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Murphy's Irish Red

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Murphy's Irish Red is a clear, reddish-amber ale with an off-white head. The aroma is malty: caramel and bread, with a lightly toasted edge and a touch of toffee. The taste follows the same line, mostly sweet malt up front, then a modest, earthy hop bitterness that shows mainly in the finish. The beer was developed for export markets.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber14
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
maltycaramelearthy
malty
caramel
earthy
bready
toasty
Aroma
The nose is dominated by bready, malt-forward character with prominent notes of caramel and toffee.
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

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
Serve at 8–11°C

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

Pint glass

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

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Murphy's Irish Red

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About Irish Red Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Irish Red Ale?

Irish Red Ale 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 Ale

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

Compare with another beer →Explore all Irish Red Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse Ireland beers →