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159 reviews for Guinness Storehouse
Review Highlights
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"Gravity bar provides a great view of the city." In 68 reviews -
"7 story building and a great self guided tour." In 18 reviews -
"At the end you are "rewarded" with a "free" pint." In 27 reviews
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159 reviews in English
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Review from Elizabeth C.
3/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
If you are any fan of Guinness you must go on this tour. The building is state of the art and by the end of the tour you will have a greater appreciation for a pint of the bitter. By the end of the tour you will get essentially one and a half pints of Guinness. The first sample is a tasting where they have you go through the five senses of appreciating Guinness.
Hear: You start off by hearing the sound of the nitrogen that helps pour the Guinness into the glass and begins the settling process of the beer.
Sight: Visually people think of Guinness as being a black beer with the white foam head. At the tasting we tilted the glass up to the light to see that it's actually a very deep reddish brown color, which comes from the barley that's used to brew Guinness.
Touch: Feel the coolness of the glass after the Guinness is poured. It's served at 9 degrees Celsius for the perfect taste.
Smell: The smell of Guinness is like that of cold coffee or dark chocolate, with a hint of bitterness
Taste: When you take that first sip, take a big swig to avoid the nitrogen foam head, then gently swish it around your mouth so you can fully taste the barley of the Guinness. As you swallow it, the bitterness is activated by the back of the tongue, but drinking it this way allows you to taste the whole bouquet of Guinness and are less likely to just taste only the bitter. I try to tell my beer-drinking friends this so they don't think that all Guinness can be seen is just a pint of bitter beer because it's so much more than that.
At the end of the tour you have the opportunity to enjoy a full pint of Guinness for free by giving the tab of your tour ticket. There are two ways of enjoying your pint: At the seventh floor of the Storehouse in the Gravity Bar where there is a 360 degree view of Dublin City or on the sixth floor where you can learn how to pour your own proper pint. I choose the latter of the two because I thought it would be a fun experience. There was no line to pour your own pint (there usually is) so I am glad I made that decision.
There are six steps to pouring a proper pint of Guinness, which is perfectly summarized by Esquire: (http://www.esquire.com...)
Step One: The Glass
"The bartender takes a dry, clean glass, which should be a 20-ounce tulip pint glass," Murray says. "The internal aerodynamics of a tulip glass allows the nitrogen bubbles to flow down the sides of the glass, and the contour 'bump' in the middle pushes the bubbles back to the center on their way up."
Step Two: The Angle
"The glass should be held at a 45-degree angle under the tap. The tap faucet should not touch the tulip glass or beer. If you just hold it straight under the faucet, you'll get a big block of bubbles and a fish eye."
Step Three: The Pour
"Let the beer flow nice and smoothly into the angled glass and fill it up three-quarters of the way."
Step Four: The Head
"Let it settle. On the way through the faucet, the beer passes through a five-hole disk restrictor plate at a high speed, creating friction and bringing out nitrogen bubbles. The bubbles are agitated now -- they can't go back into the solution, so they flow down the interior sides and back up the middle -- but they can't escape. So they build this wonderful, creamy head on top. It's like an architect building a strong foundation."
Step Five: The Top-Off
"Once it settles, you want to fill up the glass and top it off. You allowed it to settle, you created a domed effect across the top of the pint, and now your head is looking proud over the glass. That's the perfect vision of the perfect pint."
Step Six: The First Sip
"You drink with your eyes first. The cosmetic look of the pint is critical to the Guinness experience. We don't want anybody just putting liquid in a glass. And finally, drink responsibly." -
Review from Sherri S.
2/5/2012
Most awesome!
Many ways to sample beer. Learn how to correctly pour and get a certificate for your effort. The gravity bar on the 7th story gives a beautiful view of the entire city of Dublin while you enjoy your complimentary Guinness, poured by a professional.
7 stories of legitimate history, beer & info. Each floor serves a purpose including a guide to pairing food with Guinness, and a room dedicated to the teams that Guinness sponsors with full floor to ceiling video.
You'll love it.
Note: the canvas bag I bought ripped the same day, and within 24 hrs, 3 of 4 handles had torn off from the seam. Cheap.Listed in: Rocking Dublin
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Review from Pasquale R.
