5 moments where Netflix’s House of Guinness deviated from reality

Along with its period drama vibes, Netflix's House of Guinness is causing a lot of debate due to its detachment from reality. Based on the Guinness family (Yes, the beer empire!), the show recreates the rise of Ireland's finest brewery, packed with politics, feuds, and more controversy than you'd expect from a pint.

Unlike most historical dramas, House of Guinness doesn't adhere rigidly to history. Keeping the plot engaging depends on fabrications and soap opera-level twists. Although the story stands out independently, the writers shift reality, sometimes subtly and other times in astonishing ways.

Let's reflect on when the show presented more fiction than reality!

Which parts of House of Guinness were historically inaccurate?

1. A riot at Benjamin Guinness’s funeral that never happened

The series starts with a violent opening when the Fenian Brotherhood breaks into Benjamin Guinness's funeral in 1868 and sets off chaos in the streets. It's riveting on TV, but historically, it's nonsense! There is no record that the Fenians opposed a Guinness burial, though they were active then.

Even though it wasn't the funeral riot that Netflix hoped for, the Guinness family had an interesting relationship with unionists and Irish Catholics.

2. Benjamin Guinness’s made-up illegitimate son

Jack Gleeson plays Byron Hughes on House of Guinness. He is a cocky salesman who sneaks in and pretends to be Benjamin's illegitimate child.

The plotline sets up a U.S.-Fenian connection and mystery. The catch is that Hughes didn't exist! Nothing indicates that Benjamin Guinness is the father of an unknown heir. The historical reality was much neater (at least in this aspect), so the show gets brownie points for drama.

3. Guinness never promised 15% of profits to revolutionaries

Building on Hughes' plot, House of Guinness shows him giving the Fenian Brotherhood 15% of the company's earnings in exchange for marketing Guinness across the United States.

Historians would consider this fiction, but it was a great TV pitch. In the long run, Guinness gained control of the American market, but not due to political deals with New York revolutionaries.

4. Anne Guinness’s miscarriage subplot

Unaware that she was pregnant, Anne Guinness miscarried in Cloonboo early in the season. The show even hints that Sean Rafferty, another fictional character, was the child's biological father. The truth is that Anne had already given birth by then, and no record of this event exists. The traumatic subplot has no historical foundation and is an artistic creation meant to raise the bar.

5. Edward Guinness and the harp logo myth

House of Guinness attributes the brainwave to Edward Guinness, and the harp is currently one of the most recognizable logos in the world.

In reality, though, the harp debuted on Guinness merchandise in 1862, so not Edward's time, but Benjamin's. Later, the harp (based on the Brian Boru Harp) also became Ireland's national symbol. For style, Netflix just changed the credit.

House of Guinness is not the first and will not be the last to use historical license. As this first season shows, the Guinness family saga is strong enough, but it becomes more binge-worthy with a dash of imagination. The features are part of the pour, but history enthusiasts may object to it!