Does it matter to you where Guinness is actually made ?

jetsonx

Ok when passing the Guinness Brewery the other day a thought struck me.

Its does nt really make anysense anymore having a large manufacturing
plant in the middle of one of the worlds most expensive cities.

Do you think the owners of Guinness would just like to leave Dublin altogether ?

Carlsberg are leaving Copenhagen.
Heiniken have left Amsterdam.

Your views please. Would you still buy Guinness if was made somewhere else ?

coolhandluke

What do you want to do,knock it down and build a load of scabby looking apartments ?

It's the biggest tourist attraction in dublin afaik.

is_that_so

Sounds more like an AH topic TBH. Dublin Guinness is better than other stuff I've had.

shnaek

Sher the way we're going there'll be nothing in Dublin at all only appartments soon enough. Then we'll be having the craic!

chump

shnaek wrote:

Sher the way we're going there'll be nothing in Dublin at all only appartments soon enough. Then we'll be having the craic!

Aye it'll be something else...

I reckon if Guinness were to do as you suggest it'd be the beginning of the end for them.

JackieChan

Since Guinness production for the UK is now done in Dublin this is less likely to happen in the medium term. The current buildings are protected and not suitable for appartments.If they were to move the land that would be used is the yards edging on to the liffey. Theres a couple of acres here that could be built on.

TommyK

I don't drink it myself but I'd imagine the close it's made to the point of consumption, the tastier it would be. I know it probably ships well but I'm sure there a difference between drinking a pint that was made yeaterday and one that was made 2 months ago.

I remember reading somewhere that, of the approx. 10 million pints of Guinness sold every day in the World, a million of those are in Ireland. It sounds quite a bit but if that's even remotely true, then Ireland represents roughly 10% of Guinness's markets. Thus, they're probably quite happy where they are!

Tommy.

mox54

I lived in London for years, Guinness was brewed in Park Royal and it was skank, now all UK Guinness is brewed in Dublin and I'm told it's as good as here - that is a real bonus - they'll stay in Dublin - forget the property side of it - it works so why bother to change!!:)

shnaek

'Navan - Home of Guinness' just doesn't have the same ring to it.

MrPudding

mox54 wrote:

I lived in London for years, Guinness was brewed in Park Royal and it was skank, now all UK Guinness is brewed in Dublin and I'm told it's as good as here - that is a real bonus - they'll stay in Dublin - forget the property side of it - it works so why bother to change!!:)

I can confirm that the guinness in the UK still sucks.

I heard that they actually transport a "guinness concentrate" which is mixed in the UK. Not sure if it is true but either way it is still mank.

And no tucan brew. Can wait to get home.

MrP

Caryatnid

I defo want Guinness to be made in Dublin.

I seem to remember something last year when Guinness had actually planned to leave Dublin altogether and go to the UK instead. However in the end they did some research, and then decided to stay in Dublin, and instead export Guinness to the UK. I'm a bit sketchy on the details and exact times though.

JackieChan

If you see guinness tankers heading along the quays towards the port they are transporting the real stuff in bulk to the UK. It is kegged/bottled there and then sold on.

xha1r

coolhandluke wrote:

What do you want to do,knock it down and build a load of scabby looking apartments ?

It's the biggest tourist attraction in dublin afaik.

It's in the top 10 as far as I know, but I think Dublin Zoo is number 1.

Hitchhiker's Guide to...

okay. no way this belongs in business/economy. but where to move such a scintillating conversation?!

toss-up between AH or Beer/Wine/Spirits. Moved to the latter, but i could be wrong.

(apologies if so)

The Sweeper

This is a perfect thread for b/w/s.

I had a few cans of guinness over the weekend - draught cans, complete with widget, with 'brewed in Dublin' on the can. There was a noticeable difference in the quality of the drink compared to previous draught in a can guinness efforts. It's a lot better. I haven't had a pint of guinness in a pub in a while so I can't tell you what that might be like.

kikel

Yes it does matter

westtip

mox54 wrote:

I lived in London for years, Guinness was brewed in Park Royal and it was skank, now all UK Guinness is brewed in Dublin and I'm told it's as good as here - that is a real bonus - they'll stay in Dublin - forget the property side of it - it works so why bother to change!!:)

