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Harp is not our 'best export'

Thursday, 19 November 2009

All credit to the marketing team at Diageo.

The recent UTV Ultimate Ulster survey that had Harp Lager ranked fifth in the category Ulster's Best Export is the ultimate yarn. Harp is, of course, brewed in Dundalk. Not quite "our thing" then.

RAY ALLEN

Belfast

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Samuel - there is no 'Great Northern Brewery' in Belfast.....

Posted by BenjiBear | 24.11.09, 09:58 GMT

Harp, if you read the writing on the side of the can is indeed brewed in Belfast. Ireland do not drink a lot of harp and it was mostly exported to North America. It was brewed at the Labatt brewery in Toronto and exported to the USA. Both bottle and draught. Around fifty thousand hecto-liters each year. When Diagio took over Labatt's interbrew/imbev could not work with them or indeed Carlsburg which was also brewed there,so both Harp and Carlesberg went back home. Guinness brewery in Dundalk was in need of repair and it was easier to get the Belfast brewery up and running. I enjoyed when I lived there Ulster breweries nut brown ale and of course the Big UB.
It's sad to see a local company disappear but thats what globalisation does. Just in passing the Toronto brewery was closed just after the repatrication

Posted by fred needham | 22.11.09, 14:56 GMT

sorry but i have to disagree..i love harp lager whether its in a tin,bottle or on tap..

Posted by ero | 21.11.09, 13:12 GMT

Have to agree here. The only mainstream beer I know of that is (or possibly was) brewed in Northern Ireland is Caffreys.
I have to agree that it does taste vile also, not like the acquired taste of Guinness.

Posted by Ulysses32 | 20.11.09, 15:14 GMT

Samuel

The Great Northern Brewery IS in Dundalk. It is due to close in a couple of years time, when Harp will be brewed in the outskirts of Dublin.

This is what I mean when I praise the marketing men at Diageo.

Posted by ray | 20.11.09, 11:20 GMT

arthur

don't be reading something sectarian into this. It shouldn't be on the list because it's not an export from Ulster. Clearly. This fact does not imply anything to do with it's quality, merely that the people of Ulster think "it's our thing", and its not.

thats all. (although it isn't great. I agree with M A, RB and the DJ and stick to Hoegaarden and Erdinger)

Posted by Ray | 19.11.09, 21:47 GMT

I think Harp Lager is brewed in Belfast now at the Great Northern Brewry. It was brewed in Dundalk, but was the brewing plant there not closed a few years ago? Just wondering, correct me if I'm wrong.

Posted by Samuel | 19.11.09, 21:11 GMT

To me it is a horrible drink.

Posted by robbo | 19.11.09, 14:29 GMT

Does this imply that because Harp comes from R o I it is no good? Or could it be that Harp which was actually designed by a German brewer for Guinness to satisfy the oiky lager drinkers in the UK leaving Guinness export for us gents! LOL!

Posted by arthur | 19.11.09, 13:11 GMT

It's horrible. The worst hangovers of my life have been from Harp, hence I haven't drank it in over 10 years now. Needs to be served ice cold so as to mask just how bad it tastes to me. Go Belgian or German, you'll feel better the next morning for it.

Posted by M A | 19.11.09, 12:30 GMT

Have to admit I was shocked that this was in big Frank Mitchell's list of greatest exports. It is one of the worst beers that has ever passed my lips. Try a good German beer like Bitburger or something

Posted by DJ Litterpickerupper | 19.11.09, 09:34 GMT