A Dark Beer That's Worth the Hype: My Take on Murphy's Irish Stout

I've been craving a good dark beer for ages, so I'm making up for lost time. I recently spotted this epic return of a once-popular coffee stout and a direct competitor to the legendary Guinness. I'll be reviewing the non-alcoholic Guinness soon, and it's basically identical to the classic version, except for the price and lack of ABV. A paradox, but the non-alcoholic version costs almost twice as much. So why not refresh my memory and tell you about Murphy's Irish Stout? Maybe someone out there isn't aware that this beer even exists. I'll start, as always, with a brief rundown of the basics.

First, let's get the basics straight:

▪️Beer: Murphy's

▪️Country of origin: Murphy Brewery Ireland Limited, Heineken International; Cork, Ireland;

▪️Volume and format: a sturdy 500ml can;

▪️Features: with a nitrogen capsule;

▪️Style: Irish Stout;

▪️Color: dark beer;

▪️Strength: 4% ABV;

▪️Yeast fermentation: Top fermentation;

▪️Filtering: Filtered;

▪️Shelf life: 365 days;

▪️Price: around 250 rubles;

▪️Where to buy: liquor stores; supermarkets;

Murphy's Irish Stout

▪️⬛️ Appearance and packaging: ⬛️▪️ The can photography didn't quite go as planned. We had to improvise with the props, and the can almost ended up under the bed. Our feline friend, a Scotch-whisky aficionado, has a soft spot for Irish beer. Here's what our furry model had to say: 'As a Scot, I may not be familiar with everything Irish, but I do appreciate a good Murphy's.' The cat was quite taken with the can, and I didn't have to wrestle it away from her to take this photo.

Murphy's Irish Stout Beer The can is solid, made of heavy aluminum that can withstand some rough handling - I've even dropped it a few times without any issues. The back of the can is where you'll find all the product information in multiple languages: Murphy's Irish Stout Beer There's even a Russian sticker from the distributor with a QR code for the Honest Trademark. The product is officially imported to our country: Murphy's Irish Stout Beer Murphy's Irish Stout Beer The top of the can has a nice golden rim: Murphy's Irish Stout Beer The expiration date is printed on the bottom of the can: Murphy's Irish Stout Beer A bit of info about the brewery: The brewery in Cork was founded by James Murphy in 1856 on the site of a former hospital. The products quickly gained popularity in local pubs, and within four years, the company became one of the top producers in the country. In 1892, Murphy's beer won its first gold medal at the Dublin exhibition in Ireland.

▪️⬛️ Ingredients ⬛️▪️

It's pretty straightforward, really:

Water, malt, barley, hops, nitrogen gas

That's the thing about Murphy's Stout - it's all about the brewing process and the quality of the ingredients, not some added chemicals or flavorings.It's said to be a milder alternative to Guinness, and the mash is a blend of malted and unmalted barley. The water comes from a local source called Lady's Well.

▪️⬛️ Aroma, taste, and carbonation ⬛️▪️

The brewer claims this about their product:

The beer is almost black in color with a medium body and a creamy head. You can pick up notes of toasted barley and hops in the aroma. The taste is dry and smooth with hints of strong coffee and caramel. It's easy to drink because it's not too bitter.

So, let's see how it stacks up. The carbonation is thanks to a special effects capsule. As soon as you pour it into a glass, it's like the beer is fizzing. And over time, those 'fizz bubbles' rise to the top and turn into a head:

Murphy's Irish Stout Beer The photo shows how the beer at the bottom of the glass is as dark as night. Murphy's Irish Stout Beer The head is dense, but soft and airy. The aroma of the beer is chocolate-coffee with notes of burnt sugar. It's like someone's dunking a biscuit in a cup of coffee nearby. Murphy's Irish Stout Beer The head falls quickly. In the taste, you can feel the malt and caramel. The head is creamy and delicate. The aftertaste is coffee-like, and there's no sign of the alcohol in the taste or aroma. There's a faint bitterness in the aftertaste that's similar to coffee or the bitterness of dark natural chocolate. Murphy's Irish Stout Beer ▪️⬛️ What dishes it pairs well with ⬛️▪️ The beer would pair perfectly with smoked meats, chocolate, chips, cheeses, crackers, desserts, and pizza.

I decided to drink this bottle with truffles on the side.

Murphy's Irish Stout My husband wasn't a fan, said it's total rubbish and we're sticking with our usual cheese and crackers. But honestly, it's not rubbish at all. The stout has a coffee and chocolate flavor, kind of like truffles. Why not mix it up? Plus, many beer enthusiasts swear by pairing it with chocolate.And don't forget about the temperature – stouts are usually chilled to around 5-10 °C before serving. Not room temperature, but not icy cold either. That's when the flavor and aroma really come alive.

▪️⬛️ Nitrogen Capsule: What it is and how it works ⬛️▪️

Background info:

Murphy's beer is often served on tap using a nitrogen mix (like nitrogen and carbon dioxide), which gives it a creamy texture and smoothness

Murphy's Irish Stout So to preserve that creamy texture (and make life easier in the can format), they came up with the nitrogen capsule. It's mainly used for stouts, even in non-alcoholic Guinness. Here's a quick rundown of how it works:Before closing the metal container, they insert a plastic ball filled with gas, which increases the pressure inside. When you open the can, the gas is released and the beer creates a lot of foam.

Clever, sneaky, and surprisingly simple. And effective, to boot. I didn't bother to open the can just to show off the capsule, but the truffles I paired with it were a perfect match:

Murphy's Irish Stout Beer▪️⬛️▪️ To be honest, I was really impressed with this Murphy's Irish Stout from Murphy Brewery Ireland Limited. What I loved about it was that it's rich and full-bodied, but not too overpowering in terms of alcohol content. So if you're a fan of dark beers, this stout is definitely worth checking out. I'm giving it a solid five stars and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a great stout.