New kid on the block comes out fighting

I mentioned in a recent post that I received presentation pack, promoting a new Irish stout, and the good news is it’s one of the best dry stouts that I’ve tasted for a long time. For far too long, the choices for stout drinkers in the Irish Republic have been Beamish, Murphy’s, and of course Guinness, all of which are brands owned by large, multi-national, conglomerates.

There’s a new kid in the block now, as far as Irish stouts are concerned, and as I discovered through the surprise presentation pack that appeared, totally out of the blue, on my doorstep, not only is it extremely good but, like the pack itself, it’s a brand that has also appeared out of nowhere.

After doing a spot of online research, as well as reading the accompanying leaflet, I discovered that this smooth, roasted stout, is brewed in Dublin by Conor McGregor - an Irish professional MMA fighter who is signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and has held both Lightweight & Featherweight Championship Belts.  Confused? Well so am I, as not only had I not heard of Mr McGregor, but I also had to look up the acronym MMA.

It stands for Mixed Martial Arts, which is something that is definitely not my scene. Then again, I would hesitate to call any physical activity designed to hurt or even maim one’s opponent, as a sport! Let’s not get too carried away though, as I’m sure the rigid disciplines, training – both physical and mental, associated with such activities concentrate the mind in a way that can, under the right circumstances, lead to even greater success in other areas, and this appears to be true in the case of Conor McGregor

After branching out into Irish whiskey, McGregor decided to divert his energies into brewing, and being born and raised in Ireland, where better to start than with that most iconic of Irish drinks - Irish Stout. Originally brewed in late 2020, Forged Irish Stout quickly gained popularity and became the number one stout at McGregor’s own establishment, the Black Forge, located in Crumlin, Co Dublin. “Forged” has been described as the smoothest, creamiest, and freshest stout that enthusiasts can experience, and its exceptional flavour profile is a result of a meticulously crafted blend of malts. For the beer enthusiast, these include pale malt, crystal malt, Munich malt, black malt, roasted barley, and wheat.

It is this carefully crafted combination that sets Forged Irish Stout firmly apart from other stouts in the market. After outperforming its biggest rival week after week, Forged has now reached the point where production needed to be scaled up, in order to introduce the beer to a broader consumer base. To do this, McGregor has recently acquired a brewery, which according to the Irish Independent, is none other than the Porterhouse Brewery in Dublin, where Forged Irish Stout is currently brewed. does not include any of its bars.

Independent.ie understands that this does not include any of the company’s bars, and that the Porterhouse craft beer brand will continue to be brewed at the facility under contract. Porterhouse currently has planning permission for a visitor centre, opening the possibility for McGregor to open a home for his stout, at the Dublin site. Forged was set to make its UK debut, at an exclusive launch in over 350 ASDA stores on 5^th August, thereby bringing this iconic stout to a wider audience, and marking a milestone for the MMA fighter’s venture into the brewing industry.

Speaking ahead of the launch, McGregor said, “We’re not here to take part, we’re here to take over. This launch comes as a culmination of 2 years of hard graft from myself and the Forged Irish Stout team and I’m immensely proud to finally be able to get it into the hands of the British public. We’ve huge plans for Forged in the UK, Ireland, the US and beyond and I can’t wait for you all to join us on the journey.”

Fighting talk and this was followed by Doug Leddin, head of marketing at Forged Irish Stout, who said: “Created by one of the most famous and successful Irishmen in the world and brewed in his very own Dublin brewery, Forged is a 100% Irish stout. With this launch in Asda, we’re only just getting started.” And looking beyond the shores of the British Isles, Conor McGregor plans to captivate the beer enthusiasts of the United Kingdom and beyond. A major international launch event is already in the works for later this year, promising an unforgettable experience for stout connoisseurs across the globe.

Having drank my two complementary cans, my verdict is there is nothing ordinary about Forged Irish Stout. It is as smooth and creamy as the hype suggests, and being Nitro-pour, the can actually roars when the ring pull is cracked open. Nitro means the beer isn't gassy, which makes for an easy-drinking stout that is packed full of flavours. The company describe it as absolute perfection, and a real champion - "the smoothest, creamiest, and freshest Stout you will ever experience," so give it a try if you see it on sale.