Written by Its actually a bit strange reviewing Murphy’s Irish Red Beer for St. Patrick’s Day this year because in a way, this beer is an impostor. While it sports the Murphy’s name and the Irish Red look, its actually brewed in the Netherlands by Heineken.
For me it also seems to be a bit of an anti-climactic way to end this week following our review of the excellent O’Hara’s Irish Stout, and a great guest post by “The Beer Nut” on Irish Beer.
So, I guess this beer review is of an Irish-sounding beer, and not of an actual Irish beer. 
Hey, maybe its still a good beer, right?
Well….
Murphy’s Irish Red starts out well enough, but it goes downhill pretty quick into the realm of excessive averageness. It might make a decent change from the macro beers if you’re into that, but otherwise this beer is just plain.
The beer, while beautiful looking and perfectly clear, is more of a copper color than anything. My pour created a good sized head, but it dissipated with much haste and eventually the beer was pretty much flat looking. After the head fizzed away, there was absolutely no lacing on the glass – nothing interesting at all to look at except nice copper-colored beer.
The smell was also extreme in its averageness. I’d say that there were some more malt aromas than the typical average beer, but otherwise it was dull. Overall, it just smelled ‘beery’.
The beer tasted a little better than it smelled, but not by much. There was more of a malty flavor, but there was also a bit of a metallic taste that lingered into the aftertaste. I found myself semi-grimacing as I took each sip. Don’t get me wrong, it didn’t taste like liquid aluminum or anything, but it was just a bit unpleasant.
Aside from the metallic twang, Murphy’s Irish Red is actually pretty smooth, but I think its more because its just flat. Its like saying water is smooth, ya know what I mean? Its a drinkable beer, but that’s like saying, well, you know…water is drinkable.
Wrapping up, I just don’t know what the deal is with Murphy’s Irish Red. While Murphy’s was Irish at one time, I would think that being brewed in the Netherlands by Heineken makes it a Dutch beer, no? Maybe it should be called ‘Heineken Red’ or something to that effect.
If you’re looking for an authentic Irish beer to celebrate St. Patrick’s day, I’m going to have to tell you to look elsewhere. If you are looking for a great beer no matter where it is brewed, I think I’m going to recommend the same thing! Look elsewhere. While you can certainly do worse than Murphy’s Irish Red, you can easily do better!
Rating: 
So tell me, what’s a good Irish Red? As I’ve mentioned, I’ve tried the O’Hara’s Stout (loved it) and I’ve been informed that they make a nice Irish Red as well but I have not been able to find any. I’ll keep looking.
“… While Murphy’s was Irish at one time, I would think that being brewed in the Netherlands by Heineken makes it a Dutch beer, no? …”
Technically you can say the same about Foster’s Lager and Ale, Kirin, Whitbread Ale, Kingfisher, as well as much of the Guinness which folks drink in the US… none of the above are made in the countries these brands originated in…they’re made in the USA (except for the Guinness, made in the ‘new ould sod’, Canada) and yet all of the above are still usually displayed in the “import’ case at your local beer merchant…and priced accordingly!
Well, Scott i guess all reds aren’t good reds. I haven’t had a lot of reds because of the weird allergy thing I have with them, but when I was drinking them, and I know you will probably think I’m crazy, but I really liked George Killians Red Ale. I thought it was really tasty, had a decent mouthfeel, and a lot of flavor for the style. Now I’m certain there are better reds out there but I haven’t come across them.
@The Professor – good point indeed! Seems a bit deceptive to have domestic beers priced as imports! I guess the thing that stood out for me was that Murphy’s isn’t made in Ireland, and it isn’t even Irish-owned anymore. I understand the licensing deals brewers make to save money and all and have their beers brewed by someone else – but the Heineken people own this brand. Just seems like there should be something Irish about it!
@Don – allergic to Reds? What’s in them that isn’t in other beers? Just curious. I think I’ve tried the Killians years ago, can’t remember how it was though. (Why would I think YOU are crazy!
Thanks!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..O’Hara’s Irish Stout – Carlow Brewing Company =-.
@Scott I think I have some sort of allergy to Reds and Ambers. After I drink them, about 15-20 minutes in I get hot flashes and sweat uncontrollably. Just beading up and my head feels like it is in an oven. Could come in handy if I’m ever stranded in the arctic, but otherwise it is pretty unpleasant. I said you might be thinking I’m crazy because Killians is brewed by Coors. I’m sure it wasn’t always that way, but it has been acquired.
.-= Don´s last blog ..Guest Post: Tasting Tactical Nuclear Penguin and Sink The Bismark Back-to-Back =-.