Oops! I dont think this posted, so I am asking again!
When I go on my tour we will be going to the Old Jameson Distillery in Dublin.We will tour the Distillery and then have a Shindig and dinner.
Is the Guinness Brewery/Storehouse very different from the Old Jameson Distillery?If they are, we may go there as well on our own.Can you get into a gift shop without going into the Brewery?Also, is it worth it to go in to go toe the Gravity Bar and see the views of the city?Is it a good place to take photos of Dublin city?
We are not much of drinkers, but I have decided to have a pint or two while in Ireland!
The Guinness Brewery has a lot more displays and multimedia presentations that recount their history and process than you'll find at Jameson's. They also showcase a lot of the Guinness ad campaigns, and the experience is self-guided.
The Gravity Bar has a nice view on a clear day, but I wouldn't make a special trip for the view...they do let you into the giftshop without buying a ticket, but again, you can find Guinness merchandise all over Ireland, so unless you're a huge fan, you don't really need to make a special trip...especially because it has one of the highest admission prices in the country.
The Old Jameson Distillery takes you through the process with a tour guide. You end in a pub where a few lucky volunteers get to sample all kinds of whiskey.
Both were interesting...neither make my absolutely must-see list. If your a fan of one or the other, then you really should include a stop, or if you aren't familiar with how whiskey or beer is made, the experiences are good primers.
A few years back I did the Miller tour in Milaukee, the Heineken Experience in Amsterdam and the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin all in the same month...They were all good, but Guinness got the lowest marks on my scorecard...I felt like I was walking through a music video. The other tours managed to make me feel more loyal to their brand...Guinness just made me feel herded through. Maybe I missed something?
I haven't done the Jameson's tour in Dublin. In either case, neither of them show you a working facility. What I find a bit puzzling is that Guinness gives you the opportunity to view a huge Guinness advertising display and enjoy 1 pint of Guinness for about $19.00. Granted, the view is nice but the rest is info you can read about. I think there are a lot of better was to spend $19, for instance, on 3-4 pints of Guinness.
You can, BTW, stop into the storehouse store to purchase some fabulous Guinness paraphanalia. It won't be any cheaper, but the selection is better than most shops. There (fortunately) is no charge to walk into the store.
