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The Story of Guinness

© Irene Togher

Many would say that Guinness is simply the best beer in the world. The phrase, "the perfect pint," has often been associated with this beer. There are of course those who would disagree and so the debate goes on. But there is one thing that is certain. Guinness is one of the best-recognized names in the beer industry and the reputation of this dark stout precedes it wherever it goes.

Guinness has long been the most popular beer in Ireland and is inherently associated with that Nation. In more recent years, though, Guinness has become famous around the world as a quality dark beer. It is no longer unusual to find a Guinness tap in a United States' bar. Guinness has vehemently promoted Irish pubs and its quality beer everywhere from New Zealand to Holland to Seattle.

In the current success of this beer, it is hard to picture the humble beginnings of the Guinness brewery in the Dublin of 1759. In the December of that year a young man called Arthur Guinness bought a 9,000-year lease on an old, dilapidated brewery on St. James Street. The brewery had been on the market for ten years, so it is easy to imagine how crazy Arthur's friend thought he was at the time. And Arthur didn't lack competition either. That same street was littered with small breweries, all drawn to the area by the excellent supply of water from the river Liffey. Arthur was not deterred, however. He knew that the quality of the Irish products was inferior and so he set out to brew a better beer than any of his competitors, including the London Porter breweries that were dominating the Irish market.

Arthur Guinness brewed a beer that was relatively unknown in Ireland (at the time Irish people drank more whiskey, gin and poteen than beer). It contained roasted barley, giving it a characteristically dark color. It soon became known as "porter" and was in direct competition with the porters traditionally brewed in London for the Irish market. Arthur had chosen to fight the London breweries for their share of the market. He succeeded so well, that not only did he take over the Irish market, but he also captured a share of the English one.

By 1825 Guinness was available outside Ireland and St. James's Gate Brewery was the largest in Ireland. In 1881, Guinness was producing more that one million barrels of stout and by 1914 it had become the largest brewery in the world. Today, this famous brewery is no longer the largest but it remains one of the finest. 35 countries around the world now brew Guinness but each brewery must use a flavored extract brewed in the Dublin headquarters - one of those secret ingredients so closely guarded by Guinness.