The story of Guinness
“The story of Guinness begins with Arthur Guinness”
the original Master Brewer and pioneer at Guinness. His craft has been passed down from generation to generation and continues to inspire today.
Where it began
Arthur Guinness was just 34 when he signed the iconic 9,000-year Guinness lease, on a then-disused brewery site on 31 December 1759 for an annual rent of £45. It was here on this four-acre site where Arthur would hone his craft and build the global brand that Guinness is today.
Arthur began by brewing ale and quickly built up a successful trade and, in the 1770s, he began brewing a new type of English beer – called porter.
GUINNESS GOES GLOBAL
The first known export of Guinness left Dublin port on a ship bound for England in 1796, a pivotal moment in bringing Guinness to the global stage. Arthur’s porter was so successful that, in 1799, he brewed his last ale and decided to concentrate solely on porter, the now-famous black stuff.
West India Porter was first brewed in 1801, designed to withstand long sea voyages with a higher hop and alcohol content. The brew is evidence of Arthur’s commitment to innovation in creating different variants for diverse markets. The first international shipment to the Caribbean arrived in Barbados in 1822.
West India Porter evolved over the years, both in recipe and name, becoming Guinness Foreign Extra Stout in 1849. Guinness Foreign Extra Stout remains the most popular variant of Guinness in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean to this day.
Guinness’ global expansion increased rapidly over the course of the 19th century and, by 1880, St. James’s Gate was the largest brewery in the world.
