The Guinness Factory has a Mighty Fine Selection of Type

Ah, the Guinness factory in Dublin, Ireland. Where beer is plentiful and so is typography! First, I'll introduce the famous factory with a dash of "local flavor," or, the side that directs tourists to the front gate.

The Guinness text is known world wide. It is a classic font, resembling Times New Roman, with subtle serifs and slender stems. The 'Storehouse' letter forms are more modern and blocky sans serifs-no doubt to catch the attention of weary travelers and guide them to the brewery.

Inside the Storehouse are some fine examples of letter forms. I'll begin with distressed lettering that lets us all know where the word 'barley' derives from.

The letters were applied to the wall with some of the paint purposely missing so it appears older then it is. And, really, the letters are only about six years old as the Storehouse was refurbished in 2005-2006. The brick background aids to the "antiqued" or "older" look.

Next, we will learn about the brewing process, all the while enjoying the interesting color treatment; including a gradient and drop shadow.

I enjoy the analogous color scene of this sign. Also, the variation of the text size makes this interesting to look at, and pulls your eye downwards so the viewer reads the entire thing. It is very important to know the brewing process, after all.

So, to summarize, everyone should visit the Guinness Storehouse if not for the obvious reasons, but for the fabulous array of typography!