Guinness Storehouse

Though the actual Guinness Brewery is closed to the public, the Guinness Storehouse will fill you in on everything you’ve ever wanted to know about “black gold.” This temple to Guinness is housed in a 1904 building that was used for the fermentation process when yeast is added to beer. The core of the building is a seven level, pint shaped structure that could hold approximately 14.3 million pints of Guinness. The Storehouse explores every facet of Ireland’s favorite beverage, from the ingredients that go into each batch to the company’s advertising campaigns to the role of Guinness in Irish culture.

Though there is a sense of unabashed propaganda to the whole attraction, the exhibits are beautifully done in a cool, modern design. There is a lot to see, but you’ll definitely want to make time for the ingredients exhibit, which features a veritable beach of barley and a waterfall of Irish water; the intriguing audiovisual journey through the Guinness brewing process; the tasting laboratory (where you get to sample several different brews); and the fun display of Guinness advertisements through the years. And don’t bypass the “Start the Brew” section on the first floor, where 100 lucky visitors per week get to press a button that initiates the brewing process at the actual Brew House.

The top-floor Gravity Bar is (literally) the Storehouse’s crowning glory, offering 360 degree views of Dublin through floor-to-ceiling glass walls, and dispensing a free pint of black stuff to every visitor over the age of 18.