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If you are touring through the cobblestoned city of Dublin rich in history and local flavor, make sure you stop by the Guinness Storehouse and learn how they transform the hops into black gold.
I'm not a fan of Guinness... or beer in general, so this past weekend when I snatched someone's drink to quench my thirst, that familiar rich and stout taste touched my lips and brought me back to my adventures in Dublin.
This tour is pretty long and thorough. However, you walk at your own pace so you can zoom through if you really wanted. Of course we took advantage of our time, snapped a few snazzy photos like typical tourists, utilized some of their interactive toys and gadgets, and mingled and talked to the other foreigners. Great times!
You learn about the history of the liquid genius, how it's made, posters and product memorabilia and at the end of the tour, you find yourself at the gravity bar which is made of clear glass and sits at the very top of the building. They give you a free pint and you just relax and enjoy your view of the entire city. Gorgeous! I took a sip and didn't want it to go to waste so handed it over to a table of guys who were eager to accept.
Your trip to Dublin wouldn't be complete without coming here. Don't forget to hit up the souvenir shop and grab a few magnets and postcards for your jealous friends back home. Next stop, to the Jameson Distillery.
Guinness has never tasted so good!
No tourist excursion would be complete without a visit to the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin! The designers and tour guides did a wonderful job, creating a very interactive and informational tour of the history and the production of the world famous brand. In particular, I think my second favorite part was the marketing corner, in which you can see all the iconic figurines and posters that made the brand famous!
Nothing, however, can beat the gravity bar at the end of the tour. Enjoying a tall glass of Guinness and looking out into Dublin's (albeit, short but expansive!) cityscape. I attempted to take photos while i was there, but nothing can compare to those actual views.
The tour is pretty long and comprehensive and the design of the place is really cool. It's a big tourist spot so expect some crowds. The best stop of course is the gravity bar at the end. The views really are amazing. As a non-Guinness drinker I was disappointed at the other options for your drink ticket. You get either Guinness or a tiny glass of soda. As soon as they handed it to me I regretted not getting the Guinness and letting my husband drink it. Just something to keep in mind for those who don't actually want their Guinness at the end of the tour.
I also want to make a note about the gift shop. Normally I avoid these like the plague but we ended up getting some nice gifts for people there and the prices weren't actually all that bad.
The highlight of the tour to the Guinness Storehouse for me was, unquestionably the Gravity Bar. The seventh floor of the storehouse is dedicated to the Gravity Bar, and also forms the head of the giant pint of Guinness formed by the atrium. Therefore, upon admission you have finally reached the head of the pint. It is at this point that you will receive your complimentary pint of Guinness. Not only is this the most sustaining and authentic pint of Guinness you will drink anywhere in the world but the setting to which you are drinking it is truly stunning.
I adore the layout of the Gravity Bar with uninterrupted 360 panoramic views across the city of Dublin courtesy of the lustrous glass walls and a spherical bar to be found in the middle of the room that you can sit around. Alternatively you can choose to sit round one of the other tables dotted about. Now, admittedly, Dublin is hardly blessed with the most spectacular of skylines and there is certainly a lot of rampant construction to be glimpsed, but ultimately it is the magnitude of the view and all of the historical value existent in the buildings you're seeing that does nothing but astonish.
My favourite part of the bar is the sporadic quotations that appear on the glass courtesy of renowned Irish poets and authors. All of the quotations are positioned in accordance with the location of the landmark it is referring to. For example, if you look at the James Joyce's quote from A Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man that appears on the window, 'The grey block of Trinity on his left, set heavily, In the city's ignorance like a great dull stone set, In a cumbrous ring...' directly behind it is Trinity College itself, the Front Arch of which protrudes grandly from the wide cityscape. I love this union of arguably Dublin's greatest achievements - Guinness and modernist literature all working within the relaxing milieu of yet another Dublin phenomenon -the 'bar' to successfully pull off an altogether great experience. Just reminding myself of it makes me want to go back right away.
Although the tour itself is very lame, the gravity bar is very cool and of course the pints were perfect.
