Guinness Tour

With a company history spanning from 1759 - where else would you come to learn about the history of GUINNESS - other than the home of the black stuff.

Arthur Guinness and the founding of the Brewery

Arthur Guinness was born in 1725 near Dublin in the town of Celbridge, county Kildare where his father, Richard Guinness, was a Land Steward. Part of Richard's duties were to supervise the brewing of beer for the workers on the estate and it is probable that young Arthur first learnt the art of brewing from his father. The brewing industry in Dublin at that date was suffering because English beer was taxed less severely than the home-produced product. Arthur was not, however, deterred. He decided to acquire what was then a small, disused and ill-equipped brewery at St James's Gate.

The lease, signed on 31 December 1759, was for 9000 years at an annual rent of £45. To start with, Arthur brewed ale, but by the 1770s a new drink, a strong black beer called porter, was being exported from London. Arthur decided to brew this new beer himself. He proved extremely successful and right into his seventies Arthur continued to be active in supervising his business at the Brewery, now assisted by three of his sons. Arthur had married an heiress, Olivia Whitmore, and had 21 children, 10 of whom survived into adulthood. When he died in 1803, he left a considerable personal fortune of about £23,000 and an extremely flourishing business which later generations of his family were to develop, following the example of initiative and enterprise set by its founder.

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ATRIUM

The STOREHOUSE was originally built in 1904 to house the GUINNESS fermentation process. This incredible building was constructed in the style of the Chicago school of architecture, with massive steel beams providing the support for the structure of the building. The STOREHOUSE building housed the fermentation of GUINNESS beer until 1988, and in November 2000, the new addition to the Dublin tourism offer opened its doors.

The core of the GUINNESS STOREHOUSE building is modelled on a giant pint glass, stretching up from reception on the ground floor to The Gravity Bar in the sky. If filled, this giant pint would hold approximately 14.3 million pints of GUINNESS!

No Dublin holiday is complete without a trip to GUINNESS STOREHOUSE

GROUND FLOOR

On the ground floor, where you can also visit the Retail Store, the massive exhibit introduces you to the four ingredients; water, barley, hops and yeast, all of which combine together to make a perfect pint. As you continue your visit, you will meet the fifth vital ingredient, the man himself, Arthur Guinness.

FIRST FLOOR

Our virtual master brewer guides you step by step through the Brewing Process. Up to 100 lucky visitors each week will be able to Start the Brew themselves by operating a computer that is scheduled on the same timetable as the brewhouse. On the same floor, you will find a state of the art Tasting Laboratory, Transport Exhibit, the Craft of the Cooper, and tales about GUINNESS Abroad.

SECOND FLOOR

Here you will find the history of GUINNESS Advertising containing branded memorabilia and the stories of the popular icons from the Toucan to the GUINNESS Surfers. You can also watch a selection of GUINNESS TV ads which have made the brand a well-known Irish symbol in every corner of the globe.

THIRD FLOOR

The Choice Zone is an interactive exhibit which challenges visitors to look at their own drinking habits and recognise the fine line between enjoying yourself and drinking to excess.

FOURTH FLOOR

The Story of the Building exhibit charts the history of the building from its construction in 1904 as a fermentation plant to its re-birth in the year 2000 as the GUINNESS STOREHOUSE visitor experience.

The Home message board is also located here, this is where you get the opportunity to leave a message about anything you wish!

FIFTH FLOOR

The Source Bar is an artistically designed bar where you can learn to pour your own pint of GUINNESS beer. Beside this, the Brewery Bar is an informal and relaxing place to dine while at the GUINNESS Storehouse. Enjoy traditional Irish cuisine with traditional Irish recipes that use GUINNESS as a defining ingredient.

The My Goodness My Gilroy section is an exhibition of John Gilroy's work, the artist responsible for the famous GUINNESS advertising from the 1930s to 1960s. Opened in July 2004 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of GUINNESS advertising, the exhibition features Gilroy's original sketches, artwork and posters, drawn from the GUINNESS Archive. GUINNESS TV commercials aired in 1955, which brought Gilroy's famous characters to life, are also shown.

SEVENTH FLOOR

The GRAVITY Bar

You have finally reached the head of the pint. This is where you will receive your complimentary pint of GUINNESS beer. Relax and enjoy the uninterrupted panoramic views across Dublin City - it really is one of the most spectacular places to visit in Dublin.

Need I say anymore?

Book your Guinness Tour online now!