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Diageo has developed world-leading brewing facilities, technical centre services and logistics headquarters at St. James’s Gate in Dublin. This is in keeping with the long tradition at the heart of all Guinness operations - to provide customers with the highest quality products.
While the brewing happens on site every day, quality control begins much earlier. Guinness has been made from the same natural ingredients since it was first brewed:
All these raw materials must meet Diageo’s rigorous standards. We regularly audit supplies to guarantee quality and consistency.
Recent investment in brewing facilities means that St. James’s Gate is producing close to 12 million kegs of Guinness every year. Our commitment to maintaining traditional brewing principles and using the same natural ingredients is a key driver of quality and consistency of Guinness production.
Brewing process
The brewing process starts when malted barley is converted into brewing extract. Hops and roasted barley are added to create a sweet liquid called wort. When yeast is added, it ferments and the unique Guinness flavour begins to form.
The next stage, maturation and storage, allows the flavour to develop further before it is packaged and dispatched to customers throughout Ireland and beyond.
Throughout the process quality assurance is paramount. The brewing operation is controlled using sophisticated technology. All stages of the process are managed by the St. James’s Gate brewing team and must meet exacting quality standards.
Brand Technical Centre
Guinness is now brewed in over 50 countries around the world. All these breweries must meet stringent standards. The Guinness Brand Technical Centre at St. James’s Gate plays a key role in helping them to do this.
The technical centre team works closely with brewing partners around the world, supporting local skills by providing expert advice. Samples of every brew produced by partner breweries are tested each week to ensure that the Guinness standard is maintained worldwide.
The work of the team in Dublin and this attention to detail reach around the world. This means that whenever and wherever a glass of Guinness is consumed, the Guinness experience is consistent.
Logistics
The logistics centre is based on the bank of the River Liffey at St. James’s Gate. It was from this historic location that barges once took Guinness through the canal network to consumers around Ireland or via Dublin Port around the world.
Today, over 23,076 Hl [hectolitres] of Guinness are transported each day from St. James’s Gate to customers in Ireland and abroad. This equates to 4,153,846 pints. Under our customer service standards, all orders are processed within 24 hours of receipt.
Worldwide, we operate a similarly seamless delivery process, directed from St. James’s Gate. A whole-world logistics system directs and manages the transport of Guinness and other Diageo products globally.
We set standards for the transport of Guinness to ensure the quality of the product is maintained and that it arrives with customers in optimum condition. We regularly audit all forms of transport to assess efficiency, service and cost-effectiveness.
And we do it from Dublin, where the Guinness story began.
Factfile:
- From 2005 all Guinness consumed in Ireland and Britain will be produced at St. James’s Gate
- Guinness Flavour Extract, the essence of Guinness, is exported from St. James’s Gate to more than 45 countries
- Over €350 million has recently been invested at St. Jame's Gate in a new brewhouse, on-going technology development and for real-time logistical support systems
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