Guinness Brewery Opens In Baltimore County

HALETHORPE, MD — Guinness has opened its first brewery in the United States in more than 60 years. A ribbon cutting was held at the new $90 million facility on Thursday in southwestern Baltimore County.

The Guinness Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House offers Guinness beers created for the U.S. market.

The new facility — which opens to the public on Friday, Aug. 3 — will brew Guinness Blonde American Lager to sell in the U.S. and Canada and create small-scale beers to test and potentially roll out for regional and national distribution.

This is the first Guinness brewery on U.S. soil since 1954, when the Long Island Brewery in New York closed after several years and unsuccessful attempts to brew and sell Guinness stout beer.

After learning that lesson, the company decided that Guinness stouts would continue to be produced out of the flagship facility at St. James's Gate in Dublin, Ireland, while the new facility in Halethorpe will focus on other brews.

Photo by Larry French/Getty Images for Guinness.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan was among those toasting the opening of the new brewery as a success — not just for Maryland but also for the U.S.

"The opening of this new brewery means 200 new Maryland jobs, a $90 million capital investment and 300,000 visitors every year. Maryland is open for business!" Hogan said in a statement.

The governor added that it was "great to help cut the ribbon for the Guinness Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House in Halethorpe, the first Guinness brewing operation to open in the United States in more than 60 years!"

Global beverage company Diageo, which owns the Guinness brand, said the multi-million-dollar "innovation brewery" on the site that used to house the Seagram's and Calvert distilleries is modeled after the Open Gate Brewery in Dublin, Ireland, which creates and showcases experimental brews.

In addition to the taproom and brewery, the Maryland business features merchandise and tours showcasing the history of Guinness.

The brewery will hold a grand opening celebration this weekend, keeping the following hours:

• Friday, Aug. 3: 3-9 p.m.
• Saturday, Aug. 4, and Sunday, Aug. 5: 12-9 p.m.

The Guinness Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House is open at 5001 Washington Boulevard in Halethorpe.

See hours and what's on tap at the brewery.

Main photo of the brewery's exterior and two within the article by Larry French/Getty Images for Guinness. Pictures of Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and Diageo President Tom Day at the ribbon cutting on Aug. 2, 2018, courtesy of Gov. Larry Hogan.

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