Guinness

Guinness History

The history behind Guinness

Arthur - Guinness started brewing the famous stout in Dublin in 1759, having purchased a dormant brewery with ￡100 which he had been left in his godfather’s will.

Arthur signed up to a 9,000 year lease on the brewery, with an annual rent of ￡45.

In the 1770s, a new drink popular with the market porters at Covent Garden in London was being exported by London brewers to Dublin. At this time Arthur Guinness was brewing ale. However, he decided to tackle the English brewers at their own game, and tried his hand at the new ‘Porter’, with rather more success than other Dublin brewers.

Expansion into foreign markets was spearheaded under the guidance of Arthur’s three sons who succeeded him in the family business.

Before the close of the 19th century, the Guinness brewery was the largest in the world, and the company, Arthur Guinness and Sons,was floated on the London Stock Exchange. By this time, Guinness was introduced into markets as far afield as America, Australia, the Far East and Africa, often in partnership with local brewers, making the brand the global icon it is today.