Harp Lager
Encyclopedia
Harp Lager, is a pale lager
brand created in 1960 by the Guinness Brewery (now Diageo
) in their Dundalk brewery
. It is a leading lager brand in Ireland, and is also popular in Australia, Canada, Africa and the United States. The product is brewed in the Dundalk brewery in Ireland, the Labatt's brewery in Canada and the Hydes
brewery in Great Britain. In Australia, distribution is handled by Carlton & United Breweries
. In Great Britain distribution is handled by Bargain Beer Supplies.
), in response to the trend among drinkers in Britain and Ireland towards continental lager. Guinness converted their Dundalk brewery into a modern lager production plant with the guidance of Dr. Herman Muender, a distinguished German brewer. Various names were considered for the brand, including Atlas, Cresta and Dolphin, before Harp was chosen. The brand was marketed with the Brian Boru
harp
as its emblem.
The manufacturer states that Harp is made with pure water from the Cooley Mountains, Dundalk.
By 1961 a consortium of brewers, Courage, Barclay & Simonds
, Scottish & Newcastle
, Bass, Mitchells & Butlers and Guinness, grouped together as Harp Lager Ltd to brew and market the beer. Courage's Alton Brewery, where Courage Director's had been brewed, was rebuilt to produce the lager in Great Britain.
By 1964, the product was being sold on draught and led in its category for sales. Members of the Harp consortium changed over the years, with Courage and Scottish & Newcastle leaving in 1979, but becoming franchisees. Currently available on draught, and in 330ml and 500ml bottles, its top markets are Ireland, Australia, Canada, Africa, United States, according to Diageo. In 2005, Harp saw a makeover. Diageo Ireland separated the brand from Guinness.
Today, Harp is brewed in the Dundalk brewery for Ireland, and under licence by the Labatt's brewery for Canada and Hydes Brewery for Great Britain. In Australia, distribution is handled by Carlton & United Breweries.
As of the Autumn of 2010, Harp continues to be brewed in Dundalk but tankers are sent to Dublin to be kegged for the on trade market.
Cans and bottles are packaged by IBC in Belfast.
On 9 May 2008, Diageo Ireland announced that they would close the Dundalk Brewery along with the Kilkenny Brewery over a five year period.
.
Pale lager
Pale lager is a very pale to golden-coloured beer with a well attenuated body and a varying degree of noble hop bitterness. The brewing process for this beer developed in the mid 19th century when Gabriel Sedlmayr took pale ale brewing techniques back to the Spaten Brewery in Germany and applied it...
brand created in 1960 by the Guinness Brewery (now Diageo
Diageo
Diageo plc is a global alcoholic beverages company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest producer of spirits and a major producer of beer and wine....
) in their Dundalk brewery
Great Northern Brewery, Dundalk
The Great Northern Brewery, on the Carrick Road, Dundalk is an Irish brewery home to Harp Lager.-History:The Great Northern Brewery in Dundalk, Ireland is the second largest brewery in Ireland after St James’s Gate Brewery....
. It is a leading lager brand in Ireland, and is also popular in Australia, Canada, Africa and the United States. The product is brewed in the Dundalk brewery in Ireland, the Labatt's brewery in Canada and the Hydes
Hydes
Hydes is a family-owned and -managed brewery in Moss Side, Manchester. They have been brewing real ale on the same site since 1899. They own over 80 managed and tenanted pubs, mainly in North West England, but also in North Wales.-Regular beers:...
brewery in Great Britain. In Australia, distribution is handled by Carlton & United Breweries
Carlton & United Breweries
Carlton & United Breweries is an Australian brewing company based in Abbotsford, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. In 1983 it became a wholly owned subsidiary of Elders IXL and CUB was delisted. In 1990, Elders IXL renamed to the Foster's Group, and in July 2004, CUB changed its name to Carlton and...
. In Great Britain distribution is handled by Bargain Beer Supplies.
History
Harp Lager was first produced in 1960 as a bottled beer by the Guinness company (now DiageoDiageo
Diageo plc is a global alcoholic beverages company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest producer of spirits and a major producer of beer and wine....
), in response to the trend among drinkers in Britain and Ireland towards continental lager. Guinness converted their Dundalk brewery into a modern lager production plant with the guidance of Dr. Herman Muender, a distinguished German brewer. Various names were considered for the brand, including Atlas, Cresta and Dolphin, before Harp was chosen. The brand was marketed with the Brian Boru
Brian Boru
Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig, , , was an Irish king who ended the domination of the High Kingship of Ireland by the Uí Néill. Building on the achievements of his father, Cennétig mac Lorcain, and especially his elder brother, Mathgamain, Brian first made himself King of Munster, then subjugated...
harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
as its emblem.
The manufacturer states that Harp is made with pure water from the Cooley Mountains, Dundalk.
By 1961 a consortium of brewers, Courage, Barclay & Simonds
Courage (brewery)
Courage is a former British brewery. The brands are now 100 per cent owned and brewed by Wells & Young's Brewery as part of a venture called Courage Brands Ltd.-History:...
, Scottish & Newcastle
Scottish & Newcastle
Scottish & Newcastle plc was a "long alcoholic drinks" company with positions in 15 countries, including UK, France and Russia. It was headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. In the last 20 years, S&N expanded significantly from its home base to become an international business with beer...
, Bass, Mitchells & Butlers and Guinness, grouped together as Harp Lager Ltd to brew and market the beer. Courage's Alton Brewery, where Courage Director's had been brewed, was rebuilt to produce the lager in Great Britain.
By 1964, the product was being sold on draught and led in its category for sales. Members of the Harp consortium changed over the years, with Courage and Scottish & Newcastle leaving in 1979, but becoming franchisees. Currently available on draught, and in 330ml and 500ml bottles, its top markets are Ireland, Australia, Canada, Africa, United States, according to Diageo. In 2005, Harp saw a makeover. Diageo Ireland separated the brand from Guinness.
Today, Harp is brewed in the Dundalk brewery for Ireland, and under licence by the Labatt's brewery for Canada and Hydes Brewery for Great Britain. In Australia, distribution is handled by Carlton & United Breweries.
As of the Autumn of 2010, Harp continues to be brewed in Dundalk but tankers are sent to Dublin to be kegged for the on trade market.
Cans and bottles are packaged by IBC in Belfast.
On 9 May 2008, Diageo Ireland announced that they would close the Dundalk Brewery along with the Kilkenny Brewery over a five year period.
Marketing
For many years the slogan "Harp stays sharp" was used in advertisements. It was written by the advertising executive Rod AllenRod Allen (advertising executive)
Roderick Howard Allen was a British advertising executive who wrote many well known advertising slogans and jingles used in the United Kingdom. He was nicknamed the "jingle king"....
.