Guinness Open Gate Baltimore

On April 3, Diageo North America, the parent company for Guinness released a statement that in June it will be closing its manufacturing facility at Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Relay, MD. They reported that about 100 workers would be laid off.  

Diageo said that the restaurant and taproom will still remain open as will the brewing of “select experimental beers” in a 10-barrel brewery in the visitor center.

In 2017, Diageo was instrumental in revamping Maryland laws governing beer production in the state in order to both brew and serve the quantities of Guinness the company needed to offer at new location. The legislation was eventually revised to allow all Maryland breweries to sell more beer on site.

Brewing of the Guinness Blonde that has been produced from the Relay location will be relocated at other Diageo locations yet to be announced.

The Guinness facility opened in 2018, costing Diageo a reported $90 million. Since it opened it has seen more than 1.3 million visitors.

I was fortunate to be at the Guinness Open Gate the weekend it opened as part of the Beer Now beer writers conference. What an exciting time that was. As part of that conference, we met Guinness brand ambassadors Ryan Wagner and Oliver Gray, brewers Hollie Stephenson and Sean Brennan.

One evening, we were allowed an unlimited taproom where the drinking was on Guinness. While there I witnessed the legendary Guinness two-minute pour up close. The crowd watched as the beer tender proudly delivered pint after pint of the dark liquid with the creamy tan topping to the bar and as with tradition, with labels pointing toward the receiver. When the final of the four pints were in place, the crowd erupted into an applause. It was a performance that had been practiced and perfected.

Baltimore Blonde

The Guinness blonde ale has been aptly named Baltimore Blonde. With the closing of the 100 hectoliter brew system, that leaves the location of the Blonde in question. Parent company Dieago has stated they plan to keep brewing the blonde ale somewhere within their constellation of breweries.

In an effort to keep the Baltimore in the Baltimore Blonde, the iconic Heavy Seas founder Hugh Sisson was written to Dieago that they would like to pick up the brewing of the blonde ale so it can still be brewed in Baltimore area.

This saga will continue to develop.

Chicago Guinness Open Gate

It was recently announced that Guinness will be opening their second Open Gate brewery in the USA in Chicago. The opening is expected in the summer 2023.

While in the Windy City in April 2023, the signage was all over the town about this opening. How will the Chicago edition detract from the Baltimore brewery? TBD.