One of the most recognizable beers in the world, Guinness is a staple in every Irish pub and at every St. Patrick’s Day celebration. There have been songs and poems written about it, and there’s even a right way to pour it. But just as fascinating as the beer is the history of the family behind it.
The creator of the famous beer, Arthur Guinness is the father of the modern Guinness clan. When Arthur was born, the brewing industry in Ireland was facing disaster—most people were buying English beers instead of paying the higher tax on Irish ones. It was also the tail end of the Gin Craze, when public intoxication and drunkenness became a huge problem throughout the British Isles—making it the perfect time to start of brewing something a little less alcoholic.
Brewing ran in the family—Arthur’s father was a steward in the service of the Anglican Archbishop of Cashel and part of his job was helping to run the estate’s brewery. When the Archbishop, who was also Arthur’s godfather, passed away, he left Arthur £100. The money went straight into purchasing his first brewery, located in Leixlip, County Kildare. Arthur started out as an ale brewer, but soon found enormous success with his trademark black porter.
Arthur believed that everything he had achieved was a gift from God. Determined to honor that gift, he plowed his profits back into the community. He donated massive amounts of money to charities that supported the poor, spoke out against those that lived lives of luxury and excess, sat on the board of a hospital that catered to the needs of the less fortunate, and funded the first Sunday schools in Ireland. As a Protestant, Arthur’s religion occasionally caused tension in majority-Catholic Ireland—he was even once accused of putting mashed-up Methodist hymn books into his beer. But the controversy never lasted long and his charitable works earned him widespread respect…CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY AT LISTVERSE.COM
