New brew for Guinness anniversary

Guinness has been brewed at St James's Gate since 1759

Guinness is to brew a special stout next year to mark its 250th anniversary, it is understood.

It is thought the commemorative beverage may be launched in March to coincide with St Patrick's Day.

The 250th anniversary marks the date which founder Arthur Guinness signed the lease on St James's Gate brewery in Dublin.

It is now one of Ireland's biggest tourist attractions, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

A spokesperson for Guinness parent company, Diageo, declined to comment on events planned to mark the landmark anniversary, but industry sources insist the anniversary brew will form a major part of celebrations.

Arthur Guinness opened his first brewery in Leixlip, County Kildare, in 1756 before moving to St James's Gate in Dublin three years later.

2013

A new brewery in Leixlip is expected to produce one billion pints a year when it becomes operational in 2013.

Desmond Guinness said he believed the 'black stuff' was now firmly part of the Irish identity, more than two centuries after it was founded.

Guinness is commonly referred to as the 'black stuff'

"I drink wine myself but I suppose you could say Guinness has become a staple of the Irish diet in many ways," said Mr Guinness.

"It was even regarded as medicinal. It used to be given free to nursing mothers in hospitals and to people who gave blood."

Mr Guinness, 76, remembers the 200th anniversary celebrations of Guinness in 1959.

"The clan may very well come together. We're scattered all over the world so a reunion would be something," he said.