The First U.S. Guinness Brewery In Over 60 Years Is Coming To This State

The famed Guinness company, most known for its black Irish stout, is coming to Maryland with its first brewery in the United States since the 1950s.

The Guinness Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House will open on August 3, 2018, just 10 miles away from downtown Baltimore.

Borrowing from American and Maryland brewing traditions, experimental flavors such as “Guava Wit” and “Cherry Stout” will be on tap for opening day, alongside India Pale Ale, wheat beers, and lagers. Open Gate Brewery will also be taking over production of the Guinness® Blonde American Lager from City Brewing in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. The Irish stouts the company is known for, however, will still be made in Ireland and exported to the Maryland brewery.

A rendering of the Guinness Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House opening near Baltimore, MD.

The first Guinness brewery in the U.S. opened in Long Island City, New York, in 1949, but closed in 1954. Now, the iconic company is taking the opportunity to experiment with new brews targeting the U.S. market.

According to Guinness, “The USA is probably the most dynamic and exciting beer market in the world right now[…] Having a brewery in the USA will help us understand and respond to trends more quickly, as well as brew smaller batches and get them to market faster.”

Brewers Jonathan Rodriguez and Todd Perkins overlook the new Guinness Open Gate Brewery.

The Guinness Open Gate Brewery aims to capture some of Dublin’s Guinness Storehouse experience as well, with guided and self-guided tours of the 10-barrel brewery that will include over 100 artifacts from the historic original brewery. Also on-site will be a taproom and a 270-seat restaurant with outdoor seating, opening about two weeks later, adding up to 92 taps of Guinness products in total. Local leaders are anticipating an estimated 160 new jobs and 300,000 visitors in the first year, with high hopes for the future.

“In my opinion, the word ‘milestone’ doesn’t do justice to this moment in Guinness history,” said Tom Day, the U.S. chairman and global sales officer of Guinness’s parent company, Diageo, in a press release.

The Guinness Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House opens August 3, 2018 in Halethorpe, MD.

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.