Additional Coverage:
The Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Halethorpe, Maryland, will close its doors on November 1, ending an eight-year chapter for the American outpost of the iconic Irish brand.
This news does not affect the famous seven-story Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, which remains a popular destination for visitors eager to explore the rich heritage of Guinness. The Halethorpe facility, however, has been a different kind of venture.
Established by Diageo in 2018 as a $90 million experimental brewery, it was the first official Guinness brewery on U.S. soil since 1954. The site featured a 10-barrel system focused on innovation, alongside a spacious taproom and restaurant that attracted over two million visitors.
Despite its success in building brand engagement, Diageo decided that large-scale beer production at the Maryland location was no longer viable. In June 2023, the company ceased primary production and laid off 100 employees, maintaining only the experimental taproom and innovation operations. Now, rising costs, changing consumer tastes, and economic challenges have led to the decision to close the facility entirely.
A Diageo spokesperson emphasized that Guinness remains a key brand for the company and reaffirmed their dedication to its global growth. After Halethorpe’s closure, the brand’s only remaining U.S. experimental brewery will be the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Chicago, which opened in 2023.
Guinness, founded in 1759 by Arthur Guinness with the legendary 9,000-year lease at Dublin’s St. James’s Gate Brewery, continues its long-standing tradition. While Diageo occasionally adjusts its experimental sites, the historic Irish brewery remains in continuous operation, preserving the legacy of one of the world’s most beloved beer brands.