I've been meaning to get to the Gravity bar for years and finally did this year. I liked the old tour of the real brewery before they turned it into a Disney version of the Guinness tour, but it is worth doing just for the view from the Gravity bar so don't waste your drink ticket before you get to the top.
There are few cool displays, but overall I found it kind of lame.
You can pour your own pint if you like, but you have to be over 18 and you have to use your drink ticket. Not really worth it IMO, you will most likely end up with a pint with a huge head on it. You do get a nice little certificate though.
On the weekends and at peak times they have average trad music and Irish dancers. The tourists love it, but there is better music on Grafton street. They have bar here were you can use your drink ticket, but again I would wait. i do not think you can buy drinks here, but I could be wrong.
Tip: If you do not drink Guinness ask for a glass of water and give your ticket to someone in your party who does or consider a family ticket since that may get you extra drink tickets and is not much more then 2 regular tickets. (2 adult is 30 euro but 2 adults and 4 children is 34 Euro)
My friends and I took a one day trip to Dublin during our big trip to London so, of course, we had to stop at the birthplace of one of the worlds most famous stouts. Hey, when someone offers you a cheap tour and free beer what are you going to do, say no? The self guided tour was very informative. For example, did you know that the Irish are allowed up to 21 servings of alcohol per week?? That's three drinks a day! *Sigh* I've said it before and I'll say it again...I love the Irish.
Seriously though, if you're ever in Dublin make sure you take this tour. There are a lot of fun facts about Arthur Guinness and how his beer is made. The building is in the shape of a pint glass (pretty cool, right?). When you get to the top you'll hit the Gravity Bar which gives you a beautiful 360 degree view of the city.
If you're feeling confident, you can even pour your glass of Guinness and, If you do it right, you'll become an official "expert pourer". You'll even get a fancy certificate! Nice :)
I've been on a few tours of breweries before, so I was expecting the typical small place with a 15 minute tour and a beer tasting. Not so here. You do pay for a ticket, but it's worth it for the views from the gravity bar alone! The design of the place is very appealing, almost like an interactive museum. You get to taste test a little Guinness about halfway through the self-guided tour before reaching a fork in the road: To the Gravity Bar or learn how to pour your own Guinness? Either way, you get a large pint and spectacular views, and if you choose to learn to pour, you get a souvenir certificate to show off to your friends.
It's definitely worth checking out when you come to Dublin, and should be a must-see on your to-do list!
This was our first stop in Ireland. After a 6 hour flight, we wasted no time dropping our bags off at the Temple Bar Hotel and walked down to the Guinness Storehouse, A must while in Dublin. I thought the facility was top of the line and the tour was very Informative. We opted to go through on our own so we didn't have to worry about people with annoying questions or going at other's pace. The Guiness samples are a nice touch too. The highlight of the tour was pouring the perfect pint ( got a nice little certificate to prove it) and sitting back with our Guiness at the Gravity Bar- it was a beautiful day in Dublin and the views were phenomenal- it was the pefect way to kick off our 10 day Ireland adventure.
I've been here twice and after the first time you just want to get to the gravity bar for the pint.
I think that there are too many damn floors in the place and the lifts suck. But there are things I have learned from visiting the storehouse that I wouldn't have known otherwise.
The fact that there is a 9,000 year lease of the place, that Guinness defended our beer to the death with a pick axe because the city was threatening to shut off the water supply to the brewery and how hard it was to make a cask back in the day.
No matter how many times I go, I am never able to watch all the Guinness ads from the 1950s to Today. On the floor with the cafe, there are machines that take your picture and you can send it back home to a friend and go "NA NA NA NA NA!" in their face because your there and they aren't! It's really supposed to make you an Apprentice Master Brewer, but it's what I call a free souvenir!
Personally I don't find the gift shop that impressive. It looked as though anything you bought there you could buy somewhere else and it would even be cheaper.