30/4/2012
Absolutely a must see when in Dublin regardless if you enjoy their beer or not. It's an interesting tour but they never really tell you their secret to Guinness...I mean then it wouldn't be a secret, right?
From the outside it looks like an enormous factory that just so happens to make the most delicious liquid heaven on the planet.
The inside is very modern, almost too modern. It's definitely been updated (you even get to see the original contract for like thousands of years). Admission isn't too bad. There are several floors of yester-year. The best part is taking the rickety elevator to the Gravity Bar. When the elevator doors open it's like heavens gate with St. Peter standing there waving you. The view was amazing. Each section has something written on the window so you know what you are looking at which is pretty cool. What makes it even better is that you get a pint of G included in the admission. Terrific view, a pint of G...what can be better.
ENJOY!Listed in: Ireland
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Review from Jackie R.
12/5/2012
My hubby and I visited the Guinness Storehouse today to the tune of 14 euros each. We have read these 5 star reviews and we don't get it. It's a clean, well presented, well organized activity. Bottom line- it was boring. The level of information was not that deep. Went to the Gravity Bar which was packed and could not get a seat, but we did get a free pint of ale. Yes, it's historical but there are much better ways to spend an afternoon, IMHO. If Guinness is your Mecca (sp) of beer, you probably will be happy.
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Review from MaryAnn Z.
12/4/2012
Holy f'ing crap. I still can't believe this place exists in the form it does. It is the Willy Wonka factory of beers. TRULY.
The tour is high-tech, the garb in the gift shop is tacky and tempting, there are two opportunities to drink beer, and the propaganda machine is in full effect. The information is actually really interesting and well-presented. Anyone can enjoy it.
Count the number of digital SLRs you see as you walk around. The view from the top is indeed a view, reminding you that Dublin is an industrial city and not a super pretty one. If you're into that (and I am), it's perfect to relax in the Gravity Bar and soak it all in. The whole ordeal is run really smoothly and there are Guinness personnel all over the place if you have any questions or need any help. Really well done and cool to see. -
Review from Lydia N.
25/3/2012
The Guinness Storehouse is probably one of the highlights I had in Ireland. I had a fantastic time there and it was pretty interactive. There is no guide to show you around, you can go own your own pace.
The place was bright and very clean it has a modernized feel to it. Once you enter, there are different levels and once you reach the very top of the storehouse, you get a view of Dublin and the free guinness beer!
I had a good time here and was one of the most memorable attractions I did in Dublin.
TIP: bring your student id, discounts on entrance fees if you're a student -
Review from Bailey Z.
The Guinness Storehouse has a fantastic self-guided tour so you can determine how fast you want that free pint waiting for you at the Gravity Bar. Walking up to the Storehouse, you can smell a difference in the air. The building itself might not look like much, but it's quite nice on the inside. There's a large collection of Guinness memorabilia and past advertisement campaigns (my favorite being the Guinness toucan). You can learn how to do the famous double pour for your own Guinness as you ascend through the tour.
The best part of the tour is the Gravity Bar at the very top of the building. This floor offers a completely 360 degree view of Dublin, which is unmatched by any other because of skyscraper restrictions in the city. Seating is limited as you can imagine how popular this part of the tour is. But, it serves as a well deserved break for finishing the tour so be sure to kick back and enjoy a pint. -
Review from Lauren W.
27/3/2012
Took the Dublin hop on hop off bus and this was our first stop at 11 am.. I am usually not a dark beer drinker at 10am, but after prodding from my husband that it's 3pm somewhere I decided to give it a go. The tour was very interesting and interactive, get ready to touch, smell, and taste. We took it ar our own pace- we learned a lot about how Guinness is made. We happened to be there when there were a lot of kids - european spring break? Anyway, I forgot the drinking age is 18 in Europe.
We got to taste the Guinness and I fell in love with it. The end of the tour is at Gravity Bar with an amazing view of the city. My husband and I enjoyed our free pints while checking out the awesome views. We then had lunch at Brewer's Dining Hall. I had the turkey and vegetable pie. It was sooooo fricken good. Yummy mashed potatoes, and chunks of turkey in a I think a Guinness sauce??? Whatever. It was hot and I was licken the bowl. I hope the Guinness tastes this good in the states.
