Real tasting notes
The full Forged Irish Stout review walks through pour, head retention, aroma, taste, mouthfeel and dry-finish — beside what the official marketing says vs. what you actually get when you crack the can.
An independent guide to Conor McGregor's nitro stout — what's actually in the can, how it stacks up against Guinness, Murphy's and Beamish, and where you can buy it in 2026.
Independent · Editorial · Not affiliated with Forged Irish Stout, Black Forge Inn, or any brewery
Forged Irish Stout launched commercially in August 2023 — UK & Ireland first, then the United States. It's brewed in Dublin under contract by Porterhouse, marketed as "the world's creamiest stout," and sold in 440ml nitro cans at 4.2% ABV. There's been a lot of marketing copy about it, but very little impartial editorial. This site is the impartial editorial.
The full Forged Irish Stout review walks through pour, head retention, aroma, taste, mouthfeel and dry-finish — beside what the official marketing says vs. what you actually get when you crack the can.
Six side-by-side comparisons in our Comparisons hub: Forged vs. Guinness, Murphy's, Beamish, O'Hara's Leann Folláin, Porterhouse Plain Porter and Wicklow Wolf — with ABV, brewery, price band and verdict.
Up-to-date stockist info on the where to buy page — Black Forge Inn in Dublin, ASDA in the UK, Total Wine and BevMo in the US — with notes on what each format costs.
The questions readers actually search for. Each comparison page is a fair side-by-side built from each brewer's own published facts and our own independent tasting.
The headline match-up. Both are Dublin-brewed nitro Irish dry stouts at 4.2% ABV. One is a celebrity-launched 2023 brand brewed under contract; the other is the 1759 institution that invented the nitro stout category in 1959.
Read the comparisonCork's 1856 stout, brewed at Heineken Ireland's Lady's Well brewery on the north side of Cork city. Smoother, less bitter than Guinness — and a useful contrast to Forged's roastier profile.
Read the comparisonBeamish's roots go back to 1792 — the original Cork stout that predates Murphy's. Now also brewed at Heineken Ireland's Lady's Well brewery, but holds its own as a quieter, drier counterweight to the Dublin pair.
Read the comparisonCarlow Brewing Company's flagship stout — Ireland's best-known craft Irish dry stout. At 6% it's a stronger beast than Forged, and carries a complexity in chocolate-coffee-bitterness that the celebrity stout never quite reaches.
Read the comparisonThe thing nobody seems to mention out loud: Porterhouse is the contract brewer for Forged. So when you compare Forged to Porterhouse's own multi-award-winning Plain Porter, you're really comparing two beers brewed by the same team with very different briefs.
Read the comparisonWicklow Wolf's oatmeal stout is one of Ireland's modern craft success stories — flaked Irish oats, specialty chocolate and coffee malts. A useful counter to "celebrity stout" branding because every drop is rooted in the brewery's own taproom.
Read the comparisonIf you're coming for Forged but staying for the wider scene, these are the next places to read.
What separates an Irish dry stout from a milk stout from a porter. The Guinness 1959 nitro invention, the 200-year Cork rivalry, and where contemporary Irish craft fits in.
Read the guideEvery brewery referenced on this site listed once, with location, founding year and current trading status. Heineken Ireland, Diageo St James's Gate, Carlow Brewing, Porterhouse, Whiplash, Wicklow Wolf and a few more.
Browse breweriesBlack Forge Inn (Dublin), ASDA (UK, 350+ stores since launch), Amazon UK, Total Wine, Binny's, BevMo (US). Format and price by retailer.
Find a stockistGive honest tasting notes. Cite each brewery's own facts. Update stockist info as the market moves. Flag when anything on the can or the brand site has changed. Treat Forged Irish Stout the same way we'd treat any other Irish stout — fairly.
Take payment from any brewery. Pretend to be the official Forged brand site. Use the brand's logos. Attribute fictional quotes to Conor McGregor or anyone else. Run sponsored reviews as editorial. We're an independent .ie editorial site.