The Other Irish Stout

January 14, 2018 7:28 PM

So Murphy's Stout is not Guinness, it's from the Republic of Cork, Ireland's southern capital. In 1997, to capitalize on the rising popularity of anime Murphy's broadcast a amazing anime ad on the UK's Channel 4, Last Orders. The ad was a homage to a famous (in Cork) ad from the early nineties inspired by Kurosawa. That ad also had an excellent follow up, "Old man with parsnip". Cheers!
posted by Long Way To Go (23 comments total)

I have had Murphy's (a relative went to the UK and as a memento, I had them bring me a proper stout). It was delish.
posted by Samizdata at 7:48 PM on January 14, 2018

In Canada there was something called "Murphy's Export" when I was growing up, iirc 7.5% alcohol and perfect for a young drug abuser like me. Rich, thick, delicious and got you bombed very effectively!
posted by Meatbomb at 8:02 PM on January 14, 2018 [1 favorite]

Uh... I would definitely watch an entire movie, or perhaps a series, about a cyberpunk future where an old guy rings the hours by striking a bell with a fuckin cannon ball.
posted by selfnoise at 8:16 PM on January 14, 2018 [13 favorites]

how the hell do they do that thing with the bottles?
posted by ivan ivanych samovar at 8:29 PM on January 14, 2018

Loves me some Murphy’s. That anime ad was great.
posted by Thorzdad at 8:38 PM on January 14, 2018

The female bartender sure looks like Donna from Dr Who.
posted by Big Al 8000 at 9:15 PM on January 14, 2018

Also, that hand move. What’s going on there?
posted by Big Al 8000 at 9:16 PM on January 14, 2018

Given the choice (when on tap), I much prefer Murphy's to Guinness. But it seems pretty rare in Australia. Cooper's Extra Stout is a decent local replacement.
posted by allium cepa at 10:09 PM on January 14, 2018 [1 favorite]

how the hell do they do that thing with the bottles?

Well see, first off all you have to tame a wild horse.....
posted by fshgrl at 10:49 PM on January 14, 2018 [5 favorites]

Old man with parsnip is tragic.
posted by knapah at 2:01 AM on January 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

I could really go for a parsnip right about now.
posted by Segundus at 2:15 AM on January 15, 2018 [2 favorites]

how the hell do they do that thing with the bottles?

and just then the old man turned and yelled "IF I KNEW THAT I'D BE A SAMURAI BY NOW!"

/not the best joke; this is just a tribute
posted by hal9k at 3:02 AM on January 15, 2018 [5 favorites]

I recently spent a few days in the vicinity of Cork, and I drank Murphy’s since the locals were drinking it. Quite lovely.
posted by wintermind at 4:20 AM on January 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

There is a third Irish stout, Beamish, also brewed in Cork but sadly not by the original company any more.
posted by Hogshead at 6:02 AM on January 15, 2018 [2 favorites]

As a counter-point to the Murphy-love here:

I used to work at one of the bars at Harlequin's Rugby Club when London Irish groundshared with them. One year, during the season break, they did a deal to only stock Murphy's instead of Guinness.

The opening day of the season was not a happy fun time.
posted by garius at 6:42 AM on January 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

Beamish and Murphy's used to be brewed in our neighbourhood, right in the middle of town, wafting the most wonderful smells across the city. Now both Beamish and Murphy's are brewed in the Heineken factory across town in giant metal tubes attached to a glass building and it's just not the same.
posted by DarlingBri at 6:54 AM on January 15, 2018 [2 favorites]

Also, that hand move. What’s going on there?

If you watch this over and over (and over) it's just your basic backhand bottom grip twist executed without the bottle inversion. It's one of those moves a rookie drinker does to impress the ladies.
posted by donpardo at 7:26 AM on January 15, 2018

Akira! Akira! Meacan bán!
posted by fallingbadgers at 7:31 AM on January 15, 2018

If you're looking for Murphy's in the US, Trader Joe's sells their nitro cans.
posted by mbrubeck at 7:58 AM on January 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

Beamish and Murphy's used to be brewed in our neighbourhood, right in the middle of town, wafting the most wonderful smells across the city. Now both Beamish and Murphy's are brewed in the Heineken factory across town in giant metal tubes attached to a glass building and it's just not the same.

That's why I won't drink Murphys, it's just another macro-brew now.
posted by octothorpe at 7:59 AM on January 15, 2018

These are amazing, thank you for posting them!
posted by LobsterMitten at 7:30 PM on January 15, 2018

Channel 4 was showing a fair amount of anime in the 90s, so this def fit in at the time.

Seem to remember Murphy's becoming more popular back then as a sweeter alternative to Guinness
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 8:52 AM on January 16, 2018

If you're looking for Murphy's in the US, Trader Joe's sells their nitro cans.

This is not a great beer recommendation.
posted by maryr at 2:16 PM on January 17, 2018