Can't wait to go back! -
Review from Melissa D.
31/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is a beer lover's or a graphic designer's wet dream. This is the mecca location for Guinness and a must see if you ever visit Ireland. For a self guided tour, yes for 14 Euro, it's expensive but it is easy to guide your way through the tour. However, you are able to understand and appreciate the dream of Arthur Guinness, yes I fell in love with the whole experience.
I think what makes it special is the free pint of true guinness and the 360 degree view of Dublin at the top that can be very crowded after 2pm, so start the tour early before 12pm. They also have a restaurant that is expensive and a bar where bartenders can show you how to pour the perfect pint the right way. They also have private rooms where a wedding reception was taking place!
It's also a graphic designer's wet dream since the whole experience has the bold fonts with simple text and symbols that make you beam with delight. They also have a floor of advertising history which you can actually walk through and study for a good 45 minutes. Use the hop on-hop off tour buses to get there. It's a true visual experience! -
Review from Nick M.
20/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Ok people, let's get rid of this "T" word because there was just as many locals as there were out of townees when I went. And why not, you should take pride in a place that is so well known all over the world!! Plus, let's be honest, it is kinda cool in there...
The Guinness Storehouse can best be described in one word... Grand! Both in scale (USA) and acknowledgement or contentment (IRE). Don't be mistaken, it is not a tour of the brewery itself but a self guided walk-though of the process in making Guinness. Basically more like a fancy mechanical museum. It's made up of displays and videos about the ingredients, the process, the history, advertisement, even how to make a barrel, and so on. Sounds plain, but I promise you it isn't. It's actually very interesting and the best part is that at the end you get a free tasting. I don't even drink beer but this was nice. There are a few areas to stop and get a small bite if need be and then there is the Gravity Bar.
The Gravity Bar is located on the very top of this massive building and provides an amazing view of Dublin and then some. I bet you can't guess what they serve up here!?! My only dilemma was that it was insanely packed, we could barely get to a window for even a quick glance. There are just too many people. To think they have a NYE party up there... insane!
So I'm glad I went and I didn't feel so much like a "T" word. Just a tip, you can buy and print your tickets online. It's actually a bit cheaper. Also, you can get there by bus or a short cab ride from city centre.
For my slow friends...
Yes, "T" word stands for Tourist.Listed in: Travel -IRELAND II
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Review from Marj C.
5/3/2012
The Guinness Storehouse is one of the biggest attractions in Dublin, and the first question people will ask you when you've visited the city is "have you been to the Guinness Factory?"
Rather than being a factory, the storehouse, as the title suggests, is the old building where they used to store Guinness before worldwide distribution. Set in an old Victorian industrial estate, the air and atmosphere changes the minute you step on to the Guinness grounds, almost as if you're travelling back in time. You can smell the brewery in the air, and feel the history saturating your pores. I know I'm being a bit over zealous in terms of descriptions but I absolutely love old industrial architecture!
Once inside the storehouse, you see that it's well maintained and modernised to suit contemporary life. The queue system is fairly straight forward, and there are self service ticket machines to save you a bit of time if you have your debit card handy.
When you're all inside and ready to go, you are greeted by a guide who gives you an introduction to the storehouse, including some interesting facts (the amount of Guinness consumed worldwide is bloody astounding!) It is explained that the inside frame of the storehouse is designed to look like a giant pint glass - a pint glass that would take 14.5 million pints of Guinness to eventually fill! The layout is pretty cool, and once the guide has given you some chat you make your own way up to the bar at the top.
There's a lot of information about the brewing process, simple displays containting the history of the factory and its owners, and some examples of the old machinery used to brew the Guinness. I found the section about coopering really interesting, and there are enough massive hands-on displays to really get a feel of the manufacturing.
As you ascend, you reach areas where you can pour a Guinness (I skipped that section because I was a barmaid, but it's great for people who haven't been), and the further near the top you get you reach sections dedicated to the merchandising of the beer, the shipping and marketing.
