Dublin Attractions

St. James Gate Brewery Dublin

The St. James Gate Brewery is a brewery in Dublin, which is known as the home of Guinness.

Arthur Guinness leased the factory in 1759 for a period of 9,000 years at a cost of £45 a year and it has been the home of Guinness in Dublin ever since. It became Irelands largest brewery in 1838 and in 1914 it became the largest in the world and it’s still the largest brewer of stout in the world.

The brewery owned most of the surrounding buildings during the 19th and 20th centuries, the brewery also generated it’s own power.

The brewery remained in the Guinness family for many years. The grandson of Arthur Guinness, Sir Benjamin Guinness was Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1851 and was later created a baronet in 1867, he died the following year. Arthur Guinness’ eldest son, Arthur Edward Guinness sold control of the brewery to Sir Benjamin’s son Edward. Edward would become the first Earl of Iveagh. In 1886 he launched the brewery on the London Stock Exchange. Up until that point members of the Purser family were the only other partners outside of the Guinness family who helped run the brewery.

The Earl, his son and then his grandson chaired the Guinness company until the 3rd earls death in 1992. In 1983 Ernest Saunders became the first non-family chief executive and in 1986, arranged a take over of the leading Scotch Whiskey producer Distillers Company.

In 1997, Guinness plc merged with Grand Metropolitan plc to create Diageo plc. Diageo is now the largest multinational beer, wine and spirits company in the world.

Located in the heart of St. James Gate Brewery is the Guinness Storehouse. It is Ireland’s most visited tourist attraction. Since opening in 2000 over 4 million people from around the world have visited the attraction.

The storehouse is spread over 7 floors, which surround a glass atrium that takes the shape of a glass of Guinness. One of the exhibits introduces visitors to the ingredients of the drink; water, barley, hops and yeast. All of which are combined to make a pint of Guinness. The visitors are also given to chance to meet the fifth and final ingredient, Arthur Guinness himself.

The “Choice Zone” is an area in the storehouse where responsible drinking is promoted. Visitors are invited to examine their drinking habits and recognise the dangers of excessive drinking.

The Gravity Bar is located on the 7th floor of the storehouse, it also forms the “head” of the atrium pint glass. The bar allows visitors to relax over a complementary pint of Guinness whilst enjoying the 360 degrees views over Dublin.