Theakston jumps straight onto the stout trend

T&R Theakston has added Brennan’s Irish Stout to its portfolio to rival the trend for dark beers and stouts.

The move, which follows Brewdog pitting its Black Heart stout brand head-to-head against Diageo’s popular Guinness brand in taste tests, is set to provide consumers with “a distinctive and delicious alternative” to other “well known” stouts.

Speaking exclusively to the drinks business, Simon Theakston, joint managing director of T&R Theakston, said: “We’ve been in discussions with Brennan’s for a while as we saw synergies between our two brands and were keen to add a traditional Irish stout to our range. This addition is coming at a time when we’re seeing consumer demand for dark beers and stouts increase”.

 Upon being asked how Brennan’s compares to alternatives including: Guinness, Brewdog’s Black Heart and other beers like Anspach and Hobday’s porter London Black, Theakston told db: “Brennan’s has all the characteristics of a traditional Irish stout. It is a particularly smooth beer with a good balance between an initial sweetness with a following dryness.”

Theakston explained: “Today’s customers are drinking a wider variety of beer types than ever before and we believe that Brennan’s Irish Stout which has a smooth creamy white head and a cocoa aroma distinguished by earthy caramel undertones, provides a distinctive and delicious alternative to other well known Irish Stouts.”

The family-run brewery has also revealed that the 4.2% ABV stout, will be brewed under licence at its Yorkshire brewery, joining its stable of beers including: Theakston Old Peculier ale.

Brennan’s, originally located in County Wexford, has a rich family history in brewing and the pub industry which can be traced back four generations in both in Ireland and Britain and is due to see the new partnership to take advantage of a stout and dark beer renaissance after Guinness was recently named as Britain’s most popular pint.

Theakston revealed: “While we’re proud of our almost 200 year heritage at the brewery, we are also always looking at ways to enhance and expand our range, including through developing partnerships with a number of other much-loved brewers and distributors. 

Peter Brennan, managing director for Brennan’s Irish Stout, added: “With Theakston’s guidance, their wealth of knowledge and history within the industry, Brennan’s Irish Stout will build to be an exciting and longstanding brand for the future. We look forward to learning and developing Brennan’s further with Theakston’s and welcoming beer lovers and tourists to our new upcoming Visitor Centre in Wexford.”