You can take your time at each section, but by this point my pal and I were gasping for a pint, and so leapt up the stairs to receive our free Guinness in the magnificent bar at the top. The bar - or the head of the Guinness pint - is a big, almost futuristic space which offers a 360 degree view of the entire city and beyond. You can see down to the docks, or over to the hills depending on where you look. For some people, this is the pinnicle of the Guinness Storehouse experience, and a great photo opportunity!
Being a massive geek, my favourite section was its marketing area, where they have a computer displaying all the old Guinness advertising campaigns from around the world. It was here that (worryingly) I realised Guinness has always been a part of my life, since their adverts are so prolific and cinematic. Everyone has a favourite Guinness advert, and when I watched some of the clips I was reminded of how much I enjoyed the adverts as a child. Shows the power of advertising really works, since I shouldn't have ever been thinking about Guinness when I was 9!
A couple of the exhibits looked tired and (as has been highlighted) there weren't many guides posted around the building, so there's always room for improvement. It didn't dent my experience, however, and I would recommend it to anyone spending time in Dublin, just for a glimpse at the building alone! The gift shop is unavoidable as you leave, so if you're a fan of retro adverts you can pick up some old fashioned post cards and beer mats as you leave! -
Review from Cristin L.
Dublin
27/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
I really enjoyed my third visit to the Storehouse and that's a good thing as I expect to be making some more visits in the coming months and years as we get more visitors to see us.
I like that there is no tour guide. You can wander around at your own pace and decide how much time to spend in each area yourself, depending on which aspects of the whole Guinness industry you are particularly interested in. From the coopers yard to the transportation and of course the making of the black stuff.
The leading bar person in the Gravity bar, Teresa, is a real character who with the aid of a microphone, adds some really genuine Irish charm to the whole experience.
The Arthur Guinness bar, two levels below the Gravity bar is a pleasant place to have a few more quiet pints, served by excellent staff who are genuinely engaging and pleasant.
Down in the store I nabbed myself a really cool tee for 12 EUR off the sales rail. There are some great styles in there that are not your average tourist attraction tee and hoodie designs.
I dropped a star for lack of air-con in the Gravity bar. It was oppressively hot to be there on such a sunny day. For a room of so much glass I thought they'd have managed to get the balance right. I dread to think what its like in the summer time. It remains to be seen. That said the view from the Gravity bar is pretty special and a must do when you are there.
Overall I think the 14 EUR charge is good value, considering the best pint of Guinness you are likely to get any where is included in the price. -
Review from Clive B.
27/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
I went to the storehouse for the second time recently. I'm sure the price has come down as it was only 14 euro, which includes a free drink. (not necessarily a Guinness either)
It's a very nice building with a lot of information videos and old machinery. Quite interesting for anyone really. There is a lot of history in the Guinness story. Add to this the pint glass design, internal waterfall and Guinness shop there's plenty to see for a couple of hours.
The gravity bar at the top where you can only get Guinness is normally very full of people but has great views. However Arthur's bar a floor down from it seems less busy and the bar staff are very good, bringing your pints over to you. There is also food available in the form of beef and guinness stew. We spent two hours in here watching the rugby and it was a great environment. If you don't want stew there is a cafe as well on one of the floors.
All in all a nice few hours out. I wouldn't expect kids to find it interesting but for the views alone its worth the trip out. If you fancy a horse drawn wagon ride back to the temple bar area they were offering a trip for 20 euro, although it was a bit cold for us to do that in Feb. -
Review from NIcole W.
Dublin
7/2/2012
Was in the guiness storehouse whit a friend visiting from Denmark.
We took a roundtrip for our self in the storehouse, which was amazing and interesting to how they use a brew it ones.
We decided to poured our own pint up and got a seat at the window where we had the view of Dublin at night. - amazing view! -
Review from Amanda G.
27/1/2012
Yeah, yeah...quite the tourist trap, but still cool! How can one pass up learning how Guinness is made from step one and get a complimentary glass of probably some of the freshest Guinness possible?? The other exhibits are interesting and kept me sucked into the Guinness story.
As for the Gravity Bar?!? Great way to get an eagle's eye view of Dublin! It is circular, so you can see the city in all directions. Super location to sit back and reflect on the fun stout adventure!!Listed in: Going Green (Ireland) for New…
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Review from Chuck S.
