The World of Guinness

by Rory Guinness

o Published to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the opening of the Guinness brewery in 1759 o Features archive photography as well as full color images, offering a unique insight into the famous brew from its beginnings to the present day o Written by Arthur Guinness's descendant, Rory Guinness, resulting in a personal, authoritative and very entertaining text With just L100 in his pocket, money he had inherited from a previous employer, Arthur Guinness left behind his family's small brewery in Leixlip to seek his fortunes in Dublin. Acquiring the ill-equipped St James's Gate brewery in 1759 in the heart of the city, he began a career that resulted in the production of a porter beer that was to become world famous. This fully illustrated book is published to celebrate the 250th anniversary in 2009 of the signing of the lease on the St James's Gate Brewery, and the start of a brewing legacy. It tells the fascinating story of a family of brewers and how they managed to globalize their unique brew through the quality of the beer itself and the lavish advertising campaigns that have become equally famous. In a lively and accessible style, Rory Guinness tells the story of Guinness beer, from its beginnings to the continuing success it enjoys today.

64 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2009

Reviews

[Owen Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating!

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was trilled to pick up a signed copy of this in March 2026 when at the St. James Gate Brewery/Storehouse in Dublin after having finished a most excellent tour upstairs.

This book would make an excellent gift for a lover of Guinness or just someone interested in one of the world's most fascinating beer companies/families. It's a light read with fascinating insights and plenty of images of people, the brewery in Dublin, and different pop-culture advertisements over the years. It also definitely makes me want to read more about the history of this beer, this company, and the people behind it.

Fair working, though, when reading, and as you finish it, you'll be inclined to want to sit yourself down for a nice fresh and proper pint of Guinness.