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When you think of Ireland, one of the first things that will pop into your head will inevitably be the Guinness Storehouse. Especially, if you are a new legal drinker or an experienced beer lover. As one of the city’s top attractions, a cold one at the Gravity Bar overlooking the city was a must-see for me.
Location
The Guinness Storehouse is located in the heart of the city. The walk into the brewery is stunning with dramatic wooden gates and brick streets. The facade is everything you imaged the city of Dublin to be like.
Make sure you do not miss out on the photo opportunity at the gate!
Only a short walk away, you can visit landmarks, such as The Brazen Head, Vicar Street and St. Patrick’s Cathedral, or other drinking establishments, such as Teeling Whiskey Distillery or Jameson Distillery Bow St.
Cost
Compared to other attractions, some with less notable brands, the Guinness Storehouse experience was reasonably priced. For those 18+, the tickets are €18.50, or $21 USD. Included in the price is the admission and a glass or flight of Guinness depending on the activity you choose inside.
What to Expect
The brewery is about 8 floors high, with the top floor being the Gravity Bar. You follow a path from floor to floor where you can read facts about the brand and see past advertisements displayed. The self-guided tour lasts roughly an hour and a half depending on your pace. Since it has not been a working brewery in a long time, you do not get to see any real aspects of the brewing process.
Your ticket will get you admitted into The Taste Experience or The Guinness Academy. At The Taste Experience, you will receive a flight of different types of beer, where you can sit and be entertained by a DJ. When we went, the DJ was an 80 year old-ish woman decorated head to toe as a leprechaun with flashing jewelry, which I am sure had to do with the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day holiday.
If you choose The Guinness Academy, you will enter a pouring room to learn how to pour the perfect glass of Guinness. We decided to choose this activity, and it was the highlight of our tour. We watched a demonstration of the pour before attempting it ourselves. With our freshly poured glasses, we decided to sip them at the Gravity Bar.
Things to Know
Pre-booked tickets can be printed from the self-service machines, and then you can walk straight through to avoid the lines.
The Guinness Storehouse has only been open to the public since 2000.
Guinness Stout is ruby red, not black.
The Experience
When people mention Guinness and Ireland in the same sentence, it will probably be “Guinness tastes better in Ireland”. I did taste a slight difference between how they are served, but the taste was not that drastic. It is still the thick and creamy taste. Although, I love to have a cold beer on a hot summer day, I am not an avid Guinness drinker. In fact, if I do order a Guinness, it usually turns into the only drink for the night, and I will sip it for hours.
That being said, I attended the tour with my husband, who does not drink beer, and his best friend, who drinks IPAs. When we finally made it up to the sky bar, after walking all day, we could not find a seat since it was so crowded. So, we all stood and tried to peek over shoulders for a view of the city. After they tried their best to get past the taste of the Guinness, both of them tried passing their beers off to me.
The Guinness Gravity Bar offers a 360-degree view of the city and is the highest bar in Dublin.
One Guinness in a not so relaxing environment was enough, and I knew I probably would not finish all of it since we had other things planned for the day. But two? Do not even think about giving it to me. So, after they choked down a third of it, they decided to get rid of them. Well, with two bored men, me sipping the beer and our feet feeling a little sore from a day of walking, it was time for me to get rid of mine as well.
Overall, I was not in love with my Guinness Storehouse experience. Personally, it did not meet my expectations since I thought it would be more of an interactive tour, but it was more like a walk through of a building with facts lining the walls. Most of the tour was information I could get on the internet or website, but with a nice beer to accompany it. I will pass on this opportunity the next time I am in Dublin.
If you prefer self guided tours and are a big fan of the Guinness brand, this may be an option for you.
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Have you been to the Guinness Storehouse? Let me know your thoughts!
