Harp Lager
 | |
| Launch year | 1960 |
|---|---|
| Company | Diageo |
| Website | Diageo.com: Harp lager |
|
Notes Pale lager | |
Harp Lager is an Irish lager created in 1960 by Guinness in its Great Northern Brewery, Dundalk. It is a minor lager brand in Ireland.
History
Harp Lager was first produced in 1960 as a bottled beer by the Guinness company (now Diageo), in response to the trend among drinkers in Britain and Ireland towards continental lager. Guinness converted its Dundalk brewery into a modern lager production plant with the guidance of Dr. Herman Muender, a distinguished German brewer.[1] Various names were considered for the brand, including Atlas, Cresta and Dolphin, before Harp was chosen.[2] 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.[3]
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.[4][5] Courage's Alton Brewery, where Courage Director's had been brewed, was rebuilt to produce the lager in Great Britain.[2]
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.[6] Currently available on draught, and in 330ml and 500ml bottles, its top markets are Ireland, Australia, Canada, Africa, United States, according to Diageo.[3] In 2005, Harp saw a makeover. Diageo Ireland separated the brand from Guinness.
On 9 May 2008, Diageo Ireland announced that it would close the Dundalk Brewery along with the Kilkenny Brewery over a five-year period.[7] and the last Harp was brewed at Great Northern in October 2013, after which production moved to Diageo's sole Irish brewery in St. James's Gate, Dublin.[8]
Today, Harp is brewed in the Dublin brewery for Ireland and Hydes Brewery for Great Britain. In Australia, distribution is handled by Carlton & United Breweries.
Harp sold in America is brewed in Canada by Guinness Canada and is typically brewed at the Moosehead Brewery in New Brunswick.[9]
Marketing
For many years the slogan "Harp stays sharp" was used in advertisements. It was written by the advertising executive Rod Allen.[10] Recently it has used the slogan "Look on the Harp side".
References
- ↑ "Harp medal-winning lager – Diageo Ireland". replay.waybackmachine.org. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
- 1 2 "The Grand Union Brewery - History of Lager". www.siteset.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
- 1 2 Brewing in Dundalk – Diageo Ireland
- ↑ Lawrence A. Wenner, Steven J. Jack. Sport, beer, and gender: promotional culture and contemporary social life. Peter Lang, 2009. p. 60. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
- ↑ Alcohol and temperance in modern ... - Google Books. books.google.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
- ↑ "Dundalk grows and develops"archive link September 2006 (Wayback Machine), Diageo
- ↑ RTE news: closure of two Diageo breweries
- ↑ Irish Independent: Harp brewery shuts up shop after half-century
- ↑ This one is Irish Canadian
- ↑ "Rod Allen – Obituary". The Times. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
