Sales of one of Cork’s famous stouts are booming in Britain due to the Guinness shortage there, writes Sarah Slater.

Murphy’s fierce rival is having a tough time in the UK at the moment as it can’t keep up with demand.

The shortage began ahead of the peak Christmas period leaving parent company Diageo having to cope with the surge in popularity of the popular drink.

Guinness is now the most popular pint in Britain as young drinkers turn to its more cultured image.

And as a result, Murphy’s – owned by Dutch brewer Heineken – saw demand skyrocket by 632% in the UK in December compared to a year earlier, according to data.

A spokesman for Murphy’s in the UK explained that the “outstanding sales figures show demand for stout among UK pub-goers is in no way slowing down, while an increasing number are eager to discover stouts beyond the market leader”.

And similar to the classic Murphy’s TV ads of the 1990s they certainly are “not bitter” at the surge in demand for their pints.

Murphy’s could even adopt the Guinness advertising slogan that went “Good things come to those who wait”.

Guinness is the market leader in Irish stout, with an 80% market share and is also becoming hugely popular in the US.

Heineken bought Murphy’s Lady’s Well brewery in 1983.