A Short History of Guinness: From the 1759 Lease to the Nitro Pint
Part of the Invergordon Guinness guide.
The modern Guinness pint joins an old brewery with a relatively recent dispense innovation. Arthur Guinness signed the St James’s Gate lease in 1759, but Guinness Draught and its nitrogen-driven surge arrived two centuries later.
The useful Guinness timeline
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1759 | Arthur Guinness signed the famous 9,000-year lease at St James’s Gate in Dublin. |
| 1801 | Guinness says Arthur developed West India Porter for long export journeys. |
| 1821 | Arthur Guinness II recorded instructions for Superior Porter, an ancestor of Guinness Extra Stout. |
| 1951 | Mathematician and brewer Michael Ash joined Guinness and pursued a nitrogen-based draught system. |
| 1959 | Guinness Draught was introduced for the brewery lease’s 200th anniversary. |
| 1988 | The widget brought a nitrogen surge to Guinness Draught cans. |
Why the 1759 lease matters
The official Guinness history records that Arthur Guinness signed the 9,000-year lease on 31 December 1759. The lease became an unusually durable origin story, but the important business fact is simpler: it anchored the brewery at St James’s Gate.
Guinness began with porter, not the modern nitro pint
The beer served today as Guinness Draught was not Arthur’s first beer. Porter and stout developed through different recipes and generations of brewers. Guinness Original traces itself to an 1821 Superior Porter recipe.
Michael Ash and nitrogen
Guinness’s innovation history credits Michael Ash with the “Easy Serve” system and the first nitro beer. Nitrogen changed the texture and created the surge-and-settle presentation now inseparable from the brand.
The can widget
The widget adapted the nitrogen experience for cans. When the can opens, pressure changes release nitrogenated beer from the widget and create the surge. It is an attempt to reproduce part of the draught experience without a pub tap.
Why the pub still matters
Draught Guinness depends on the venue’s glassware, line care, dispense setup and pour. History gives the pint context; the bar still has to serve the one in front of you properly.
Frequently asked questions
Did Arthur Guinness invent Guinness Draught?
No. Arthur founded the brewery tradition, but modern nitrogenated Guinness Draught arrived in 1959.
Is the 9,000-year lease real?
Yes. Guinness records the lease as signed on 31 December 1759.
When was nitrogen introduced?
Michael Ash developed the system during the 1950s, and Guinness Draught launched in 1959.
When did cans get the widget?
Guinness dates the widget to 1988.
Have your next pint in Docklands
Invergordon Bar is at 381 Docklands Drive, Docklands. Walk-ins are welcome; booking helps when you want a table for a catch-up or Monday Happy Hour.
Book a TableGuinness in Melbourne
Continue with the flavour science, the myths and facts or our pouring guide.
Guinness Draught is $17 on the current menu and the Monday Happy Hour feature is $10 from 4pm–6pm. Prices and availability can change. A 10% surcharge applies on Saturday and Sunday; 15% on public holidays.
