If you go to Dublin and don’t partake in the famous beer and/or whiskey did you even go to Dublin at all?

I’m more of a champagne and wine girl, but on my first trip to Ireland, I certainly wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity to see what all the hype was about with both Guinness and Jameson. Additionally, this was my first taste of both beverages. Ok, that was a partial lie. I’ve had a few sips of Guinness, but nothing more than that, and I most definitely have never tried Jameson. So, when in Rome, right?

The Guinness Factory at St. James’s Gate

The Guinness Factory tour itself is incredibly well done with details galore. As you roam each floor (five for the tour, seven including bars/cafe), you learn about the production process of the beer, where the ingredients come from and how it all works to create that “ruby red” color. Ruby red, you ask? Well yes. That is how they refer to the color of Guinness, and if you hold your glass to the light, it does have a bit of a red tint to it (I would have called it black… ha!)

Once you finish the tour, your entry ticket affords you one complimentary pint at the very top of the storehouse, known as the Gravity Bar. The Gravity Bar experience is unique as it offers 360 degree views of the entire city of Dublin, with floor to ceiling windows.

Verdict: Much better than I thought it would be. I don’t know why, but when I look at a pint of Guinness I always think it’s going to be really heavy and strong (like a porter), but it’s definitely not! In fact, I learned it’s one of the lightest, and lowest in calories beers on the market. A 12-ounce serving of Guinness is only 125 calories, just 15 more than the same serving of Bud Light. Guinness also contains antioxidant compounds, similar to those found in fruits and vegetables, that slow down the deposit of cholesterol on artery walls. This can help reduce blood clots and ultimately the risk of heart attacks. So there you have it! Guinness is heart-healthy! (This is a joke. I am NOT advising you to drink Guinness to avoid heart attacks).

Question: I had always heard that Guinness was served room temperature in Ireland. However, at the both the factory, and pubs around town, we had it served cold. Is this something I made up in my mind? Simply a rumor? Guinness aficionados, please sound off in the comments.

Tip: Our tour was incredibly crowded as we went on a Friday afternoon, so it influenced my thoughts on the whole self-guided tour bit. However, having your pint at the Gravity Bar is totally worth it. I honestly was fine skipping some of the tour and heading straight to the roof for a pint. But if beer brewing is your thing, then definitely go during off hours.

Jameson Distillery

Hands down, the Jameson experience was one of my favorite parts of the trip. Our tour guide, Liam was straight up as Irish as they come, which made the tour even more fantastic. His great grandfather also worked at the Jameson factory, and you could feel his family pride pulsing through the room.

The use of technology at the beginning of this experience was top-notch, without being gimmicky. The tour begins with an inspiring tale on the history of Irish whiskey as it relates to the culture of Ireland and its people. Next, we entered a “laboratory” where we were able to do some hands-on activities with some of the barley, and learn about the process of distilling the whiskey. It was like being back in my 8th grade science class, but way cooler.

Lastly, we were taken to a very fancy tasting room where we sampled Jameson, Jack Daniels (American whiskey) and Johnnie Walker Black (scotch).

As I said before, I’m a “when in Rome” kind of girl, so I followed the instructions of the tasting, which was to take a sip of each drink, leave it on my tongue for five seconds, and then “swish” it about in my mouth. Pretty much the same thing you do at a wine tasting, except this was with fire, mixed with acetone. I CANNOT stomach whiskey, ya’ll. But it was really cool to learn about it, and actually be able to taste the differences among all three. Look at me, just a regular whiskey girl now!

We ended with an old Irish toast I’m sure everyone is familiar with, Slainte! Which literally translates to “health.”

I’m hoping my next educational boozy endeavor is that of a champagne flight. That’s a thing, right?