So, you’re heading to Dublin. You’ve probably already bookmarked the Guinness Storehouse, right? It’s the massive seven-story pint glass shaped building that every tourist and their cousin visits. But honestly, if you actually care about beer—like, the science, the weird experiments, and the stuff you can’t buy in a corner shop—you’re looking at the wrong gate.
While the Storehouse is a "brand experience" (think museum meets high-tech marketing), the Guinness Open Gate Brewery Dublin is where the actual pulse of St. James’s Gate lives. It’s the experimental taproom. This is the place where brewers get to go rogue.
The Brewery Inside the Brewery
Most people think Guinness is just the black stuff. One recipe, one look, forever and ever. That's a myth. Since 1904, there has been a tiny, secretive pilot brewery tucked inside the 50-acre St. James’s Gate site called the Product Research Unit. For over a century, the public wasn't allowed anywhere near it. Then, in 2015, they finally opened the heavy black doors and let us in.
It is basically a brewer’s playground.
When you walk in, you aren't greeted by neon lights or gift shops selling Guinness-branded pajamas. You see a working brewery. Pipes. Smell of hops. People in high-vis vests. It’s gritty but polished. This is where they test-drive everything from sea salt ales to chocolate-heavy porters. If a beer flops here, it dies here. If it wins, it might eventually become the next Hop House 13 or Guinness 0.0.
Why You Should Probably Skip the Storehouse (Sometimes)
I’m not saying the Storehouse is bad. The view from the Gravity Bar is incredible, and seeing the 9,000-year lease is a rite of passage. But it's crowded. You’re moved through like cattle.
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The Guinness Open Gate Brewery Dublin is different. It’s a taproom. You sit down. You talk to people who actually know the difference between a hop profile and a fermentation curve.
- The Vibe: It’s industrial-chic. Think exposed brick, copper tanks, and a very cool beer garden that feels like a secret enclave in the middle of a massive factory complex.
- The Exclusives: You will find beers here that do not exist anywhere else in the world. Seriously. They have a rotating tap list of four or five "experimental" brews at any given time.
- The Price: You don’t need a €30 ticket just to walk in. You can book a table on OpenTable or just walk up. There’s no cover charge. You just pay for what you drink.
What’s Actually on Tap?
Don't expect just a standard pint of Draught. Well, they have it, but why would you do that? You’re here for the weird stuff.
Honestly, the "experimental" label isn't just marketing fluff. I’ve seen them serve everything from a Pineapple Pale Ale to a Smoked Porter that tasted like a campfire in a glass. They usually offer a tasting paddle (a flight). It’s the smartest way to do it. You get four smaller glasses of different experimental brews. It’s the best way to figure out if you actually like a Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Beer or if you’re a "only the original" kind of person.
The Dublin Porter is a frequent flyer here, and it’s excellent. It’s based on archival recipes from the 1700s—sweeter and less "creamy" than the modern stout, but with a depth that makes you realize why people have been drinking this stuff for centuries.
The Food Isn't Afterthought Pub Grub
Most taprooms throw some peanuts at you and call it a day. The Open Gate Brewery actually tries. They have a "Brewers Bites" menu that changes seasonally.
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Basically, they design the food to pair with the beer, not the other way around.
- Beef Arancini: Deep-fried rice balls filled with beef short rib and farmhouse cheese. It’s heavy, salty, and perfect with a dark beer.
- The Scotch Egg: They use Guinness sausage and black pudding. It’s a heart attack on a plate but worth every calorie.
- Sticky Corn Ribs: For the vegetarians, these are unexpectedly great. They’re topped with a peanut and chili crackle.
Practical Stuff You Need to Know
Don't just show up on a Tuesday morning. You’ll be standing outside a locked gate looking like a lost tourist.
The hours are specific because it’s a working site. Usually, they’re open Thursday through Saturday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays until 7 p.m. (Note: Always check their official site because they close for private events or "brewing reasons" more often than you’d think).
Getting there is easy but slightly confusing.
The entrance isn't the main Storehouse entrance. It’s further down James’s Street. Look for the gate labeled "Guinness Open Gate Brewery"—it's just past the famous black gates. If you reach the Roe & Co Distillery, you’ve gone a tiny bit too far, but you're in the right neighborhood.
Important Warning: It is strictly over 18s only. Not "over 18s with a parent." Strictly. They won't even let infants in because it’s an active industrial brewery. Don't be the person arguing with the bouncer while holding a stroller.
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The 2026 Reality
By now, the Open Gate concept has spread to places like Baltimore and Chicago, but the Dublin original remains the "Mecca." It’s become a bit of a hub for the local Liberties community, too. It’s one of the few places in the city where you’ll see a mix of tech workers from the nearby offices, grizzled locals who remember the brewery before it was a tourist hit, and beer geeks from abroad.
The staff here are the real deal. Ask them about the hop varieties. Ask them what failed in the lab last week. They love talking about it.
Actionable Next Steps
If you want to do this right, here is your plan:
- Skip the morning slot. Go around 3 p.m. on a Thursday or Friday. It’s less crowded than the Saturday night rush.
- Book a table online. Even though walk-ins are allowed, the beer garden fills up fast if the Dublin sun decides to make a rare appearance.
- Start with a Flight. Don't commit to a full pint of something "experimental" until you’ve tested it. Some of those experiments are... bold.
- Visit Roe & Co after. It’s literally across the street in the old Guinness power station. They do incredible whiskey cocktails and it’s a great "Part 2" to your afternoon.
Whatever you do, just remember: you're at the Open Gate to explore. If you just want a standard pint and a view, stay at the Storehouse. But if you want to taste the future (and the deep, weird past) of Irish brewing, this is the only gate that matters.