Guinness Beer and the Guinness Storehouse.
It’s an Experience.
As you walk your way from the Heuston Station, on a brisk cool morning with a dew, you pass by some
brick walls, nestled and maintained with some walls marked “Storehouse l – Gate”,
or the “Storehouse”. Lying behind those walls is a warehouse with rows and rows
of steel barrel kegs of Guinness. Ready for export to Europe, Canada, the USA,
and that pub down the street - Harkin's
- The Old Harbour.
Moving along, as you near the entrance a host or hostess
graciously invites you to enter the building. What a delightful experience, but
let’s not to get aha’ of myself. (Hint with the 360° view of Dublin Town, hint!)
GROUND FLOOR
For me, it was a heady treasure to be invited for a guided tour
with major domo or Beer Specialist, Kevin. We returned this cool morning to the
press area, it was early. Nevertheless, there was a steady stream of visitors
coming in on this day of St. Patrick’s Day.
Constantine: (as we started our tour) So Kevin, where you from
originally?
Kevin: Right here, all my life.
Constantine: What brought you to this job?
Kevin: My family.
Constantine: What do you do here?
Kevin: My title is Beer Specialist (as he hands me his card,
impressively). I provide tours for the Public Relations office and I work the
Connoisseur bar, among other duties.
Constantine: Are you the first in your family?
Kevin: No, I am the 5th generation to work at Guinness. (Stopping abruptly, he points down to the
floor. There I see inlaid in the glass cover, a document. It is the lease of 9000 years for 45 pounds a
year. That’s not a typo! In the City Centre. Near the Lifsey. Just down from
the Heuston station. Within a stone throw of the Old Harbour Pub. And a wee bit
from where the Vikings first came upon Dublin.)
Constantine: The Connoisseur bar?
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| No, It's Not Kevin! |
Kevin: We are going to
drop by, it’ll give you a show. It’s closed but I will give you a private tour.
FLOOR ONE - BREWING
As we start up the stairs, Kevin points out that the interior is
designed to replicate the inside of the traditional Guinness Glass. We pass the
information that indicates Guinness is made from four ingredients, and you’ll
see samples of each: Water, Barley, Hops and of course the YEAST!
FLOOR THREE - THE ADVERTISING.
I was especially taken with the Guinness advertising over the ages.
This is a fine example of how Guinness has become such an iconic beverage.
Especially true in Ireland, where exterior blank walls of local pubs will have a
beautifully illustrated painted wall with advertising for the local beer, you
know what I mean - A Guinness! Many of these walls are copies of the posters
and older tins and other advertising supplies that Guinness distributors would
place in pubs and bars in order to keep that name and harp symbol in the public’s
eye. Focusing the customer to say
“I’ll have a Guinness”.
The Toucan Poster - One of which I have in my home from an
earlier.
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| Photo - Author |
“Guinness is good for you.
How grand to be a Toucan,
Just think what Toucan do.” quote from a Toucan poster
In my mind Guinness is a mythical experience:
* Look at the color.
* Look at the foam.
* Harken the taste, some say acquired.
* Pride - there is something about standing at the bar and saying
“A Guinness, please”
FLOOR FOUR - HOW TO POUR.
As we passed by the Academy (4th floor) I made note of the place, as I might want to avail myself of learning to pour a Guinness.
Moving on to the .......
The Connoisseur Bar - oooooooooooooooooooohhhhhh. I said to self!
Down a semi-private corridor, I was taken to a wood-paneled, ultra-hip,
sophisticated, beautifully adorned, loft cocktail pub style with round top
tables and a bar.
And, here is the exclusive Connoisseur Bar. If I recall correctly, it’s
by invitation only. It’s pretty darn cool and worth the price. Next time you may
see me there, so if you drop by just ask for Constantine. Or better yet, Kevin.
Well, as you can read, Guinness Storehouse is a very exciting
place. Not just a place to go, so much more.
To top it off, you find yourself on level 7. This is the piece d’resistance
- a 360°, fully glass-enclosed, floor to ceiling, view of Dublin, or further than
that. Perhaps all the way to Kilkenny!
|
| Connoisseur Bar |
The continuing interview with Beer Specialist Kevin.
As we meandered the hall, I continued the questions - and he tells me the story of Whiskey.
FLOOR FIVE
Whiskey.
This is a long and complicated story. ‘Bout some Irish history, it might seem. It reminds me of the
Ulysses aspect of my Irish heritage, or perhaps I day dream.
Story. Arthur Guinness and George Roe had a rivalry, not
ribaldry. One was a brewer; the other a distiller. Guess which. They were
located near each other. Roe (since 1757) over at St James Tower on the north
side of the Liffey. Guinness at the Storehouse, across the river on the South.
They attended competing churches,competed
on tithing, it’s a long story. Years pass.
So voila Guinness, or maybe more correctly - parent company - Diageo, has now made
Roe & Company Irish Blended Whiskey, so watch for it! Just across from
Guinness again competing but this time with the Distiller Carolyn Martin!
Constantine: What do you do with your time, when you are off?
Kevin: Well this past Saturday I spent the day at the National
Institute of Genealogy. I enjoy research.
Constantine: Cook?
Kevin: I burn cornflakes. Good that my ma and Grandma are good
cooks.
Constantine: Can I take a picture of you here in the Connoisseur
Bar?
Kevin: Guinness prohibits that until you are 25. (Good idea, oh
yes, the intelligence of management; know the mischief that those under 25 can
get themselves into, group selfie or other.)
Constantine: IS there
a proper way to drink Guinness?
Kevin: Yes there is. First you wait until all the nitrogen
bubbles surface. Then you can take a drink. You drink Guinness from below the
foam. The foam should be the last of
your drink.
FLOOR SEVEN the end of our journey and time to relax with a Guinness.
The Galaxy Bar, So Cool!
Constantine: Poet?
Kevin: Yeats of course.
The Guinness Storehouse® is open 7 days
a week 9:30am - 7pm (last admission is at 5pm)
- Late opening
during July and August, 9am - 8pm (last admission is at 6pm)
- Open all
year apart from Good Friday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, & St
Stephens Day.
[Don’t you just love the Irish – St Stephens Day!]
The link for saving on tickets is
https://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en/tickets
Thanks Kevin and Laura-may
Santé-
Drink: Guinness Draft
Appetizer: Small plate Shepherd’s Pie.
Music: If I Should Fall From Grace with God. The Pogues.
Constantine's Irish heritage - This is a series of posts on Ireland, as Constantine continues his search of Ireland, in pubs and elsewhere, for his family the Maginnis and the O'Hares of County Down and Inniskillin. And Glasgow, too. Thus likely making him an "Ulster Scott".
A Note on Irish Whiskey.
The US Wall Street Journal publication writes of the Irish
Whiskey revolution. A Renaissance Ahead. Irish Whiskey is up 131% So it makes
sense that Diageo, the parent company of Guinness, as well as so many other
liquors –
Whiskey: Irish Bourbon Scotch
Growth 131% 56% 13%
Cases 7.8M 20M 94M
Photos – unless otherwise noted, all pictures are courtesy of
The Guinness Storehouse – DIAGEO, Global Leader in beverage alcohol.
