Harp Lager is an Irish lager created in 1960. Since 2013, it has been produced by the Guinness Brewery in Dublin. Prior to this, it was produced at the Great Northern Brewery in Dundalk. It is a major lager brand throughout most of Northern Ireland, but is now rarely available in the Republic of Ireland outside Dundalk, where most bars offer it on tap.
History
Harp Lager was first produced in 1960 as a bottled beer by Guinness, in response to the popularity of Continental lager amongst drinkers in Ireland and Britain. Guinness converted its Dundalk brewery into a lager production plant with the guidance of Dr. Herman Muender, a German brewer.[1] Various names were considered for the brand before Harp was chosen, including Atlas, Cresta, and Dolphin.[2] The brand uses the Brian Boru harp as its emblem. By the mid-to-late 20th century, the Dundalk (or Great Northern) Brewery became the second-largest brewery in Ireland.[3]