Arthur Guinness
Originally leased in 1759 to Arthur Guinness at £45 per year for 9,000 years, St. James’s Gate has been the home of Guinness ever since. It became the largest brewery in Ireland in 1838, and was the largest in the world in 1914, covering 64 acres. Although no longer the largest brewery in the world, it is still the largest brewer of stout in the world. The company has since bought out the originally leased property, and during the 19th and early 20th centuries the brewery owned most of the buildings in the surrounding area, including many streets of housing for brewery employees and offices associated with the brewery. The brewery also made all of its own power using its own power plant.
The View at the Top of the Guinness Factory
As you embark on this beer-making journey, you’ll be told that Guinness is not the oldest beer in Ireland, but the company that saved the country. You will also get a tutorial of the right way to pour your Guinness when you get back home. Holding the glass on a slant, fill three-quarters of the way, let the beer settle before filling the glass, topping it off with a nice foamy head.
Guinness Bar, 7th Floor
The best part of the tour is the end. After being tempted all along the way, ready yourself for your free pint of Guinness on the 7th Floor bar where the majestic view of the city of Dublin makes this a most delightful experience.
The Smile Says it All
Photos: Patricia Florio
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