I used to work in the brewing industry and did a lot of work with Guinness - in blind test the park royal guinness would quite often come out better than dublin guinness - and that was tests conducted by professional brewers. the main reason guinness has always been so crap in England is lack of QC at the retail end, many publicans just didn't look after it well enough or did not have the throughput to ensure fresh beer was the norm (once a keg is broached it should be drunk within 48 hours), the guinness (or any beer for that matter) should be better if there is a decent turnover and the beer is relatively fresh. Guinness has poured millions into ensuring consistent delivery at retail and training bar staff - there is a problem in the uK in the sense the bar staff just don' know how to pull a pint, they think pint of guinnes fill a pint glass to the brim pass it to the punter that's it. I think things are changing although a guinness is the last thing I would have if back in the UK.

As for not brewing in Dublin anymore, Since Guinness became part of Diageo don't bank on anything been sacrosant. The only reason they stopped brewng in Park Royal was to realise the real estate value of the site in north London, they couldn't give a monkeys about brewing heritage so don't kid yourselves , it suits the company for the time being - it may not in future years.

Blisterman

Guinness have a 1000 year lease at £50 a year, so I don't think staying in Dublin is much of a financial blow.

westtip

Blisterman wrote:

Guinness have a 1000 year lease at £50 a year, so I don't think staying in Dublin is much of a financial blow.

Good point I had forgotten about that stroke of luck or absolute vision signed up for in the late eighteenth century, inherited by the subsequent owners of Guinness. It must be the land deal of all time.

Suaimhneach

The Guiness they make in Dublin has fluroide in it, whereas the Guiness made in their other big factory in Africa doesn't. So there is a taste difference based on where its brewed and whats involved in the makings of it.

On a side note, Ireland is the only country in the EU that allows fluroide in the water too. So, its probably in Guiness doubly so.

Also, the Guiness area in Dublin probably wont ever close. It's been a major industry in that area and literally generations have worked there. If you ever go on the Guiness tour and what have you, they tell you all about it. They actively try to keep involved with the community.

westtip

Jesjes wrote:

The Guiness they make in Dublin has fluroide in it, whereas the Guiness made in their other big factory in Africa doesn't. So there is a taste difference based on where its brewed and whats involved in the makings of it.
.

Oh urban myths. Brewers don't tap into (sic) the local water supply which has been treated for human consumption and brew their brew from it. Teh Guinness brewery will have several Artesian wells of its own sourcing its own water for brewing - in the same way other brewers do. The water they use for brewing guinness will not have fluride in it.

Jesjes wrote:

On a side note, Ireland is the only country in the EU that allows fluroide in the water too. So, its probably in Guiness doubly so..

Fluoride has been allowed in the water by local authorities in the UK since the mid 1960s. It is one of the reasons anyone bought up in Birmingham during the 60s is likely to need less fillings than other members of the population - Birmingham was one of the first authorities to add it.

Jesjes wrote:

Also, the Guiness area in Dublin probably wont ever close. It's been a major industry in that area and literally generations have worked there. If you ever go on the Guiness tour and what have you, they tell you all about it. They actively try to keep involved with the community.

So you believe the claptrap from Guinness about all the good honest working people of inchicore making their way to the brewery everyday and doffing their caps to the brewmaster saying thank you kind sir for employing me and my family for these last six generations. Maybe in the past, but those days are gone. Guinness or Diageo to give them the proper corporate name, as Guinness as a company no longer exists, will brew in the Dublin brewery so long as they see fit and it makes commercial sense. There is no emotion in the decision - it is purely commercial believe me.

Suaimhneach

Don't wanna turn this into a discussion on fluroide! Just heard that Guinness dublin do have it in their drink whereas others dont, and that it effected the taste! I dont have anything to back that up so I wont argue it, or ruin the topic

You're probably right about Diageo as well, but if you read what I said you'll notice I said *worked* as in, yes it is a thing of the past. However they have invested in the area and thats to be seen when you go there. But thats all entirely besides the point!

dave2pvd

Good points westtip.

If I order a pint from a pub that serves plenty of Guinness here in the US, it often tastes as good as most pints pulled in Dublin. Quality seems to be very flow-dependant. For example, I would never order a pint in a sports bar or a frat-hangout where the norm is bud-light.

Ponster

I think that fact that the Africian Guinness is brewed to 7.4% or so may have a bigger difference on the taste.

At €3 a pint bottle and on sale in the shop next door to me it's changed my life