Had a great time seeing the process from the ingredients through the tasting. The price was expensive because of the exchange rates (About $15 a person US). But overall I was glad I went. Definitely dont skip the tasting on the 7th floor. You go up to the Gravity Bar and have a 360 degree look at the entire city. Amazing view.

Being Dublin, this was a must visit on our trip and we made sure we visited it on one of the first days in the city. The tour takes you up and around the building showing the whole process of creating the perfect pint.

Sadly it is not the real plant that you are touring, just the shiny made for tourist "museum". A self guided tour, it is not inexpensive and while not my favorite brewery tour it did have several interesting things. As a designer and marketer, I loved the history of brand, the wall of notes left by other guests is cool to see how far travelers have come to see this wonderful drink.

The real highlight is the end of the tour - the Gravity Bar where you can enjoy your "free" pint looking out over the city. It was a great way to take a break and see the city. Don't forget on your way out to visit the shop and pick up a few storehouse only gifts to bring home.

While in Dublin, the Guinness Storehouse must be a stop on everyone’s trip! This place is great. The aroma of fermenting beer can be smelled for blocks on end and as you get closer and the smell gets more powerful, you know that you are in the land of Guinness’ St. James Gate Brew House. Admission for this place is 14 euros at the door (or a 9.50 euros for students) and you get your money’s worth. Upon admission, you are given a little paper weight with a pull tab on it. Inside the paper weight, there is an actual drop of Guinness in it. After getting your tickets (they are cheaper online so try that out - www.guinness-storehouse.com) you walk into the world that is Guinness and the adventure begins. The entire history is explained to you from conception to finished product through visual presentations. The first room explains how Guinness is made with hops, barley, and of course love. Just kidding. The main ingredient that the Storehouse promotes is WATER. With a giant indoor waterfall and that overpowering smell of barley and hops, this place really envelopes you. As you ascend the Storehouse, the history of how Guinness came to be becomes very apparent. From the first can design, through the multiple changes to the design, the introduction of the Toucan drawings and the like and the memorabilia.

The next floor consists of the needed information of over consumption and personal habits. There is one room set off to the side that has a grouping of interactive televisions that show testimonials and information about alcohol and its effects. Some of these stories are too funny and others hit a serious note, so be wary. Then, the ever ascending escalators bring you up to the Source Bar and the Brewery Bar. Try not to stop at these because you have to pay for your drinks at these places, when upstairs they are free.

Now, the top floor is where the magic of the Storehouse comes to life. The entire room of the Gravity Bar is surrounded by glass and overlooks the entire city and can see for miles on end. Do not forget to bring your camera to this place. You can see the Spire and the mountains off in the distance and then of course the brewery in all of its glory. Now, remember that paper weight with the pull tab on it? Well, the bartenders here take your paper weight, pull your tab off, give you a fresh Guinness and here is the kicker. They put a Shamrock in the head of the beer. This Shamrock stays in the foam all the way down to the bottom of the glass.

So, when in Ireland, do as the Irish do (or something along those lines) and enjoy a Guinness, but I hope that at least one of Guinness’ is consumed at the Storehouse. Enjoy!

This is an absolute must-see! You have not experienced Dublin until you have a full knowledge of Guinness! You will be told by every true Irish person with the upmost seriousness that Guinness is like medicine! And trust me you have not tasted Guinness until you have drank it at Gravity, the pub at the top of the storehouse! It comes complete with a shamrock on top and a birdseye view of the city. Even my friends who don't drink enjoyed this tour!

We rejoined a passing tour bus from Kilmainham Gaol and we're off to the home of Guinness. The bus drops you off right at the door. There was an old gent with a wagon and horse in front of the entrance. Posing and asking for the price of a pint no doubt. The wagon didn't look like something one would want to ride. We slipped in the main entrance and assessed our options.

We opted for the self-guided tour, it is quite expensive, and they try to placate you with a "free" pint in the Gravity Bar at the conclusion. Very high tech tour, didn't explain the process very well. Lots of electronic images and froofy floff, but no meat or substance to it. The Jameson's tour was much more charming and detailed.

We went to Gravity Bar for the "free" pint, they put a shamrock in the foam while pouring, how cute. Not the best 14 euro pint I've had. The view of the city is beautiful and we took some pictures. The gift area is a homage to everything Guinness. Clothing of all kinds, hats, and luggage occupy one section and the rest is anything you could imagine with a Guinness imprint. Glasses, bar trays, mirrors, and posters abound as well as candy and other edibles. The lines are long but move quickly, relieving you via credit card or cash. The sign over the entrance should be "abandon all hope, ye who enter here". Pockets lighter and bags heavier, we departed the shrine of consumerism and went in search of a place to sit down. We found a little pub just down the street, next to a gravestone manufacturer and sat in their back outdoor courtyard for a pint. We figured the Guinness must be good as it was only a few hundred yards from the brewery. The pints were excellent, better than the Gravity Bar and the surroundings relaxed. The sun warmed the courtyard, but the umbrellas at the tables provided good shade. Somewhere along the way we'd neglected to pick up something at Guinness, so back we went for another pocket lightening experience. Much poorer and heavy laden with packages (could we look more like tourists?) we caught a City Tour bus back to O'Connell Street.

Admission to tour is 14 euros. Extensive gift shop is free to enter (at your own risk).