St. James's Gate Brewery (Guinness)

The great pivot. Arthur started with traditional Dublin ales, then noticed a dark, roasted London import called 'porter.' He abandoned ale entirely in 1799 to perfect the 'black stuff,' eventually running the English imports out of the Irish market. By 1880 St. James's Gate was the largest brewery in the world.

The founding thesisArthur Guinness used a £100 inheritance to secure a dilapidated four-acre site on a famous 9,000-year lease at £45/year.

1. 1759
   The 9,000-year lease

   Arthur Guinness signs for the St. James's Gate site at £45/year.

2. 1799
   Ale abandoned

   Guinness bets the whole brewery on porter/stout.

3. 1880
   World's largest

   St. James's Gate becomes the largest brewery on Earth.