The tour is amazing. I visited Dublin over the summer this year(this was my second time visiting) Each and every time the view from the Gravity Bar is just amazing. Seeing as far as the eye can see all of Dublin 360 degrees of beauty! I cannot wait till I go again. (p.s. The guinness isn't bad either)
So COOL!
I'm not a beer drinker but I was in Dublin and a tourist, which meant I needed to check out the Storehouse. So I did, had my very first Guinness, and it was good!
From a design perspective, this place is off the hook!! Some design team was let loose and did a phenomenal job with the displays and details. I'm down with the self-guided tour thing so you can go as fast or slow as you want. The advertising section was fascinating. Your tour ends on the very top floor at the Gravity Bar with sweeping views of Dublin and a bar in the middle where your admission covers one free pint.
The only part a bit lacking was the introduction of the main ingredients on one of the lower levels... the waterfall to demonstrate water? Um, ok.
If you're in town, check this spot out!
A museum/brewery/gift shop with a tour for 10 Euro that culminates with a free pint of Guinness? How do you turn that down?
Believe it or not, we kinda did! Upon arrival at this fabulous location of happiness, my friends and I bypassed the entire tour and spent two hours in the gift shop. Purchases included: a pair of Guinness slippers (replaced last summer, because they're not the most durable things), a Guinness apron, and a set of Guinness coasters. Also cute were the christmas tree lights, pyjama sets, and piggy bank.
For my 1000th Yelp I figured I would save it for a very...very special destination.
Located right in the center of the St. James's Gate Brewery in Dublin is the world famous Guinness Storehouse. This according to their website is "Ireland's No. 1 international visitor attraction."
I first visited this heaven on earth locale in January 2001, just two months after it opened it's doors to the public. Since then this tourist trap has been visited by over 4 million drunks, lushes, and beer connoisseurs from all over the planet.
The Guinness Storehouse is seven floors, which are all encased in a glass atrium that is in the shape of a pint of the black gold.
When you kick off the self guided tour on the ground level, you will get to check out a gigantic exhibit that showcases the four simple ingredients that make up a Guinness. Those precious items are water, barley, hops and yeast. But there is a fifth ingredient that most drinkers often overlook, and that is the man himself - Arthur Guinness. If it weren't for his "brilliant" idea, we would not get to enjoy this Irish adult beverage today.
Another great feature of the tour in the Storehouse is the level that showcases all of the Guinness advertisements that have been on posters, televisions and in magazines for decades.
The Guinness Storehouse also prides itself with promoting the "drink responsibly" shtick. I think that they just do it to cover their ars and to pay themselves on the back. But that of course could just be me acting a wee cynical, and they might actually care about their customers.
They have you examine your drinking habits and ask yourself if you might have a drinking problem. I was not paying much attention to this part of the tour as I was still recovering from my hangover.
Finally, no visit to the Guinness Storehouse is complete without reaching the top of the building and checking out the infamous Gravity Bar.
Located on the seventh floor, this hip and and stylish watering hole in the sky is where you will get to enjoy a complimentary pint of Guinness. The Gravity Bar offers a relaxed atmosphere and a beautiful 360 degree view of the city of Dublin.
Go here...go here now. Unless of course you are not reading this in Dublin. If that is the case, then book a trip to Dublin and then read this last paragraph.
Cheers!
I'll go back again, when i can. It's worth the 30 euros and the self guilded tour made it easy just to roam around and see things for oneself. Their advertising was done by a guy named Gilroy!
Can't forget to mention the Gravity Bar on the top floor-panaramic view of Dublin baby!
visiting this place was heaven for me. the epicenter for all that i love about life. the admission token with the bit of guinness in it was awesome as was the free pint at the bar overlooking the city when you finish the walking tour. if you're a guinness buff, this place is your wet dream come true.... lol
It just seems to taste better here. It might be the view or the people, but i definitely recommend this spot for tourists. I'm guessing it's probably not a hot spot for locals. Learn about the rich history of the Guinness people.
