimed at people who don't drink stout but a bit of a contradiction if they are looking to take a bit out of the stout market. As I said I couldn't see any stout drinker switching to this.

kheb · 16-09-2021 9:02pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117901341#Comment_117901341

Agreed, no stout drinker will switch. I will try it on draught for interests sake.

Lynk · 16-09-2021 9:10pm

I'm from West Cork so it's Murphys country here, I never took to Beamish, but I respect the people who do. Both are great stouts. Ominous signs though, particularly for Murphys, I can't find a can of it anywhere here.

L1011 · 16-09-2021 9:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117884769#Comment_117884769

Brewed or canned?

Splitting the brewing on what is increasingly a niche product in their lineup cannot be sensible from a cost perspective. But the two big boys in the market here have insufficient (or no, really, for Diageo) packaging capacity so tankering for canning is quite normal.

Cloudio9 · 16-09-2021 9:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117901392#Comment_117901392

Actually don’t know, guess that makes more sense. Murphy’s used to (30 years ago) have decent (20%) market share in the UK. No idea what it has now.

L1011 · 16-09-2021 9:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117901556#Comment_117901556

Its possible it is brewed there, Heineken do some odd things.

BeerNut · 16-09-2021 9:56pm

They do the same for Heineken lager: draught brewed in Cork, small-pack brewed to Irish strength in the Netherlands and shipped over. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they did the same for Murphy's in Edinburgh: most of the cans going to the UK and US with whatever little they need for Ireland being sent across. The non-sensible bit is that Lady's Well is still operational at all, but there are likely reasons for that beyond the simple logistics.

sxt · 17-09-2021 3:10pm

Alot of comments here's saying it tastes bland. If that's the case they may have a mass market winner

To have mass market appeal, it is vital to make the most bland and inoffensive product you can make,hence mass appeal. Think of all the bland mass market staples like heiniken, budweiser, Guinness etc

If it is has a big marketing machine behind it and it meets the requirements of being , bland, tasteless/inoffensive, and easy to drink, it is very hard to see it not being a huge success...

L1011 · 17-09-2021 11:55pm

Heineken, Budweiser and Guinness have more distinctive tastes than Islands Edge. Most of the people calling it bland are comparing it to Guinness!

Poorside · 18-09-2021 12:02am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117904477#Comment_117904477

Guinness is bland if its too cold, to lump it in with those 2 piss beers is disgrace, they need to be near freezing to drink, Guinness at about 6/7 degrees is a different beast

bokale · 18-09-2021 4:30pm

Nitro guinness is blander than Heineken

irish_goat · 18-09-2021 4:49pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117906687#Comment_117906687

Guinness is never served that warm in a pub.

listermint · 18-09-2021 10:57pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117908385#Comment_117908385

Fact .

If you like stouts then it's hilarious to think Guinness is a taste deliverer. It's quite simply not.

breezy1985 · 18-09-2021 11:07pm

Haven't tried it but I am getting really sick of this fake craft BS from the big brewers. Just do your thing and let the lads have theirs or at least be up front about this being "Heineken Black"

the beer revolu · 19-09-2021 12:20pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117909673#Comment_117909673

I don't think anyone is claiming that this is "craft", anymore than rockshore is, "craft".

To the mass mark the term "craft beer", isn't really a positive thing.

This is mainstream, mass market beer - nothing fake about it as far as I can see.

breezy1985 · 19-09-2021 12:28pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117910652#Comment_117910652

They avoid all references to the parent brewery and market the beers with a sort of brewed local vibe. A bit more subtle than Cute Hoor but clearly an attempt by Heineken to eat into this market. It wont fool any fans of craft who really know their stuff but it will have an effect on the market

the beer revolu · 19-09-2021 12:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117910680#Comment_117910680

I disagree.

It's a mainstream beer aimed at a mainstream market in my view.

Just as Rockshore is.

Not mentioning the parent brewery? Beamish doesn't reference its parents. Most brands don't - they stand alone. Like Guinness brought out Harp rather than blonde Guinness. The average punter doesn't know Guinness make smithwic's for example. I could go on.

I really don't see why you think this is "fake craft". I'd imagine the most of the market that it's aimed at wouldn't throw rocks at a beer they thought was "craft".

breezy1985 · 19-09-2021 12:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117910727#Comment_117910727

Beamish and Smithwicks were stand alone breweries that were bought out so already had their own brands same goes for Fran Well or Blue Moon so its a bit of a different situation to Heineken making new beers especially when they already have black, weiss and other beers that are actually called Heineken.

What then is the point of Rockshore if its only going to take sales from Heineken. There is a massively growing trend for locally made products and small company products which is what these are trying to fool people into thinking they are.

BeerNut · 19-09-2021 1:27pm

Blue Moon was always part of Coors. Rockshore exists to replace Budweiser in the Diageo portfolio and explicitly mentions St James's Gate in its adverts. There are sound reasons for companies not wanting a new product to have direct association with their flagship or legacy brands, but it doesn't mean they're trying to fool people into thinking it's from somewhere it's not.

And unfortunately, the market for independent beers is not "massively growing" at all. It seems to have hit about 2.5% of the beer market and been stuck there for the last few years.

Montage of Feck · 19-09-2021 1:33pm

Stout for people who don't think stout? Why bother so and a stupid name to boot.

breezy1985 · 19-09-2021 1:53pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117910836#Comment_117910836

I never realized that Blue Moon was always Coors. Ive met the "founder" a few times which made me believe he had once owned an independent company

Royale with Cheese · 19-09-2021 2:05pm

Tried it a few weeks back, I can't give you an in depth review but found the first few mouthfuls ok but by the end of the pint I'd decided it wasn't for me. I'd drink a lot of Guinness and find Murphy's quite nice and would have no problem drinking Beamish either when it's the only thing on offer (for 2.95 in Wetherspoons usually).

23-09-2021 1:11pm

Cans are popping up now. 4 for €8.

I got one and put it through the Jewellery cleaner box.

Its similar to Beamish.

Dont really have any big opinions on it, I've bought 4 Beamish every now and again to throw into the rotation and dont see any reason I wouldn't just grab 4 of these again. The 4% is a slight turn off but that's similar for Murphys.

rob316 · 23-09-2021 1:15pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117928689#Comment_117928689

Its the body of it I have the problem with, its just so watery. That's saying something when Guinness is already like water.

Larbre34 · 23-09-2021 10:03pm

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Beanstalk · 29-09-2021 3:58pm

Seen the ad on the tele saying 'Surprisingly Refreshing'. Just two words that shouldn't describe a stout really. Hearty or satisfying or wholsesome or something would be much better but sure what can ya do. Looking forward to trying this new thin refreshing stout that's being marketed as we head into the winter lol

30-09-2021 8:33pm

Saw my local had glasses on the stand with the 4 packs, so I assume you get one with only 4 cans, but I despise those types of glasses with a stout.

If I bought one of these in a pub I'd be asking for a Guinness glass so the free glass in this case isn't much of a seller.

Maybe other people could find use for that offer... I get annoyed when I'm given Guinness in a non tulip glass but I know others may not be as fussed.