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Where is Harp Lager brewed?

By Mark Porter Last checked 9 September 2026 How we check

Genuine import

Harp Lager is genuinely imported from Ireland.

Brewed for the UK in
Imported from Ireland
Imported
Sold as a beer from
Ireland
Irish harp branding, Dundalk heritage, strong Northern Ireland presence
Brewed in (country)
Ireland
Brand owner
Diageo plc
HQ: United Kingdom
UK strength
Not confirmed
Strength at home (Ireland)
4.0%
2.3 units a pint. SuperValu lists the Irish pack at 4.0% (read 6 September 2026). We have not read a UK listing, so we have not confirmed the UK strength.
What the UK label says
We have not yet read the wording on a UK pack or listing.
More about the brand: rights, style, when it was created, where it is brewed at home
UK rights held by
Diageo Great Britain Ltd / Diageo Northern Ireland (owned)
Style
Lager
Brand created
1960, Ireland
Brewed at home in
Great Northern Brewery, Dundalk, Ireland (until 2013); St James's Gate, Dublin (2013 to 2026); Littleconnell, Newbridge, Co Kildare (from May 2026)

What we have not confirmed

The current brewery is confirmed by The Irish Times; the history at Dundalk comes from Wikipedia only, and the earlier brewing of Harp under licence in Britain is not sourced here. We have not confirmed a UK strength, pack or country of origin: when we last looked (9 September 2026), Morrisons, Asda, Ocado, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Bestway and Trolley did not list it, and it is sold through specialist importers. In Ireland, SuperValu sells a 6 x 440ml pack at 4.0%, origin Ireland, which tells us about the Irish pack, not a UK one.

If you have a can or bottle to hand, the producer's name and address in the small print would settle it.

In short

Harp Lager is imported. The UK product is brewed at Great Northern Brewery, Dundalk, St James's Gate, Dublin and Littleconnell, Newbridge, Co Kildare in Ireland. The brand belongs to Diageo plc.

Who has brewed it here

YearsBrewerSiteSource
1960 to 2013Guinness / DiageoGreat Northern Brewery, Dundalken.wikipedia.org
2013 to 2026Diageo IrelandSt James's Gate, Dublinirishtimes.com
2026 to nowDiageo IrelandLittleconnell, Newbridge, Co Kildareirishtimes.com

Questions people ask

Where is Harp Lager brewed?

The UK product is imported. It is brewed at Great Northern Brewery, Dundalk, St James's Gate, Dublin and Littleconnell, Newbridge, Co Kildare in Ireland.

Is Harp Lager brewed in the UK?

No. The UK product is brewed in Ireland.

Is Harp Lager really Irish?

Yes, on origin: the UK product is brewed in Ireland.

Who owns Harp Lager?

Harp Lager is owned by Diageo plc, headquartered in the United Kingdom. In the UK the brand is handled by Diageo Great Britain Ltd / Diageo Northern Ireland.

Which beers are similar to Harp Lager?

Other beers sold as Irish in the UK include Caffrey's Irish Ale, Guinness 0.0 and Guinness Draught.

See also

Caffrey's Irish Ale
Tadcaster · 3.8% · sold as Irish
Brewed here
Guinness 0.0
Imported from Ireland · 0.0% · sold as Irish
Guinness Draught
Imported from Ireland · 4.1% · sold as Irish
Guinness Extra Stout
Imported from Ireland · 4.2% · sold as Irish
Genuine import
Guinness Foreign Extra Stout
Imported from Nigeria · 7.5% · sold as Irish
Murphy's Irish Stout
Tadcaster · 4.0% · sold as Irish
Brewed here

Every beer sold as Ireland · Every brand owned by Diageo plc

Last checked 9 September 2026. How we check.

Sources

  1. The Irish Times (irishtimes.com), 11 May 2026: Harp now brewed at the new Kildare brewery
  2. Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org), 5 September 2026: Harp was brewed at the Great Northern Brewery, Dundalk, which closed in 2013
  3. SuperValu (Ireland) (shop.supervalu.ie), 6 September 2026: Harp Lager Can 6 x 440ml on an Irish retailer's page: 'Alcohol By Volume 4.0'; 'Country of Origin Ireland'; 'brewed with pride in Ireland'; 'Diageo Ireland, St. James' Gate, Dublin 8.'

Spotted an error?Tell us what the pack says and we will check it. mark@pretendpint.com