Murphy's and Beamish get 1up on Guinness as Heineken secures drinks deal for Ryder Cup

280,000 golf fans are expected at Adare Manor in 2027

Ireland's Darren Clarke drinks a pint of Guinness after Europe won the Ryder Cup in 2006 at the K Club. Murphy's and Beamish will be the stout of choice at Adare. Picture: Brian Lougheed

It was one of the most iconic moments of the Ryder Cup's first visit to Ireland 20 years ago: home hero Darren Clarke sinking a pint of Guinness after Europe's success. Now, players and fans looking to celebrate success or drown sorrows will turn to Murphy's and Beamish, after Heineken Ireland secured an agreement with Ryder Cup Europe to become the official beer supplier at Adare Manor next year. 

The agreement will see Heineken's beer, cider, and stout portfolio available across bars, the spectator village, hospitality areas and premium experience suites. Brands served during the event will include Cork stouts Murphy's and Beamish, as well as Heineken, Heineken 0.0%, Birra Moretti, Orchard Thieves and SERVED ready-to-drink products.

“As a business rooted in Ireland, with a portfolio of some of the country’s most loved beer, cider and stout brands, we are proud to play our part in welcoming spectators from more than 80 countries," said Heineken Ireland managing director Sharon Walsh. “Heineken has a long-standing connection with world-class sport and premium live experiences, and golf is no exception. For more than 30 years we have supported the Irish Open through Heineken’s role as official beer partner of the event since 2022 and prior to that through Murphy’s Irish Stout title sponsorship from 1994 to 2002. 

Max Hamilton, Ryder Cup Europe’s Executive Commercial Director and Sharon Walsh, Managing Director of Heineken Ireland, with the Ryder Cup trophy at Malahide Golf Club in Dublin.

"Over the next 12 months, we look forward to working closely with the Ryder Cup team to deliver a high-quality, memorable fan experience, from first pour to final putt.” 

Pricing for alcohol products at Adare Manor are yet to be announced. At the most recent Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York last year, prices ranged from $12 (€10.30) for a bottle of Michelob zero alchohol beer to $19 (€16.30) for a pint of 'premium' beer.

Murphy's and Beamish are seeing growth of 28% this year. Heineken Ireland employs almost 400 people at its historic 170-year-old brewery Lady's Well in Cork and across the country. 

Some 280,000 fans from around the world will travel to the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor from September 14 to September 19. The largest travelling support will be from the US and the UK, two of the boom markets for the stout revival of recent years, with the UK stout market now worth over £1bn. Guinness is the largest player in the UK market but Murphy's has also seen huge increases in recent years with surging demand, with over 1,550 pubs now serving the stout on draught. 

Meanwhile Guinness is the fastest growing major beer brand in the US on-trade by volume and number one draught beer in US metropolitan areas Boston and New York. Murphy's has also seen a surge on the US east coast. 

Richard Atkinson, chief Ryder Cup officer at the European Tour Group, said: “The Ryder Cup has grown to be one of the largest events in global sport, and next year’s competition at Adare Manor in Limerick will be particularly special, as it marks the 100th anniversary of the event. We aim to provide our spectators with a premium live sporting experience and by partnering with Heineken Ireland, we can be sure that they will have access to world-class beer, cider and Irish stout products.” 

The Ryder Cup already has secured six 'worldwide partners' for the 2027 Ryder Cup: Capgemini, DP World, SAP, Smurfit Westrock, Stripe, and Rolex.

Stripe came on board in July, as 'official payment solutions partner' to the Adare event. Founders Patrick and John Collison were born in Limerick and grew up in nearby Dromineer in Co Tipperary.

Meanwhile Smurfit Kappa has historic links to the event, with former chairman of Jefferson Smurfit Group Michael Smurfit, playing a key role in bringing the 2006 Ryder Cup to the K Club in Kildare. Tony Smurfit - son of Michael - said the decision to partner with Ryder Cup was made with head as well as heart and makes “great business sense” as the company.