Episode 1 of *House of Guinness* opens in 1868, following the death of Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness—an Irish brewer, the first lord mayor of Dublin, and owner of one of the world’s largest breweries. As Sean Rafferty, the brewery’s foreman, prepares for Sir Benjamin’s funeral, he urges the workers to ensure the solemn occasion proceeds without disruption, honoring their revered former boss.
Yet, outside the brewery gates, a group of Irish Catholics, led by the fervent Patrick Cochrane, stages a vocal protest. They denounce the late Protestant brewer and seek to disrupt the funeral’s smooth progression. As the gates swing open, tension erupts: guards clash violently with protestors, while Sir Benjamin’s casket is hurriedly borne away toward its final resting place.
Meanwhile, at Iveagh House—the stately Guinness family residence—Sir Benjamin’s four children grapple with their grief and uncertainty. Arthur, the eldest, engages in a heated debate with his siblings, Edward and Anne, dismissing the crowds mourning their father as mere pretenders. The siblings rouse their youngest brother, Benjamin Jr., from sleep, having been summoned to attend the church service for their father’s funeral.
Edward insists that unity and decorum are essential during this trying time. As the four siblings watch Dublin’s turbulent streets from afar, anxiety grips them: they fear that relentless conflict may doom their hopes of ever filling their father’s considerable shoes. Anne, seeking solace, compels her brothers to join hands in prayer, imploring them to find calm amidst the storm.
Outside, Patrick Cochrane and his followers engage in a fierce altercation with Sean, who fights back with determination to safeguard Sir Benjamin’s remains and ensure their safe passage to the church. Amidst this chaos, the priest delivers a heartfelt eulogy during the funeral service, striving to bridge the divide between Protestants and Catholics by extolling Sir Benjamin’s virtues and legacy.
Meanwhile, Patrick comes across his sister Ellen and eagerly shares his audacious plan to thwart Sean's impending attack by setting ablaze the beer barrels stashed within the storage unit of the Guinness brewery. Ellen, ever the voice of caution, warns Patrick that his scheme is fraught with peril and that he's effectively painting a bullseye on his own back. She believes she has stumbled upon an alternative avenue to strike at the heart of the Guinness empire, one that involves unveiling the closely guarded secrets of the four Guinness offspring. Ellen confides that she's been collaborating with the servants of Iveagh House. Skeptical yet intrigued, Patrick questions Ellen's strategy but is nonetheless eager to unearth the mysteries surrounding the Guinness children.
At Iveagh House, the air is filled with the melodies of singing and the rhythm of dancing as Sir Benjamin's funeral ceremony unfolds. Arthur and Edward extend their greetings to the mourners who have gathered to offer their condolences. In a private moment, Anne encounters Sean, and the two engage in a hushed conversation about their clandestine rendezvous three days prior, despite Anne's marital status. She informs Sean that she has sought forgiveness from God for her indiscretion and pleads with him to keep his distance. Sean, unimpressed, accuses Anne of hypocrisy, labeling her a wildcat waiting to break free from her chains.
Meanwhile, Benjamin Jr. is found in Sir Benjamin's room, indulging in a drink, when Lady Christine O'Madden enters. Concerned, Christine hands him an unloaded gun, fearing that Benjamin Jr. might be contemplating suicide. Benjamin Jr. clarifies that he sought the firearm for self-defense against a man named Bonnie Champion, to whom he owes a staggering £170. Christine, desperate to help, proposes marriage as a means to settle his debt and urges him to abandon his drinking habits. Benjamin Jr., however, declines, convinced that he is not the right match for her.
Sir Benjamin's brother, Reverend Henry, convenes with Arthur and Edward to discuss the impending reading of their late father's will the following day. Arthur confides in Edward that he has no desire to be involved in the family business. Edward, on the other hand, is eager to take the reins, but as Arthur is the eldest, the brewery is destined to fall into his hands. The brothers reach a compromise, allowing Arthur to pursue his life in London while Edward assumes sole control of the business. In a gesture of goodwill, Edward agrees to share 35% of the brewery's profits with Arthur, despite his lack of involvement.
Anne, not to be outdone, asserts to her brothers that she, too, possesses the acumen and determination to run the business and hopes that her father recognized her grit before dividing his estate.
Later that night, Ellen ventures to the Guinness Warehouse in search of Bonnie Champion. With cunning, she dupes the guards into granting her entry. Inside, she confronts Bonnie and inquires about the Guinness family's darkest secrets. In exchange for his cooperation, she offers him freedom from all taxes.
Bonnie confides in Ellen, revealing that Benjamin Jr. has fallen into the clutches of gambling and is now drowning in debt. He also issues a stern warning, cautioning Ellen that Sean is fiercely protective of the Guinness family's honor. Curious, Ellen probes further, inquiring about any hidden secrets Arthur might be keeping.
Meanwhile, in a clandestine act of sabotage, Patrick and his cohorts sneak into the brewery under the cover of darkness. With calculated malice, they set fire to the barrels, igniting a raging inferno. Panic and chaos ensue as Sean, Bonnie, and the workers scramble to contain the blaze. As the flames leap and dance, Sean frantically searches for the culprit who breached the brewery's gates, allowing the fire to spread unchecked. In a desperate bid to save what remains, he orders the workers to roll the remaining barrels into the river, hoping to prevent them from being consumed by the inferno.
Across town, at Iveagh House, Edward regales Arthur with his grandiose plans for expanding the brewing empire. Arthur, however, is plagued by foreboding and attempts to voice his concerns to his siblings, but his words fall on deaf ears.
The episode reaches its climax as Sean, amidst the smoke and chaos, spots Ellen fleeing from the brewery. Just then, a torrential downpour of rain cascades from the sky, dousing the flames and bringing a sudden, albeit temporary, end to the crisis.
