Guinness Brewery
Sunday afternoon, we paid a visit to the Guinness brewery—obviously a must-see when you visit Dublin! First, we made a lengthy stop in the gift shop on the first floor, purchasing all sorts of Guinness paraphernalia for ourselves and families. Then we waited in line for tickets and entered the factory!
We learned all about the ingredients of barley, hops, yeast, water, and the special process that goes into making this traditional Irish beer. There was a huge area with barley that you could touch, or eat, as I saw some people doing. But I took a small handful and put it in my pocket as a little unofficial souvenier of the brewery tour.
We then journeyed through rooms of facts, media presentations, equipment, and displays, learning everything we ever wanted to know about the history and brewing process of Guinness. There was one section with Guinness ads that had been used through the years since Guinness's creation. One of the most popularly used slogans was "Guinness: It's Good for You." There was even an article that was published as one of the first ads, with all these health claims that Guinness is recommended for your health by doctors and even good for pregnant women! Hmmm...interesting.
After about four or five floors of the self-guided tour, we headed to the seventh story to pay a visit to the Gravity Lounge and receive our free beers (you get a free Guinness with admission). The view from the lounge was amazing—the floor-to-ceiling windows all around the semi-circle room provided a beautiful view of Dublin! My friends and I hovered near some tables for awhile, and finally managed to grab a coveted spot sitting in some of the chairs along the windows in the lounge, where we chatted for awhile. Fun times. As they say in Ireland, Cheers!
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