I never met a brewery tour I didn't like, usually cause the end result is a sampling of the goods. I really like to see whats going on behind the doors and actually see the brewing process. Unfortunately you don't get to see it here due to the fact it really is just the old building of the original facility. Yeah that was a little disappointing. However it's still fun, and a very historic place (only 250 years old). The frothy imperial pint of Guinness at the Gravity bar is delicious! Fantastic views of Dublin, granted it's not raining :).
There are a lot of great features to the Storehouse that more than justify going. I mean, the museum is shaped like a glass of Guinness! Fantastic. Plus, the view from the top is great and examples of the years of beloved ads are exhibited toward the end.
The museum itself is decently interesting and is extremely well designed and put together. However, I have a feeling people come here for the numerous photo op's more than the experience. Still, it's a must do if you are in Dublin.
*****Tip*****
If you love Guinness, keep your ears open when you're at the top having your free pint. What to listen for: younger girls who only came because their friends/boyfriends wanted to. I heard this many times while up there, "Like, I don't really like Guinness.. It's too thick... Yuckers!!!" (Ok, maybe I exaggerated, but you get the point). When you hear this, that's your cue to slyly slip over, mention that you love it, and take the chick's free drink. Pints of Guinness are not cheap in Dublin- you gotta do what you gotta do to get your drink on!
************
BF and I managed to get two of the coveted chairs (people weren't even letting them up for old folks!) and sat there far longer than we should have, much to other people's chagrin. Who cares- enjoying the 360 views from the top of the "glass" and sipping our beloved stout was one of the high points of the weekend in Dublin.
Guinness in Dublin? Fantastic. The Best.
Guinness Storehouse? Over-rated, over-hyped, over-priced TOURIST TRAP.
**NOTE** You can go to the store on the main level without having to pay for the tour.
Without a doubt, the most touristy thing I did while visiting Ireland. Well.... maybe a close second to paying to lay down on my back and lean back to kiss a rock upside down. That's another story....
But yeah, the price is a bit much. Yeah, it's a touristy. Yeah, you'll have to deal with crowds. But it's guinness.... and that's good enough.
Among the tons of memoribilia and exhibits, make sure to take the opportunity to pour your own pint. Swing through the crowded Gravity Bar to take in the awesome views.... but don't stay too long. Then, stop by the storehouse for a couple souvenirs for the folks back home.
Make sure to go early! While it might not appeal to some to do the Guinness Storehouse early, you'll be glad you did when you see the lines when you're exiting!
Highly recommend!!
Let's be honest. No matter what's written, you're going to go anyway.
This is my third visit to the Storehouse and there are some things I want to say about it.
First, the Gravity Bar is great. A perfect place to see the city if you can get there on a sunny day. Second, Guinness pours a great pint. It's true it tastes better in Ireland and even more true it tastes better at the Storehouse.
...But....it's a former storehouse. They stopped making Guinness there in the 80s. When they reopened for tours, they went for the big, easy tourist dollars. It is an absolute barrage on the senses. It's loud. You walk a path lead my arrow stickers on the floor. It looks like an amusement park for adults. It's self-guided so you learn what you take the time to.
It misses the Irish way of story-telling. It's not a traditional brewery tour, for better or for worse. Mostly, you're there for the gift-shop and the pint of Guinness.
But, it's a fairly standard thing to do in Dublin, and like I said, we both know you're going anyway.
The Guinness Storehouse is pretty much why anyone would visit Ireland. I know tasting the best Guinness was one of my high priorities when I first went to Ireland.
You can take the hop on, hop off bus because it is a bit of a trek from city centre. Depending on the time of day, there can be a huge line which is why i recommend buying your tickets online!
The tour is pretty quick and quite informative for all you avid Guinness drinkers!!! I LOVE Guinness....but I also LOVE the ads for Guinness. They have a level where you can see all the past campaign ads for "Guinness is good for you," which is really cool to see
Of course, the best part is getting your free Guinness! PLEASE wait till the top at the Galaxy bar to get your Guinness!!! Once you're up there.....ENJOY the magnificent view of Dublin and drink your Guinness because it's good for you!!!!!!!!! =)
Ah the Guinness Storehouse tour, a must do in Dublin. It's a bit overpriced but worth it all the same.
