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Murphy's Irish Red

Murphy's Brewery
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🌍 Ireland · Irish Red · One of 9 Irish Reds in hopIQ

Launched in 1983 for export markets and brewed to a recipe kept under the Murphy's name, today no longer in Cork. Barley malt with a small share of roasted grain gives a clear reddish-copper colour and a bready, malt-driven aroma. Caramel and toffee lead on the palate, with a grainy, biscuity dryness underneath. A light earthy hop bitterness closes a clean, medium-light finish that stays well short of roast harshness.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
amber14
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Medium body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Off-dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Moderate bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Balanced mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

Balanced backbone, with every axis close to the middle.

Nothing dominates, and that is the craft — each element gets room to be tasted.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Irish Red.
Hop character
earthy
Malt character
caramel
malty
bready
roasted
Fermentation & yeast
clean

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Murphy's Irish Red

Appearance

Murphy's Irish Red displays a beautiful reddish-copper hue, characteristic of the style and achieved through a blend of pale barley malt with roasted grains. The beer presents excellent clarity with a well-formed head that demonstrates good retention. The carbonation appears moderate and appropriate for the style.

reddish-copperclearwell-formed headbright

Aroma

The nose is dominated by bready, malt-forward character with prominent notes of caramel and toffee. Subtle roasted grain undertones add complexity without overwhelming the palate, while a light earthiness suggests restrained hop usage. The overall bouquet is clean and approachable, inviting further exploration.

bready maltcarameltoffeeearthy

Taste

The palate opens with rich caramel and toffee sweetness, followed by a grainy, biscuity character that provides textural interest and balance. A light earthy hop bitterness emerges mid-palate, preventing the beer from becoming cloying while maintaining its malt-driven identity. The finish showcases a clean, dry quality that lingers pleasantly without any harsh roasted notes.

caramel-forwardbiscuitybalanceddry finish

Finish

The finish is clean and medium-light, with the malt sweetness gradually fading into a subtle earthy bitterness. The beer concludes without any roast harshness, leaving a smooth and satisfying aftertaste.

cleandrysmooth
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
82
Finish
76
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Murphy's Irish Red

Serve at 8–11°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Murphy's Irish Red

About Irish Red

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Irish Red?

Irish Red is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Irish Red

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same caramel, malty, bready character as Murphy's Irish Red will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Irish Reds in hopIQ

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