5/1/2012 8 photos
If you're Dublin, you may as well stop buy. Extensive, modern, industrial; as you'd expect of a place with such a cash cow beer. Your self-guided tour will have you climbing several stories, as you're given glimpses of the process that gives birth to the black elixir. The indoor waterfall is a nice touch.
As you climb up the stairs, there's a sample tasting place midway. You'll see more and more memorabilia and odd bits of ads, vinyl records, and old glasses.
Eventually, you'll make your way to the top to the Gravity Bar, for your complimentary free pint of Guiness Extra Stout (or you could say you paid 15 Euros for a beer, and were forced to walk through the brewhouse to collect it).
At any rate the view of from the top is breathtaking, with a 360 degree view of Dublin as you chat and enjoy your cold glass of beer. Don't be surprised if the gift store at the end suckers you in to collect some souvenirs and fancy anniversary shot glasses for your mates back home. You might even buy a copy of the famous "9,000 year lease" for the St. James Gate brewery. Arthur Guinness must be really optimistic; I'm sure our world will be colonized by aliens or Skynet, if we don't annihilate ourselves in nuclear war first. Or Guinness Extra Stout may just be that legendary something that saves mankind. -
Review from Patty S.
14/1/2012 3 photos
Although cliché, anyone traveling to Dublin has to visit the Guinness Storehouse.
Before you reach the infamous Gravity Bar, you are lead through an extensive history and making of the brew by signs and "billboards". There are barrels, actual barley, water flowing and nostalgic merchandise for you to be entertained with as you walk through at your own pace.
Before you reach the bar, there is a spot to grab a bite to eat. I recommend chowing down before you drink the best pint of your life!
Once I got to the top, I was awed by the view. An amazing site. I then waited for a short time for my free pint. I have to tell you...it was delicious. It was really a virgin pint. Made right there. So good. And for that alone, 5 stars. -
Review from Jeff F.
25/2/2012
The wife and I were incredibly skeptical of going to the Guinness Storehouse. Neither of us are huge fans of Guinness or brewery tours. It just seems like one of those things you have to do when you're in Dublin.
If the over/under for how long we were going to be there was set at 45 minutes, I would have taken the under every day of the week and twice on Sundays.
2 1/2 hours later we left. We're still a little baffled how we didn't get bored. I think a big part of it was we didn't go on the weekend (a little quieter, shorter lines off-peak during the week). We ended up being suckers for the "learn how beer is made," "pour your own pint," and the history of Guinness advertising.
Recommended. -
Review from Marina R.
8/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Was here for St. Paddy's day weekend so it was crowded. If you're paying with a credit card you can SKIP the line and buy your tickets at the kiosk on the left hand side once you enter. This saved us a lot of time but yet no one told us about it (follow the signs that say credit card purchases). The tour is self-guided and winds around many floors. You get to learn about the history of Guiness and the process of making it. At the end, you trade part of your ticket to learn how to pour a perfect pint then drink it, OR you can save your ticket and go to the sky lounge and have a drink there. We did both (there were two of us so I couldn't pour). The downside to this place is that in the Skylounge you can't buy a Guiness, so if you're with someone who's used their ticket at the pouring station they have to watch you drink in the Skylounge without the option of buying one.
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Review from Sam S.
9/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
I love Guinness and this review is not reflective of my love of the beverage but the actual experience of visiting the storehouse. It's loud, busy, mechanical and rushed. The best part of the experience was pouring my own perfect pint (mind you I was crap at it). I think the next time we have visitors we will send them on their own to the place as I would not be interested in going there again.
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Review from Jean R.
29/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
I was disapointed that there was not a guided tour. I get the efficiency of self guided, but I would've liked a guide. The BEST part was just being in the facility - and the free Guinness at the end! Your entrance ticket counts as a free drink and there are several places where you can exchange, including a bar where you can pour your own Guinness from the tap - how cool is that! If you're in Dublin, you have to go, but being a girl who has visited many breweries and know how beer is made, I wasn't overly impressed with the tour. The WOW factor is totally worth it tho!
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Review from Pia M.
