The study abroad people told us that they would be hosting a trip to the Guinness Storehouse and Croke Park Stadium and that for 12 euro we could come. I immediately signed up figuring that it was a great way to see two of Dublin's most popular attractions and am sure glad that I did! (I will cover the journey to Croke Park in a separate blog as a combined post might run a bit long).
We boarded a bus around 9:45am on Saturday morning and by 10:00am we were off. Now this may seem early for a beer tour, yes, but I think Guinness tastes a bit like coffee anyway so the justification for it was not hard.
The outside of the building (or rather complex of buildings) is very large and grandiose in appearance. When I entered the storehouse I was overwhelmed with its modern architecture, heavy use of glass, and its overall industrial vibe. Not to mention the tour guide quickly showed us how the building is constructed in the shape of a pint glass which really took my amazement to a whole other level.
You begin the tour downstairs by looking at the original 9,000-year lease for the brewery which was signed by Arthur Guinness in 1759. Only 256 years into the lease, clearly the company is successful. We then learned about the raw ingredients for Guinness and saw simulations of the beer-making process as we made our way up the floors.
After the tour there was a few different things we could do before our bus left. First we went to a pint-pouring demonstration where everyone learned about pouring the perfect pint of Guinness and then got to try it themselves. Mine turned out okay and then I got to keep it as my complimentary drink of the day. My group then took our pints and certificates up to the Gravity Bar where everyone just drinks their beer and enjoys the stunning 360-degree view of the city. We took some more fun pictures up there and then went to one of the restaurants for food.
I was also walking in the footsteps of a few familiar faces who have taken the tour in the past: Conan O'Brien, and my personal favorite, Pink!
The brewery has a few different places to eat and we decided on one and sat down. I ended up ordering some beef and Guinness stew which was extremely filling and delicious. Eventually I finished the stew and my pint (I am generally not a huge fan of beer, especially in the morning) and moved downstairs to the gift shop.
Due to my affinity for coffee, I have a growing mug collection. To add to this I purchased an adorable mug with the Guinness toucan and other vintage Guinness graphics. I also bought a toucan poster to hang in my room and other friends bought pint glasses and paraphernalia.
All in all it was a swell tour and we had a lot of fun. We definitely learned about Ireland's most iconic beer and the Irish culture along the way!
Fun Facts:
Guinness is really popular in Africa with Nigeria and Cameroon being in the top 5 markets for the stout. Three of Guinness' five breweries are located in Africa: one in Cameroon, one in Nigeria, and one in Ghana. However, traditional Guinness is not as popular in Africa but instead a variety called Guinness Extra Foreign Stout that has a higher alcohol content (7.5% compared to the draft's 4.0%).
In one pint of Guinness there are approximately 198 calories which, according to the Storehouse tour, is less than your average glass of orange juice!
The museum features the harp that is used as Guinness' symbol. Interestingly though, this same harp was later adopted as the official symbol of Ireland but faces in the opposite direction.
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| Sorry for the not-great picture but you get the idea! |
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