Nothing like you would expect its more a muesum about the stout than a real journey of seeing it made. Interesting all the same though. Half way through you will find the tasting room.
The real excitement of the tour, however, is the Gravity Bar at the top. A 360 view of Dublin on a clear day is priceless, and the pint at the top is always good, and with a shamrock design put in the foam no less.
So touristy but so fun.
Quite an interesting tour, although I will agree with some other reviewers that it does seem quite touristy in the way it's set up. We were basically just following a line of people most of the time, and stopping when we wanted to read the actual signs and really take in the whole process of how Guinness is brewed. The gravity bar was nice, but sooo crowded. We had to laugh when we overheard an older tourist next to us attempt to pick up his pint before it was fully poured. The bartender gently told him that it wasn't ready yet hehe. The Guinness was good and cold, but I can't really say it tasted all that different at the bar than it did most other bars around. It was an informative tour and would recommend it to visitors.
When researching activities for my trip to Ireland this spring, there were mixed reviews from my friends regarding the inclusion of the Guinness Storehouse. Upon departing Chicago, the plan was likely to skip the Guinness tour in favor of some more consistent reviews for other locations in Dublin. However, once we were there, we realized how much of the city was being shut down as a part of the St. Paddy's Day festivities. The Guinness Storehouse shot right to the top of our morning list upon discovering our ability to get there despite road closures and well, it was open.
I was so glad that fate brought us to the Guinness Storehouse. I am a fan of shows like "How Its Made" and generally enjoy learning about mass production. While I can understand some complaints that you are not exactly where they are brewing the actual beer, I do find that their facilities do a fantastic job of utilizing former equipment to demonstrate the process.
I especially enjoyed the tasting room, the area where you can pull your pint and of course the Gravity Lounge. In honor of the holiday, our bartender used the spout to draw a shamrock in the foam of our beers. Awesome touch that totally made our day. The 360 degree views of Dublin was also a nice touch.
My only complaint is that one portion of the exhibit was not fully functional. There was a room on the advertising and marketing floor that had an interactive game of sorts. Out of the six or so machines, only two were fully working. Therefore, we were unable to participate. Booo!
We were looking for a more intimate and thorough tour to gain a better understanding of the history and brewing process. I've been on brewery tours in the past where you meet the brewmasters and see the actual brewing process and raw materials. Obviously, Guinness has now grown beyond this scale - and the experience is now sensory overload and long lines. On this "tour" you don't see anything but TV screens of how the brewery process is completed and cheesy, fake displays of the ingredients that go into making a Guinness.
I suggest going to any of Dubin's many outstanding local pubs and simply ordering a Guinness and savoring the experience of having a great pint in an authentic pub. That's the true Guinness experience.
The best part of the tour is the end where you are lead to the Gravity Bar with great panoramic views of Dublin where you can enjoy a pint included in the price of the tour.
If you are a fan, I would recommend without a doubt. However, if you are not, save your 15 Euro per person. Remember to bring your student ID to save 5 Euro.
This was my highlight of my trip to Dublin. The tour wasn't cheap, but its very interesting. Loved the free beer samples along the way, and the view from the top is breathtaking!
I recommended downloading the IWALK podcast for the Guinness Storehouse. It has alot of interesting facts and guides you beginning to end through the storehouse. It will make the most out of your trip!
A must-do in Dublin, even if you're not a beer drinker. Views from atop the Gravity Bar are spectacular. The tour is self-guided and not exactly the best, but you do learn a bit more about the creation of the black stuff! I've been here twice and will probably return if I ever go back to Dublin!
I can believe that this is "Ireland's #1 Tourist Attraction." Yes it is a bit of a tourist trap, but you know what? It's a fun tourist trap. This is a place to go to with the idea that you're simply going to enjoy yourself. My husband and I took the tour of the brewery and it was quite fascinating. I'd taken brewery tours before, most notably Rolling Rock when it was brewed in Latrobe, PA* and Iron City Beer/Pittsburgh Brewing Company in Pittsburgh, PA.