26/3/2012
Okay, so it's totally touristy we visited the Guinness Brewery with work during our annual meeting in Dublin. The brewery is massive and has a very cool, modern interior with many levels. The evening started off at the Guinness store to buy some much needed swag, after which we took a self-guided tour of how the beer is made (and learned that it's not that much higher in caloric count versus other beers, contrary to common belief). Next, was a cocktail reception at the very top of the storehouse with 360-degree views of Dublin and unlimited Guinness (and other beverages), which was awesome. The evening capped off with a buffet dinner at Gilroy's restaurant, located on one of the lower levels, and the food was pretty good compared to what you'd expect at a Brewery (the desserts were INCREDIBLE). This tour was one of the highlights of my trip.
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Review from paige c.
14/3/2012
disneyland of beer
expensive, impersonal
ask for a shamrock -
Review from Jen W.
6/12/2011
If you like Guinness you will like it here, if you don't, then you shouldn't be here. Period. Moving on. You get a free pint at the sky bar at the end. Or you can pour your own pint, but I'd let the professionals do it.
You walk at your own pace, you can even eat at their restaurant, where they serve food with Guinness. I think I died and went to heaven. You get to see the history of Guinness, learn about how it's made and then have a drink at the end. Seriously what is there NOT to like?
And then there's a store where you can buy copious amounts of Guinness paraphinilia. Seriously, if you love Guinness then you'll love it here. And yes Guinness does taste different here than anywhere else. Seriously they clean the taps every month, and it's served at the correct temperature and there's always a constant supply that doesn't sit around. I swear, this is where God goes to get a drink.
I love you Guinness! -
Review from Carrie O.
16/11/2011
Two words:
Worth it.
It's SO worth it to do the Guinness tour. It's self-guided, but the overall atmosphere of the building is really chill & neat, and I really enjoyed reading about & hearing all about how Guinness is made.
Two more words:
Gravity bar.
DEFINITELY worth visiting. You get the choice to either "learn how to pour your perfect pint" or visit the Gravity bar & have a free pint up there. DO THE GRAVITY BAR. I mean, you can watch a youtube video of how to pour a perfect pint... But the Gravity bar has unmatched views of the Dublin skyline. Gorgeous around dusk... Just magnificent.
Loved it. And would 100% recommend it!Listed in: Is grá liom Éire (I love…
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Review from Annie H.
13/12/2011
Tourist trap? Maybe. But can you miss coming to the Guinness factory while visiting Ireland? Of course not!
I won't lie, the best part about the self-guided tour was the Guinness tasting at the top of the factory with a fantastic view of the city. If you're a tour person, the artifacts, history, making of the beer facts are all very cool. If you're not - it's still worth it to rush up, take a email postcard photo to send to your friends (hi mom!) sit at the bar, and have a Guinness (big smile)
Note: They also have a gift shop - I've asked about the different types of Guinness beers there and they're all available in the States, nothing rare, but the Guinness fudge and toffee is delicious! I regret not bringing more home since I thought they were going to be "tourist trap candies that taste just okay"... but I miss them... -
Review from Kelsey T.
13/12/2011
I'm a huge beer lover so a stop to the Guinness Storehouse was on the top of my list of things to do in Dublin. My only regret is not allowing more time to spend here. There was a surprising amount to see on the tour so we ended up having to rush through it. The best part by far was ending the day with a fresh Guinness up at the Gravity Bar, with its 360 degree view of Dublin.
Allow a minimum of two hours here, one for the self tour and one to savor your Guinness and the view. This is a great spot to come towards the end of the day, so you can sip your beer and watch the sunset.
They have lots of cute items in the gift shop too, but you can buy some of them at souvenier shops in Dublin if you forget something. I bought my brother a baseball cap that has a functional bottle opener in the brim and some assorted food items with Guinness in them as gifts. -
Review from Siobhan K.
4/1/2012 1 photo
Have to give this place 5 stars as it is the one and only Guinness brewery in the world!
Interesting as far as breweries go. You get a free taster along the way, if you like that, you can learn how to pull your own pint (queue here was a bit long) or you can head to the Gravity bar on the top with great 360 degree views of Dublin and receive a complementary pint there.
The place also has a restaurant, bar and souvenir shop.
The shop has everything you can imagine with stout in it or the logo on it.
The building itself is really interesting and attached to the brewery (Old Store house).
As I am from Dublin, I am probably biased but I think this place rocks! -
Review from Don A.
