Maryland’s Guinness Open Gate Brewery is preparing to close, another blow to the region’s beer scene after a longtime Baltimore brewpub shut down earlier this year. The closure will affect at least 174 workers at the Halethorpe destination, according to a state labor filing.
Guinness owner Diageo announced the decision on October 1, 2026. The brewery’s last day open to the public will be Sunday, November 1, with the remaining operation expected to wind down by the end of the year. The 174 positions belong to Aramark, which provides hospitality services at the site, rather than being a confirmed count of Diageo employees.
Guinness is closing its Maryland brewery after eight years
The Open Gate Brewery opened in 2018 at 5001 Washington Boulevard, just outside Baltimore. It was Guinness’s first brewery in the United States since 1954 and became a popular stop for visitors interested in beer, food and the brewing process. The company says more than two million people have visited since opening…