Molson Coors has revived its Caffrey’s beer brand as it looks to capitalise on growing demand for stout.
The supplier is to introduce Caffrey’s Black Stout from this month. Initially, it will be sold exclusively in the on-trade channel.
The nitrogen-infused brew offered “gentle bitterness, caramel notes, and a hint of liquorice”, said Molson Coors.
At a tax-efficient 3.4% abv, it also provided “a strong value proposition”.
Caffrey’s was founded in 1897 by Thomas Caffrey in Dublin and had “a focus on stout and porter brewing”, said Molson Coors.
It was relaunched as an Irish ale in 1994 by Bass Brewery and acquired by Coors in 2001 when the US-based company purchased Carling Brewers.
Sales of Caffey’s began to slide in the early 2000s and – despite a relaunch for the brand in 2010 – Molson Coors’ focus shifted to other brands in its portfolio.
The decision to reimagine Caffrey’s as a stout comes as sales of dark beer continue to surge in the UK.
Guinness Draught – the UK’s largest brand – recorded sales of £152.3m last year, an increase of 4.2% on volumes up 1.5% [NIQ 52 we 6 September 2025].
Meanwhile, supermarket sales of stouts and porters were up 24.3% in the four weeks to 28 December, data from Wordpanel by Numerator showed.
“Stout continues to attract a broader range of drinkers, moving beyond its traditional audience,” said Kev Fawell, Molson Coors sales director for UK & Ireland. “That shift presents a clear opportunity for established brands such as Caffrey’s to play a role in the category’s next phase of growth.
“The introduction of Caffrey’s Black Stout to our leading portfolio, with a strong value proposition, represents our commitment to supporting our customers and the evolving tastes of their guests.”
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