But I have to say that the Guinness tour was definitely the most fun. The view from the 360 Bar was unbeatable. Plus they gave out samples. Now for the ironic part. By and large, I don't drink because of my diabetes. But I did take small tastes from the samples they gave my husband.
One of my Yelp friends loves Guinness and I know she'd love this tour.
*This was before Anhaueser-Busch (Budweiser) bought out Latrobe Brewing, closed the plant in Latrobe, moved production of Rolling Rock to Newark, NJ and changed the recipie. My husband says that once a great beer, Rolling Rock now sucks.
If there is a list of the top five things that tourists do when they come to Dublin, then Guinness Storehouse must surely be on it. Maybe this is why I had recommended it many times but never set foot in it until I was showing a tourist around the city.
The self-guided tour, which sees you winding yourself up through the exhibition, is interesting and interactive, though I sense more of a treat for fans of stout, Guinness and brewing. The marketing and advertisement section is the most interesting for non-enthusiasts. We can't all stomach the black stuff, but we've all seen the ads!
The Gravity Bar, which offers a spectacular panoramic view of Dublin, made the visit for me. Dublin is not a city of skyscrapers so you get an uninterrupted view that extends as far as surrounding counties (well Wicklow anyway!). We were there at sunset so the sky was powder orange which made the city glow beautifully.
The Wonka factory of the beer world. More than a bit over priced, but fun & worth it. It was a little crowded when I was there.. but I expected that. The 360 bar at the top has killer views of Dublin.
Ahh, the Guinness Storehouse. Possibly the most touristed place in Dublin, the Guinness factory on James street is indeed worth a visit. While hardly an authentic brewery experience, the old factory is a fun and informative stop. It's more of a museum about the science and lore of brewing in Ireland, and it comes with a complimentary pint of Guinness served at their 5th floor bar, which provides beautiful views of the usually-gray city of Dublin.
just got back from a conference where the entire store was rented out....amazing.... food was fantastic!! Beer was great and wait staff was amazing. Ample space for 500 guests and who can argue that the world's largest pint glass isn't the coolest, haha
They don't actually brew Guinness there anymore. But you do get to learn how the stout is made, it's history and the generousity of Arthur Guinness. The price of admission does include a free pint of Guinness in a round bar in the sky with glass all around. The best view in the city.
First off, let me say this up front, I looove Guinness. Secondly, I looove Guinness in Dublin even more, if that's even possible. So the Guinness Storehouse was pretty high up on my list of places to see while visiting Ireland, but I was sadly disappointed when I went there. It's very expensive and there's not much to see or do, i.e. there's a section that covers the ingredients necessary to brew stout and there is, I'm not making this up, a huge bin of barley. Wow! The Gravity Bar on the very top of the building and where you go to claim your complimentary pint does have an impressive, panoramic view of the city. Go if you just have to, but don't say that I didn't warn you!
i liked it.
my family had no idea where to start when it came to tourists spots in the uk. the storehouse was great for all of us. great design of a museum, cool souvenirs, and every one gets a pint of guinness at the top. free with admission.
now, if only you could have that pint before the museum tour. that'd be heaven.
The Guinness Storehouse is a frustrating place. The price is slightly steep, although there is a pint at the end. It's packed with tourists, but it is one of the 'must see' stops in Dublin, so that's to be expected. The tour, which doesn't go through any working part of the brewery, is fine if you want a basic overview of how beer is produced and what makes Guinness special. You eventually reach the stunning 'Gravity Bar, with sweeping views of Dublin and insufficient seating. There, you are served with a scientifically calibrated 'super pint.' It is the best pint you will ever drink (really, it is fantastic). You enjoy it so much you decide to have another. BUT YOU CAN'T! The only bar in Dublin where you can't buy a beer! So you wander back downstairs and get lost amongst the leprechaun snow domes and Guinness tea towels, all the while wishing you were back upstairs enjoying another perfect, creamy headed yeasty pint of perfection.
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