DUBLIN — Throughout Ireland it’s well known that the color green reigns supreme, but in a bustling part of Dublin they celebrate something much darker. At famed St. James’s Gate, visitors who come are searching for dark, rich browns that border on black.
We're talking about experiencing the fruits of the Guinness Storehouse, the centerpiece of the 55-acre Guinness Brewery in the heart of town.
The Storehouse is a seven-story building that showcases the Guinness story — which began in 1759 with Arthur Guinness. Guests learn the history, and of course all facets of the beer-making process--from barley, to hops, to yeast and malt.
“Tourists come here from all over the world,” said Nick Doyle, a Guinness Storehouse beer specialist.
Each floor of the Storehouse offers something different, from the advertising history of the company to the Gravity Bar, which offers 360-degree views of Dublin. There is an entire floor with various restaurants, but among the top stops is a break for education.
“We give them a class on how to pour the perfect pint of Guinness,” Doyle said.
Doyle noted that the power of the Guinness pint knows no borders — the “black stuff” is consumed in 150 countries each day.
Darren Kenny a Guinness beer specialist who mans the Storehouse’s opulent Connasuer Bar, said, “It’s about sharing what we have in Ireland with the rest of the world.”
Though it may be a bit more than a day trip, Jimmy Altman called his visit to Ireland, and of course the Guinness Storehouse, a "super-sized Daytrippers."
The Guinness Storehouse in Dublin is open 7 days a week, to find out more click here.
And to read our first story about visiting Ireland aboard the inaugural Aer Lingus flight out of Bradley Airport, click here.
