For one of my free day posts, I wanted to share our class trip to the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin. Now, I’ll be honest I’m not really a beer person but I was genuinely excited to learn more about Guinness and where it all started.
Our CEA guide, Sean, led us on a 15-minute walk from our apartment to the Storehouse. I hadn’t realized how close we were until we got there! We took a group photo in front of the iconic Guinness sign, which made the experience feel even more real.
Before entering, our IDs were checked, and we each received a voucher for a free pint of Guinness at the end of the tour which I was definitely hyped about. (And yes, I’m 21 )
When we walked in, a staff member gave us a quick introduction and explained that it would be a self-guided tour. We followed arrows through several levels of the Storehouse, starting with the basics of how Guinness is made. I learned that the key ingredients are water, hops, yeast, and primarily Irish barley. One of my favorite parts was the second floor, where we got to do a tasting experience. We stepped into a bright white room and were introduced to four distinct aromas found in Guinness. Then, in the next room, we were given small glasses of Guinness and taught how to properly taste and identify each flavor. Honestly, It was kinda good tbh.
Finally, on the top floor, we redeemed our free pint of Guinness while enjoying an amazing view of Dublin. It was the perfect ending to a great tour.
As we moved through the third and fourth floors, we explored the fascinating history of Guinness advertising. It was cool to see how their marketing strategies varied across different regions including the U.S., Europe, and several African countries.
I would absolutely recommend visiting the Guinness Storehouse 10/10!