25 Years of the Guinness Storehouse - Reeling in the Years

And just like that, in what feels like the blink of an eye, a whole quarter of a century goes by… This year marks 25 years since the Guinness Storehouse first opened its doors to you, and what a 25 years it has been. We’re proud of the experience that we give to each and every visitor who comes through our door.

 

To celebrate this landmark, there’s a lot going on for visitors throughout the year, but before we talk about what’s coming up, let’s look at where we’ve been.

 

The legacy of Guinness is written all over the streets of Dublin, and poured by the pintful in every pub. But nowhere has it been more deeply felt than in the Liberties, ever since Arthur Guinness signed his iconic 9,000-year lease for the then-disused brewery at St. James Gate. It was the first of many milestones…

1759: The lease is signed

Arthur Guinness signs his famous lease and The Liberties change forever, with the brewery flooding the community with jobs and bringing a huge boost to the local economy..

1769: Exports to England

In May of this year, 6 and a half barrels of Guinness ale are shipped across the sea to England.

1770s: Guinness porter is born

Originally brewers of ales, Guinness begins to dabble in porter and produces a dark porter-style beer which gets very popular, very fast. This is the birth of Guinness as we know it today.

1799: The end of ale

Guinness decide to discontinue ale production and focus solely on their porter. Exports to England start increasing, and the Guinness name is spreading outside Ireland.

1801: West Indies Porter is first brewed

Guinness develop a special variety of Guinness for export, with more hops and a higher alcohol content to help keep it drinkable, even after long journeys in a ship’s hold. It becomes hugely popular in the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia, and remains so today..

1833: Ireland’s biggest brewery

By now, the St. James’s Gate Brewery has expanded significantly and is the largest brewery in Ireland. By the 1860s, it will be the largest in the world.

1862: Hello to the harp

The infamous and iconic Guinness harp logo is introduced in 1862, and registered as the company trademark by 1876. Inspired by Brian Boru’s harp, it remains one of the most recognisable brand symbols in the world.

1929: The advent of Guinness advertising

Guinness launches its first-ever advertising campaign, and quickly becomes almost as famous for its great marketing and advertising as for its porter and stout. “Guinness is Good for You” becomes a household slogan.

1955: The Guinness Book of World Records

The Guinness Book of Records is published. Originally conceived to settle pub debates, it became a global phenomenon and is still enjoyed all over the world today.

1966: The first Brewery Museum opens

We open a Brewery Museum, filled with historical artefacts. The Museum is built in the old Chemist's Laboratory on Watling Street, and features exhibits related to brewing history, cooperage, advertising, and packaging. It’s forced to close in 1972 due to its location being an active part of the brewery.

1988: The Hopstore is converted

A new visitor centre is opened and becomes incredibly popular among visitors from Ireland and abroad. Within a decade, it has welcomed over 400,000 people through its door. In fact, the location became too small to deal with the demand…

2000: So our Storehouse opens

Opened to the public in 2000, the former fermentation plant on Market Street is beautifully renovated and designed to become a world-class visitor attraction to tell our story, and serve our pints from the incredible Gravity Bar with its top sites of Dublin. It currently hosts over a million and a half people each year.

2024: Find your family

Guinness allows you to discover your Irish roots and find out if any of your ancestors ever worked at St James Gate - and you can even get your hands on a certificate of employment to say that they were part of Guinness history!

2025: And here we are today…

Marking our quarter-century anniversary. With a Storehouse that’s more popular than ever, an experience that immerses each and every visitor, and an evolved Gravity Bar where you can enjoy a perfectly pulled pint and a panoramic view of Dublin’s fair city, we’re excited for what’s next!

 

Keep an eye on what’s coming up this year, with the many events and special occasions we’re planning to mark this momentous Guinness Storehouse birthday: https://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en/visit/summer/summer-events

DISCOVER DUBLIN

BEGIN YOUR DUBLIN ADVENTURE AT THE GUINNESS STOREHOUSE

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