If there’s one thing that defines Dublin, it’s the taste of Guinness. It’s rich, bold and complex. A Guinness is not just a beer. It’s a cultural phenomenon, a badge of pride and a ritual for everyone who visits Dublin. A Guinness is about more than just a glass of beer. It’s part of a universe, an Irish tradition, a craft, the beating heart of a nation that loves beer. Whether you’re a beer enthusiast de luxe, a beer drinker or just curious about the taste, there’s something very special about having a pint of Guinness in Dublin. Because this is where the adventure of Guinness began. 
What is a Guinness?
Guinness is a dry stout, an almost black, top-fermented beer originating in the British Isles. The beer’s character and flavor is based on freshly roasted barley that remains unmalted. The thick creamy top is a result of a nitrogen mixture added in the bottling process. There is also little carbonation in the beer. Canned Guinness contains a ball that releases nitrogen when the can is opened. Despite being described as strong, Guinness is not a particularly alcoholic beer. Pronounced: gˈinis The symbol of Guinness is a harp, which has been a heraldic symbol of Ireland since the 13th century. Guinness’s harp is based on the famous “Brian Boru harp” from the 15th century, which is currently on display at Trinity College in Dublin. 
The history of Guinness
The adventure of the black beer began in 1759 when Arthur Guinness started brewing beer at the St. James’ Gate brewery in Dublin. On New Year’s Eve of the same year, 34-year-old Arthur signed a lease on the brewery. The lease is for 9,000 years and costs £45 a year. Arthur began brewing ale, which quickly became a success. From 1799, Guinness was known for its dark stout beer, which was described as Ireland’s national beer. By the 1880s, Guinness had become the world’s largest brewery. In 1886, Guinness became a limited company and was listed on the London Stock Exchange as Arthur Guinness Son & Co. The first known export of Guinness left Dublin, bound for England, in 1796. Arthur’s stout became so popular that, in 1799, he decided to brew only the black beer. Soon Guinness was spread all over the world, and by 1880 St. James Gate was the largest brewery in the world. 
In the 1960s, the first breweries opened outside Ireland and the UK. As of today, there are around 50 breweries worldwide. From 1982 the company was called Arthur Guinness & Sons and from 1986 Guinness PLC. In 1997, Guinness merged with Grand Metropolitan to form Diageo PLC, which is now the world’s largest alcoholic beverage group. Guinness is associated with Ireland, although its head office has been in London since 1932. Did you know that the Guinness Book of Records is named after the Dublin brewery? The idea for The Guinness Book of Records came about after a debate in 1955 at the brewery about which bird of prey was the fastest. The first edition was published the same year. The book, originally intended to settle discussions in pubs, attracted great interest and is now published in more than 37 languages (in Norway from 1967). 
Guinness Storehouse – a mecca for beer fans
One of Ireland’s biggest attractions is the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin. It combines history, architecture and the art of brewing beer in an interesting and tasty experience. The Guinness Storehouse is not just a museum. It’s a journey through the soul of Guinness. A journey that takes place at St. James Gate Brewery, where it all started. When you enter the building, you step into a completely different world. The museum spans seven floors, centered around a glass atrium shaped like a pint glass, which can hold 14.3 million pints. The tour starts at the bottom, with all the ingredients. Visitors get up close to hops, barley, water and yeast. Each floor has its own story: From start-up to the brewing process, transportation logistics and advertising signs. If you listen carefully, you can hear the voices of the workers who have been here over the centuries. 
The highlight is of course The Gravity Bar, at the top of the Guinness Storehouse. Here you’ll get a 360-degree view of Dublin while enjoying a pint of Guinness. It’s dark and delicious, poured while you watch. This is the taste of Dublin! Remember to take it easy. You’re not just drinking a beer. You’re drinking a Guinness. It’s enjoyed in the place where it originated. It’s part of Irish history. As you drink, don’t forget that you’re absorbing a piece of Irish history. A drop of Irish culture and a splash of Irish mind and spirit. 
Worth knowing before you visit the Guinness Storehouse
- Guinness Storehouse is located in Dublin’s Liberties. It is easily accessible by foot, bike, bus or taxi. There are some parking spaces on Crane Street.
- Book tickets well in advance as demand is high. You can book tickets directly on the Guinness Storehouse website. It is possible to buy tickets on arrival, but please note that it may be sold out at the time you want. Tickets purchased on site are more expensive than online.
- You must arrive 15 minutes before your tour starts.
- The visit is on your own (without a guide). It is possible to hire an audio guide for an additional fee.
- Set aside 1.5 to 2 hours for the visit.
- The Guinness Storehouse is accessible to everyone, including wheelchair users and guide/service dogs.
- Children are welcome, but those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Additional activities, such as STOUTie and Guinness Academy, have an 18-year age limit.
- You cannot visit The Gravity Bar without a ticket.
- You can take as many photos/videos as you want.
- If you want to learn how to bottle Guinness the right way, you can sign up for the Guinness Academy.
- There is a restaurant, café and bar at the Guinness Storehouse.
- On the ground floor there is a large shop selling everything you can think of with the Guinness logo.
Did you know that …
… there are six steps to bottling the perfect Guinness? … it takes 119.5 seconds to tap a perfect Guinness? … there are around 300,000 bubbles in every pint of Guinness? … the bubbles in a pint of Guinness sink instead of rising? … the amount of hops in a pint of Guinness is more than double that of other beers? … there are “only” 198 calories in a pint of Guinness? … 10 million pints of Guinness are sold every day? … this number triples (33 million pints) on St. Patrick’s Day?
