There’s a beer on the block that could be about to steal Guinness’s stout crown.
While the joy of ‘splitting the G’ has helped the Irish beer to dominate since it was created in 1868, it seems the stout industry is filling up with choice, and there’s one beer emerging as a clear favourite at local pubs: Murphy’s.
Call it a beer revolution, a cost of living crisis or a generation of beer lovers unafraid to try new things, the reality is Murphy’s sales increased by 632% across the UK in December 2024, according to The Irish Examiner.
Meanwhile Guinness – which is owned by Diageo – experienced price hikes and supply issues, sparking a debate among stout drinkers who are asking: ‘Is Guinness or Murphy’s the better choice?’
Reddit threads are filling up with opinions, publicans are weighing in, and we even got Murphy’s to share their thoughts as well.
Here’s what we found out:
What’s the difference between Guinness and Murphy’s?
Despite the seeming newness of Murphy’s, the Irish stout isn’t a young brew. In fact, it’s been around longer than Guinness, having been created 12 years earlier in 1856.
After running as an independent brewery in Cork for over 100 years, Heineken acquired it in 1983, and since then, it’s been quietly rising in the stout ranks.
So, what’s the major difference between Murphy’s and Guinness? According to stout lovers on Reddit there are a few noticeable differences.
Mr-EdwardsBeard says: ‘Murphy’s is a tad sweeter’, and Kshump says they ‘prefer the drier taste of Murphy’s’.
The beer experts behind the popular The Real Ale Craft Beer page on YouTube say Guinness has more of a ‘rich, creamy, and thick mouthfeel’, with a ‘lingering bitterness’. While Murphy’s is ‘lighter, less bitter, and more sessionable, with a thinner mouthfeel’.
Landlord Padraig Brady of the popular Irish pub Mulligans in Manchester, who considers himself a ‘Guinness expert’, tells Metro: ‘Murphy’s delivers an authentic, high quality alternative to the market leader, with a smoother, slightly sweeter flavour profile that’s especially appealing to those who find Guinness’ coffee-like bitterness a little too intense.’
Basically, if Guinness is the bold older brother, Murphy’s is the mellow mate.
Why Murphy’s suddenly became so popular in the UK
The recent popularity of Murphy’s can be attributed to a few things, but one is supply and demand.
According to Heineken, Murphy’s saw a 176% increase in UK sales, and in November, it was declared that ‘the stout battle between Guinness and Murphy’s’ had moved to the UK.
The reason why is partially because Guinness hiked its prices, and suddenly, the average price for the once-affordable brew in London became approximately £5.74, with some pubs charging upwards of £8, while others offer them for under £3, according to the Evening Standard.
It was a hit for Guinness lovers but it unfortunately wasn’t the only challenge to come.
During Christmas 2024, the stout experienced a surge in popularity so great that the Dublin-based brewery was unable to produce and distribute the product according to demand.
It meant publicans had to find an alternative or go without. For Brady, he saw it as a perfect time to introduce Murphy’s draught into his pub. He knew there was an appetite for stout as he, on average, sells 13,000 Guinness each week.
‘We wanted to offer our customers more choice, and Murphy’s felt like the perfect fit. It’s an iconic Irish name and a truly traditional pint, ideal for enjoying while soaking up the atmosphere of Mulligans and our daily live music line up.’
To welcome the beer in, the pub gave away 1,989 pints last week – a nod to the year it was first launched on draught in the UK – and the result has been fantastic.
‘People have been coming back specifically to ask for Murphy’s,’ Brady explains. ‘Sales have exceeded all our expectations, and we’re already seeing strong repeat orders from customers.’
Turns out, dry Guinness taps weren’t the worst thing in the world for stout lovers, and as Reddit’s Sjeffield said, Murphy’s has become a bit of a crowd pleaser’.
Is Murphy’s cheaper than Guinness?
It’s tough to answer this one. As Guinness is sold in significantly more pubs across the UK, there are major variations in its cost.
For example, at one pub house, you can nab a pint for just £2.91, while another sells a pint for £9.05. Based on this, the average Guinness ends up being £5.74, according to the Pint Pricer – a website that compares the prices of pints across all pubs in London.
The average price for a pint of Murphy’s is slightly higher at £5.83, with the cheapest being £5.20 and the most expensive sitting at £6.20.
Regardless, the price hike certainly changed things and shifted some perspectives on Guinness, including from CAMRA Chairman Ash Corbett-Collins, who tells Metro: ‘It’s a blow to see Diageo is taking advantage of the rise in the popularity of Guinness by hitting punters in their pocket when they just want to enjoy a pint of stout.’
For Corbett-Collins, she understands why many would switch to Murphy’s but she believes there are even better options.
‘I’d encourage everyone to seek out and choose great stouts and porters from independent and local breweries. These independent breweries and beers deserve as much as attention as the global brands. Sadly, unfair access to taps at the bar in a lot of pubs makes this difficult.’
What pubs and punters are saying
London pub Nancy Spains, the ‘home and top seller of Murphy’s in the UK’, has seen a rise in people switching to Murphy’s this year.
‘We always see Irish drinkers seeking it [Murphy’s] out, but also a growing number are younger drinkers curious about alternatives to big-name stouts,’ Nancy Spains co-founder Peter O’Halloran tells Metro. ‘Once they try it, they’re converted.’
‘People are after flavour, quality, and character. Murphy’s has that in spades, and at Nancy Spains, we serve the best of it.’
It’s something Heineken UK’s On-Trade Director, William Rice can prove as well: ‘Draught sales are up 176% this year, and we’ve also tripled the number of pubs now pouring Murphy’s. It’s clear the brand is becoming a go-to for those looking for quality, authenticity and a fresh take on a classic pint.’
We contacted Guinness for comment too, but the iconic brand seems to be sitting pretty and hasn’t got back to us yet.
So, is Guinness in trouble?
The good news for Guinness lovers is the stout won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. It still holds the stout crown in most corners of the UK and carries some impressive cultural clout.
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But Murphy’s rising popularity has proven that Guinness isn’t the only stout worth talking about anymore.
The alternative Irish stout is going down a treat for landlords and beer lovers alike while making sure it doesn’t stray too far from the old trusty Guinness.
So, while Guinness isn’t going anywhere, it’s not quite as untouchable as it once was, and that can only be a good thing for stout fans everywhere.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
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