Guinness - St James Gate Brewery Dublin
As a big fan of Guinness and having visited Dublin, I was keen to have a go at drawing St. James’ Gate at the entrance of the Guinness Storehouse.
The history of the Guinness Brewery dates back to 1759 when Arthur Guinness, an entrepreneur from County Kildare, Ireland, signed a 9,000-year lease for a small brewery at St. James's Gate in Dublin.
Initially, the brewery produced an array of beers, but it was Guinness’ dark stout with its rich flavour that really took off. The pioneering use of black malt gave the beer its distinct flavour and colour. Over the 18th and 19th centuries, the Guinness family expanded and improved their operation systems. They gained a reputation across Ireland as one of the largest breweries known for their quality porter, which evolved to become a stout in the 19th century.
The building in which the Guinness Storehouse is located was built in 1902 and was the first multi-storey steel-framed building to be constructed in Ireland. The building was the site of the fermentation plant of the brewery until its closure in 1988. It was not until 1997 that the building was converted into the Storehouse, replacing Guinness Hop Store as the brewery's visitor centre.
Today Guinness is one of the world's most loved beers, known for its distinct dark colour, flavour and famous advertising campaigns. The Guinness Storehouse continues to attract millions of visitors each year. In 2011 the Storehouse even welcomed Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, with the attraction one of the most popular in Ireland.