RIO Brazilian Steakhouse teams up with Forged Irish Stout

New Edinburgh restaurant, RIO Brazilian Steakhouse, has announced a partnership with Forged Irish Stout, the Irish brewing company created by MMA fighter Conor McGregor.

RIO is currently the only venue within Edinburgh to serve the hand-crafted creamy stout with hints of chocolate and coffee roasted notes. Forged has quickly become a favourite among diners as the restaurant’s best-selling product on draught, with guests visiting for both the Brazilian meats and the Irish stout.

The popular steak restaurant opened in the capital earlier this month, serving unlimited cuts of exquisite meats and a salad bar of authentic Brazilian food in a traditional Rodizio style in a gorgeous venue within Edinburgh’s Assembly Rooms.

RIO opened its doors after a launch party where the stout was served in the city for the first time. In a show of support for the restaurant group, Conor McGregor lent his UFC Championship belt to RIO for the opening night for guests to admire and pose with for photos.

Raising a glass of Irish stout at the RIO Brazilian Steakhouse

McGregor later reposted the announcement of the Forged and RIO partnership to a staggering 47.2 million followers on his personal Instagram, @thenotoriousmma.

Rodrigo Grassi, co-owner of RIO Brazilian Steakhouse, said:“RIO and Forged are both brands that share a strong sense of heritage. We are proud to partner with Forged Irish Stout as their flagship seller within the Scottish capital, and we know our guests will be happy to experience the stout that pairs perfectly with our exquisite range of meats and Brazilian bites.”

Doug Leddin, chief marketing officer at Forged Irish Stout, said: “At Forged, our commitment to quality is unquestionable, as is the team at RIO’s. Setting up a collaboration when both are entering the Edinburgh market for the first time was a no brainer.

“To see our stout as the top selling draught is just fantastic. The response has exceeded expectations and confirms the RIO and Forged partnership as a solid success, one which we are incredibly proud to be a part of and hope to be longstanding.”

The stout, notable for its exceptionally creamy texture and smooth taste, has been hand crafted in Dublin since 2023 from 100 per cent Irish ingredients.