Pouring Drama

Inside House of Guinness and the Legacy Behind the Pint

Louis Partridge Photo: Netflix

When our latest Netflix binge arrived with the tagline “a dynasty built on stout, secrets & sibling rivalry,” we knew we were in for something bold. House of Guinness, which premiered September 25, 2025, dove headfirst into the tangled history behind one of the world’s most recognizable brews. And let’s be clear: this wasn’t just another “heritage brand tells its story.” The series proved to be as dark, roasty, and layered as the pint itself.

The drama opened in 1868, just after the death of patriarch Sir Benjamin Guinness, and quickly turned into a frothy cocktail of sibling rivalry, political pressures, personal scandal, and boardroom backstabbing. His four adult children — Arthur, Edward, Anne, and Ben Jr. — became the players in a family saga that felt part Succession, part soap opera, and entirely intoxicating. Netflix made no secret of its approach: the story was “inspired by true events,” which meant motives and whispered feuds were often imagined. Still, the backbone was undeniable — this family really did navigate questions of empire, religion, and expansion while building a dynasty that would outlive them all.

Photo: Ben Blackall/Netflix

Of course, the legend of Guinness was always built on boldness. In 1759, Arthur Guinness himself had signed a 9,000-year lease on the abandoned St. James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin — for £45 a year. That audacious move became the foundation for everything that followed, and the show made sure we remembered it. It also indulged in the quirks that make Guinness Guinness: the harp that faces the opposite direction of Ireland’s national symbol, the creamy head made possible by that tiny nitrogen “widget” hidden inside cans, and even the famous optical illusion of bubbles appearing to sink before they rise. Yes, even science got its cameo.

Not every descendant was pleased. One Guinness family member reportedly grumbled that the show’s scandal-heavy focus overlooked the dynasty’s considerable philanthropy. But viewers couldn’t look away. Between the cobblestone shots of Dublin, the atmospheric pubs that became characters in their own right, and the frothy balance of truth and embellishment, House of Guinness was pure bingeable drama.

So, should you watch? Absolutely — just don’t expect a textbook. House of Guinness was a soap-stout opera: cheeky, indulgent, and perfect for a night when you want your history served with a creamy head. Arthur Guinness might not have recognized every scene, but we suspect he’d raise a glass all the same.

Ben Blackall/Netflix