Great tour even though you don't get to see the actual process. The gravity bar is perhaps one of the neatest bars on the planet. The store is HUGE so if you like guinness make sure you have a good amount of euro! Other than that you will love the tour and the free pint at the end
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Review from Filip G.
4/1/2012
Where is the value in this?
I heard a lot of great things about this tour and how it all ties to Ireland, Dublin in particular. I was very excited to check it out as I quickly dished out the 14.5 euros for the tour. Little did I know that this was nothing more then a walk through a labirynth that contains little display factoids, some videos and thats about it. You are self-guided through several stories that explain how much love and care is put into each beer they make and at the end you get a free Guinness beer. I was very dissapointed with this tour as you don't see the actual factory, any machinery, people making the beer, any demonstrations, employees to ask questions, guides or anything else. Dissapointing and over priced. Tons of other fantastic things to do in Dublin so save your money for those and get yourself a Guinness at any pub. -
Review from Casey C.
7/12/2011
Commercialized. Pricey. Disappointed. Busy/Crowded.
But at the same time... it's the Guinness factory. So if you're visiting (like me from the USA)... and you have an inkling to visit... just do it. You didn't fly all the way out there just to say "meh, maybe next time". If you can "take it or leave it", then leaving it is fine.
But go in knowing it's commercialized and the following:
1. it's a self guided tour, with videos and and plaques to read. Nothing in-depth.
2. it gets crazy crowded, so go early to avoid the crowds.
3. you don't get a tour of the working brewery... it's more like a Guinness museum.
4. the Gravity bar has great views, but go early b/c it does get crazy crowded so you may not see those great views if you go too late.
Things I did like about it was the floor about their advertisements through history and learning to pour your own pint and... it's not that hard but it's interesting to hear them talk about it... at least the guy talking to our group that day was enthusiastic and explained the spout. Plus it's something different. If I wanted someone to pour me a pint, I can just go to the local pub and pay 5euros or less.
Big question... does it taste different? :) hahah... i don't drink Guinness that often, but the only difference I could tell was the texture... flavor-wise, it's the same to me... texture-wise, it was less bubbly (i.e more flat) and not as heavy (it was still rich and creamy, but not has heavy... if that makes any sense). That's my take on the that questions :) -
Review from Tude L.
5/10/2011
I laugh at some of the these reviews of people bitching about the self guided tour. Hello, next time do a little research!
Honestly, I did the Guinness tour, only because I was curious about the sky bar and trust me, it was worth it. Such a beautiful day with extrodinary views of Dublin.
I went to Ireland with my own personal opinion of Guinness, it was YUCK.
I left Ireland, loving Arthur Guinness, his legacy and of course a pint or 3 of Guinness.
I happened to be there on Arthur's day, which was of course a blast....
The store itself is pretty good, I picked up some souvenirs and was on my way to.......Jameson ;)
Cheers! -
Review from Onur U.
17/11/2011
It's a gigantic rip off, but the gravity bar really does make it worth it.
There are 7 floors of Guinness propoganda. Their explanation of how beer is brewed is incredibly rudimentary and borderline insulting. The fact that there is no discussion why stouts are brewed in Ireland or even what makes a stout a stout (as opposed to other types of beer) underscores that they're catering to the lowest common denominator.
But it doesn't matter, because a nice, fresh pint of Guinness with a fantastic view of the city is an excellent payoff. If they charged 15 euros just for the room, it'd be hard to swallow, but you can kill 30 minutes walking around their beer brewing wonderland. As a tourist, a pint of Guinness at the gravity bar is a core Dublin experience.
Also, I'd like to address the common notion that Guinness is better in Dublin than in the US. In my opinion, it is better, but only a little. The primary difference I could taste was a pleasant bitterness on the finish. Hops are the first thing to fade from the flavor of a beer, so since the beer will be fresher when it doesn't have to travel across the Atlantic, it's likely that the pleasant finish is just the hops. I'd call the difference small but noticeable. I doubt they're brewing different beer for the US market, so it's really just a freshness difference. The Guinness served at pubs across Dublin was as good as what I had at the storehouse, though. -
Review from Bobby Y.
