Where is Guinness Draught brewed?
By Mark Porter Last checked 5 September 2026 How we check
Guinness Draught is imported from Ireland, but the UK version is weaker: 4.1% against 4.2% at home.
Listed by Tesco, Sainsbury's and Ocado when last checked. The product pages are among the sources below.
Every beer on the shelf by strength · How the units are worked out
More about the brand: rights, style, when it was created, where it is brewed at home
A note on the sources
Two strengths have been reported. Cans in British supermarkets are 4.1% (Tesco's 8 x 440ml and Sainsbury's 4 x 440ml). One older Tesco 4 x 440ml listing still shows 4.2%, the Irish strength, which we take to be out of date or Irish stock. We give the UK strength as 4.1% and the Irish strength as 4.2%; both are brewed at St James's Gate, Dublin.
Brewing in Dublin, the Irish country of origin and the British strength are confirmed from supermarket small print and from Diageo, and Diageo's own release confirms that packs for Britain are filled at Runcorn and Belfast. The 2005 closure of Park Royal rests on the Brewery History Society and general reference sources rather than Diageo, so treat that one date with some caution. We have not re-checked the 4.2% Irish strength against an Irish retailer.
In short
Guinness Draught is the real thing on origin: the beer in UK shops is brewed at St James's Gate, Dublin in Ireland. It is, however, a weaker version: 4.1% here against 4.2% at home. The brand belongs to Diageo plc. The label says: "Country of origin: Ireland. Guinness, St. James's Gate, Dublin 8, D08 VF8H, Ireland."
Who has brewed it here
| Years | Brewer | Site | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 to 2005 | Arthur Guinness Son & Co / Guinness Ltd (later Diageo) | Park Royal, London | breweryhistory.com |
| 2005 to now | Diageo (import from Dublin, packaged at Runcorn and Belfast) | St James's Gate, Dublin | diageo.com |
Questions people ask
Where is Guinness Draught brewed?
The UK product is imported. It is brewed at St James's Gate, Dublin in Ireland.
Is Guinness Draught brewed in the UK?
No. The UK product is brewed in Ireland.
Is Guinness Draught really Irish?
Yes, on origin: the UK product is brewed in Ireland.
Who owns Guinness Draught?
Guinness Draught is owned by Diageo plc, headquartered in the United Kingdom. In the UK the brand is handled by Diageo Great Britain Ltd.
What strength is Guinness Draught in the UK?
Guinness Draught is 4.1% ABV in the UK. In Ireland it is 4.2%. A UK pint is 2.3 units.
Is Guinness Draught weaker in the UK than in Ireland?
Yes. The UK version is 4.1% against 4.2% in Ireland, 0.1 percentage points weaker.
See also
Side by side with Murphy's Irish Stout.
Every beer sold as Ireland · What else is brewed at Belfast · Every brand owned by Diageo plc
Last checked 5 September 2026. How we check.
Sources
- Ocado (ocado.com), 5 September 2026: GB can 4.1% ABV, country of origin Ireland, producer address St James's Gate Dublin
- Diageo (diageo.com), 1 January 2022: £40.5m expansion of beer packaging capacity at Belfast and Runcorn for Guinness Draught and Guinness 0.0
- Brewery History Society (breweryhistory.com), 5 September 2026: Park Royal brewery in London and its closure
- The Irish Times (irishtimes.com), 11 May 2026: Kildare brewery opened May 2026 brewing Rockshore, Harp, Smithwick's, Kilkenny and licensed Carlsberg; Guinness stays at St James's Gate with a Guinness-dedicated phase two planned
- Diageo (diageo.com), 1 December 2025: Guinness Open Gate Brewery opened at Old Brewer's Yard, Covent Garden, London
- verification pass (tesco.com): Guinness Draught Stout Beer Can 4.1% Vol 8x440ml. 4.1% vol. Country of origin: Ireland. St. James's Gate, Dublin 8, D08 VF8H, Ireland
- verification pass (sainsburys.co.uk): Guinness Draught Stout 4x440ml. 4.1 %. Guinness & Co, St James's Gate, Dublin 8.
- verification pass (tesco.com): Guinness Draught 4X440ml. 4.2% vol. Country of origin: Ireland
- petebrown.net
Spotted an error?Tell us what the pack says and we will check it. mark@pretendpint.com