The craft brewing industry in the region will see more competition from the majors as the new U.S. home for Guinness opens near Baltimore. The ribbon was cut on Friday for the Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House.
Located 10 miles from downtown Baltimore and 30 miles northeast of Washington, D.C., the Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House will be the home of Guinness Blonde, along with new Guinness beers created for the U.S. market.
The brewery generated more than 200 jobs and represents an investment by Diageo of about $90 million. The project takes a page from popular craft breweries that have combined tasting rooms, tours and food items, one example being the Dogfish Head brewery in Milton.
The first part of the brewery’s name takes inspiration from the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Dublin, a well-known Irish tourist attraction. The Maryland space was once home to a historic whiskey distillery.
The Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House is the first Guinness brewing operation on U.S. soil in more than 60 years and is home to two custom-built brewhouses: a 10-barrel brewhouse and a 100-hectoliter brewhouse, both of which are set up to brew and ferment different styles. The 10-barrel system is the small-batch experimental brewery, while the 100-hectoliter system will initially brew Guinness Blonde for national distribution.
Beginning on Saturday, visitors can tour the 10-barrel brewery and try the beers made on site. The initial line-up will include: “Guinness IPA and “Crosslands Pale Ale,” a beer made entirely with Maryland-grown malted barley and hops.
While many Guinness classic stouts, including Guinness Draught, Extra Stout, and Foreign Extra Stout, will continue to be brewed at St. James’s Gate in Dublin, guests can enjoy them alongside the new American beers in the brewery’s taproom.
A restaurant is slated to open later this summer.
Lyft will set up a permanent pickup lane at the brewery to offer rides home as a part of Diageo’s commitment to responsible drinking and Lyft’s Ride Smart initiative, a release stated.
Upon opening to the public, the brewery will offer free self-guided tours, and later this summer will also begin to feature guided tours with beer tastings for $10.
Taproom entry and access to the restaurant and outdoor grounds will be free of charge. Once guided tours begin, tickets will be available for purchase on site, but Guinness recommends buying them ahead of time at www.GuinnessBreweryBaltimore.com.
The Guinness brand was established in 1759, when Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000 year lease on St. James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin.
Diageo Beer Company USA (formerly Diageo-Guinness USA) is the U.S. beer and flavored malt beverage business of Diageo. Diago is part of an international beverage giant that includes Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan’s whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.