8/7/2011
My stars, I flew 3466 miles to take a brewery tour and was given a tour of a room that had videos of the real brewery tour!!! What a huge disappointment.
I waited a long time to enter, I paid a lot of money to enter, then I enter and I'm given a tour of television monitors and displays that show how they make the "Liquid Beef."
Fully expecting a walking tour of the brewery is perhaps the first mistake made in traveling here. Other than that the samples, the bar and the restaurant were fantastic. The self-guided tour of information kiosks is spread through multiple levels of this tall building, a lot to take in, with little return.
Heck HRH Queen Elizabeth and HRH Prince Philip even visited here recently...I wonder if their review would read similar. -
Review from Robert F.
11/2/2012
Touristy or not, it is definitely something you must do at least once in Dublin. I came years ago before the remodel, when the tasting room was down below, and can say I enjoyed it then. Then I came back and can only say it has gotten better. The tour is actually pretty cool and informative. I have loved Guinness since I started drinking beer and so this is kind of a bucket list thing for me. The vintage marketing posters were funny and interesting. And the highlight is without a doubt the Gravity bar, with 360 degree glass windows allowing a full view of Dublin. It might be the best pint of Guinness I ever had up there, because of the whole experience. The only negative is you can only get one, and cannot buy another if you wanted to. I found myself begging other visitors for their token so I could stay longer.
-
Review from Justin M.
22/2/2012
Terrible. If I wanted to walk around self guided and watch videos I would have brought my IPAD.
Total waste of time and money. -
Review from Janette F.
15/10/2011
A must do if in Ireland. The Guinness they serve in Ireland is far different from what is served in the US. We tried a pint in every bar we passed as we went from Dublin to Cork. And, the farther we got from the brewery, the better the pint was. One guy told us that it ages as it travels thus the better flavor father from the actual brewery.
Anyway, the tour (in my opinion) was informative and well laid out. After you see everything, you get to the top of the brewery where the view is spectacular AND you get a free pint which is refreshing, delicious and just what you need at that point. Want more, no problem, just order it. Seating is minimal but with that view, who needs to sit! On a lovely day, the sky is the limit.
Try it, you won't regret it. -
Review from Patty G.
16/8/2011 2 photos
Definitely a must do when in Dublin. Lovely day for a Guinness, eh?
The Guinness Storehouse provides a look into the past. You take a walking tour of the place and view the brewery making business through lots of captions and visions on screens. I thought it was pretty impressive. The place looks fantastic. They reveal their ingredients but never the recipe! I was impressed and so glad I took the time to go to Guinness even though I wasn't a big fan of the beer. Now though, I am a fan, maybe not their #1 fan, or even #113 fan but a fan nonetheless.
At Gravity bar is where I enjoyed my first glass of Guinness. Granted, I couldn't finish a pint but I had half the glass which is a lot considering I'm a light-beer kind of gal. I could definitely tell the difference from the Dublin Guinness and the exported-batch that reaches the United States. It is definitely not the same taste. The Dublin Guinness is much smoother, it goes down easier and just tastes a little better.
So all in all, I'm still not going to be drinking Guinness--- unless I am IN DUBLIN. -
Review from Joel B.
28/8/2011
What more is there to say honestly? If you love Guinness (actually even if you don't) you should visit the storehouse. The story of Arthur Guinness is absolutely incredible and the Storehouse is nothing short of its founders' glory.
Take a moment to listen to the audible introduction in the center of the largest pint glass in the world! The tour is self led but personal audio guides can be acquired.
Booking online normally means 10% off admission (which isn't very expensive), and student prices are 4Euro less.
Your ticket will grant you access to either the "perfect pour" class or the gravity bar atop the facility where you'll enjoy a fresh pint overlooking Dublin in the 365degree rotunda. Guinness tastes so much better here than in the U.S. and you'll be glad you came!
Another personal plus for me was the Guinness store, I was amazed at how inexpensive these branded items were compared to other price gauging tourist attractions. Bravo Guinness! -
Review from Pam F.
18/11/2011
You cant get a better pour of Guiness anywhere on this planet. And you get a FREE pint with the ticket stub from the tour.
Dont miss the tour if you are in Dublin. The view of Dublin from the bar at the top is amazing.
The gift shop has some great Guiness themed items.
