Join Guinness for an unforgettable virtual tour of their famed Dublin brewery.
If there are two things I could go for right about now, it’s a weekend break to an incredible city, and a freshly-poured pint in a pub. Whilst both remain sadly out of the question for the time being, there is actually still a way to enjoy both, courtesy of the good folks at Guinness. With their St James’ Gate brewery being one of Dublin’s most popular tourist attractions, it’s the first stop for many a Mancunian on their visit to town. Happily, Guinness are now bringing the brewery to you with a virtual beer tasting and guided tour – and you can find tickets to take part here.
A visit to the Guinness St James’ Gate Brewery isn’t just a chance to drink great beer, it’s also your chance to explore the history of one of the world’s best-loved breweries, and discover the rich history of craft and innovation that still influences their pint-pouring today. Of course, tasting their beer is still a pretty important part of this journey, so guests will be sent a tasting box of Guinness beers to their door, to be enjoyed over the duration of the tour.
Each beer tasting sample is taken from Guinness’ core range, and will be paired with a complimentary snack. For example, the classic Guinness Draught pairs well with spicy flavours, whilst the Guinness Original is a perfect match for richer foods. You’ll also be able to try the intriguing Guinness Foreign Extra Stout – inspired by Arthur Guinness II’s original recipe for the brewery’s West India Porter – and their popular Hop House 13 Lager, which was born from the many years experience of brewers at St James’ Gate and has taken the UK by storm since its debut in 2015. Each tasting box comes with a bespoke Guinness glass, ready and waiting for the perfect pour!
To make the experience as realistic as possible, Guinness aren’t just sending you the beer samples – they’re also drawing on the knowledge and charm of the people who keep the brewery running. Your online tour will be led by Padraig Fox, the Manager of the Guinness Open Gate Brewery taproom, and a man whose wit and wisdom has been shaped by a 15 year career as part of the Guinness family. He’ll be guiding you round the taproom and brewery, and since he’s also a qualified Beer Sommelier, he’s the ideal person to lead the tasting session.
Elsewhere on the tour, you’ll meet Master Brewer and Guinness Global Head of Quality Steve Gilsenan, who’ll be fielding questions on the running of the brewery and advising guests on how to pour the ideal pint of Guinness. Additionally, Guinness Archivist Jessica Handy will be on hand to share fun facts and stories from 261 years of Guinness history and showcase some rare treasures from the Guinness Archive. Finally, before you tuck into your snacks, Ian Colgan – Guinness’ resident Beer & Food Specialist – will be explaining the chosen pairings, and outlining why Guinness pairs so well with food.
The virtual beer tasting and brewery tours will take place on December 9 & 16, and whilst it’s a little ahead of Christmas, they really do make the perfect gift for any beer lovers in your life! Of course, if the magic of Guinness proves too tempting and you choose to keep the tour all to yourself, we can certainly understand that…
Tickets for the Guinness Virtual Brewery Tour & Tasting are available here. 18+ only, with valid ID. Please drink responsibly.