Guinness to Begin Brewing in the US

Diageo Beer Company, USA, has announced that they will be opening a Guinness brewery in the US in the near future. The new plant will be the first US facility to brew the brand’s beers in over 60 years.

Diageo – which owns other global liquor brands, including Smirnoff and Baileys – plans to open the new brewery in the company’s former bottling plant in Baltimore County, Maryland. The brewery will be an American version of Dublin’s St. James’ Gate Guinness brewery.

The company says that Ireland’s flagship Guinness brewery would continue to make traditional Guinness stouts, while the American facility would focus on producing beers bound for the US market. The Maryland brewery would include packaging lines and warehouse space, however it would also function as a tourist attraction featuring public tours and tastings in the taproom.

“Opening a Guinness brewery and visitor center in the US will enable us to collaborate with fellow brewers and interact with the vibrant community of beer drinkers,” said Tom Day, President, Diageo Beer Company, USA. “Given the success of our Open Gate Brewery in Dublin and the popularity of beer tourism in the US, we are confident that Americans will welcome the opportunity to come experience Guinness brewing in Baltimore County. We appreciate the support we have received so far from state and local officials and look forward to continuing to contribute to the local community.”

In all, the investment in the new brewing site totals $50 million. The company also believes that the project will create around 70 new jobs, with positions set to be available in brewing and bottling along with visitor services.

“Guinness’ plan to build a brewery at its historic facility in Relay, Maryland is great news for job creation, manufacturing, and tourism in our state,” said Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. “Beer tourism attracts millions of visitors to towns and communities across the country every year and I look forward to welcoming Guinness to the roster of excellent breweries we have here in Maryland.”

Provided the necessary approvals come through, Diageo plans to start construction on the brewery this spring. Their goal is to open the facility by fall in order to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the first Guinness import into the US.