Diageo opens world’s largest stout brewery

Diageo has opened the doors to its new €169 million brewery in Dublin – the world’s largest stout brewery.

The Republic of Ireland’s Taoiseach Enda Kenny takes a look around the facility with Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes

The Republic of Ireland’s Taoiseach Enda Kenny joined Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes to officially open the company’s “Brewhouse No.4” yesterday – a state-of-the-art brewery located at St. James’s Gate in Dublin, home to its Guinness brand.

At 10,000 m2 in size it is the world’s largest stout brewery and the fourth to be built on the site, first founded by Arthur Guinness in 1759, which covers 55-acres and produces one billion points every year.

The new brewery will see Diageo bring together all of its brewing operations at one site, from which Diageo already exports more than €1 billion worth of beer each year.

Ivan Menezes, CEO of Diageo, speaking at the opening added: “This is a great day for Diageo and a great day for Guinness, one of the most iconic brands, not just in Ireland, but around the world. Our decision back in late 2011 to invest in St James’s Gate represented a €169 million vote of confidence by Diageo in Guinness and in our beer business. It also represented a major vote of confidence in the Irish economy itself. Diageo’s operations in Ireland support the employment of 20,000 people in the Irish economy, not least through our purchase of goods and services to the value of €350 million a year.”

He added: “By consolidating all of our operations to one site Diageo is ensuring the long term sustainability and global competitiveness of our brewing operations. Brewhouse No.4 will support the growth in our exports’ market and Diageo’s ambitions for further growth.”

Earlier this year Teeling Whiskey announced plans for a €10m distillery and visitor centre in central Dublin – the first to be built in the city for more than 125 years – which is expected to be completed by 2015.