Guinness has long been the go-to pint for countless drinkers, maintaining its iconic jet black body and creamy head while other alcoholic beverages have constantly evolved with new gimmicks.
Its reputation is so strong it’s a rare sight to enter a pub in the UK or Ireland and not find the beloved “black stuff” ready to pour. Even the relatively recent Guinness 0.0, an alcohol-free variant, has quickly gained a following.
Yet, every top contender faces competition and Murphy’s is one such rival. Some stout enthusiasts claiming it surpasses Guinness in taste. Murphy’s shares a similar heritage as a traditional Irish stout cherished through the ages.
But it’s not just the old guard challenging Guinness; newer stouts are also gaining favour among aficionados. One beer critic was so impressed by O’Hara’s Irish Stout after a tasting session that he declared himself “100%” convinced of its superiority over Guinness on TikTok, reports the Express.
Dom Drinks Beer, the drinks reviewer, mentioned he had been urged “hundreds of times” to try O’Hara’s and finally managed to sample it. In his comparison video, he pours both stouts into pint glasses, noting the negligible difference in appearance, though O’Hara’s boasts a slightly higher alcohol content at 4.3%, compared to Guinness’s 4.1%,
After sampling the Guinness, he remarked “oh so creamy” then proceeded to taste O’Hara’s, commenting: “Fully rate that, it’s a little bit creamier than Guinness, and there’s more flavour, and that smokiness, I can’t get enough of it. So, 100%, O’Hara’s is better than Guinness.”
Another TikTok beer aficionado, The Linton Lounge, rated O’Hara’s an 8 out of 10, stating: “Yep, that’s really good. As you can see on the glass, that’s probably the best-sticking one we’ve had out of the tins so far. I couldn’t fault it.”
And the Glasgow Beer Guy also chimed in with his thoughts: “I’d say this is better than Guinness.”
However, Dan One Minute Beer Review offered a different perspective, acknowledging that O’Hara’s was respectable and featured distinct espresso notes as the brewers publicised, yet claimed it “wasn’t a patch” on Guinness.
O’Hara’s stout hails from the Carlow Brewing Company in County Carlow, Ireland, which only brewed its first beers in 1998 – two centuries after Guinness.
Arthur Guinness founded his beer in Dublin in 1759, surpassing Murphy’s, which was established in Cork in 1856, by more than 150 years. Murphy’s is Ireland’s runner-up largest brewery – Guinness, inevitably claims the top spot.
The Irish Post lauded O’Hara’s, describing it as a nod to the quintessential Irish stouts of a bygone era, saying: “Known for its quality and authenticity, O’Hara’s Irish Stout boasts a robust roast flavour complemented by a full-bodied and smooth mouthfeel.
“It’s a gloriously creamy Irish stout, it blends coffee aromas with light liquorice notes thanks to its combination of traditional stout hops and roast barley.”