The Guinness Storehouse

What visit to Dublin with my beer loving Kiwi husband would be complete without a visit to the Guinness Storehouse. The Storehouse was a Fermentation Plant from 1904 to 2008 and is now a Visitor centre with a great combination of history, the process of making a perfect pint of Guinness and pop culture.

You start on the ground floor where a copy of the original lease signed by Arthur Guinness on 31 December 1759 is set in the centre. You can pick up a free audio guide and then go on to discover the four natural ingredients, barley, hops, yeast and water that, when combined form Stout!

Of course you need the fifth ingredient, a master brewer named Arthur Guinness to make the magic of Guinness.

The safe, holding the secret recipe

You are guided through the levels. learning all about the brewing process along the way. Barley is malted, roasted, milled, mixed with hot water and mashed. The filtered liquid is then boiled with hops, yeast added and fermentation begins. It is then clarified, matured and packaged. I never knew there was so much science involved in making beer!

Have a taste of Guinness before moving onto the the floor devoted to advertising. From the first official advert in 1929 to the present day and including the history of the Guinness Book of Records.

The Harp, which is the Guinness emblem, was registered as the Guinness trademark in 1876. The harp is also the official National Emblem of the Republic of Ireland. To distinguish between the two, the Guinness harp appears with the straight edge to the left, the government harp with the straight edge to the right.

The Downhill Harp, dating back to 1702

A combination of video, audio, pictures and artefacts guide you through the exhibits. It is very well laid out and you can wander through at your own pace. We may have lingered a little in the tasting area, where the staff were happy to have a laugh with us and provide a second generous taste. 

The highlight was the 7th floor Gravity Bar where you got a 'free' pint of Guinness and 360 degree views over Dublin

A view to the Wicklow Mountains which is the source of the pure water that goes into the making of Guinness.

Seventeen other landmarks are pointed out, including St Patrick's Cathedral.

Even the birthplace of Bram Stoker, the renowned author of 'Dracula', was fitting then, that we visited on Halloween!

Mmmmm...Nectar of the God's...nothing quite like a fresh pint of Guinness poured in it's home town of Dublin!

Cheers!!!

Guinness Storehouse
St James Gate
Dublin 8
Co Dublin, Ireland
www.guinness-storehouse.com

Adult ticket €16.50, including pint of Guinness in the Gravity Bar, available at the door, cheaper online and discounted with Hop on Hop Off tourist bus. Restaurants on 5th Floor. See website for details.