No visit to Ireland is complete without a visit to the Guinness Brewery. However, for those fans of the legendary dry stout who can’t make it to the Emerald Isle, here is some good news: Diageo, parent company to Guinness, is bringing a brewery right here to America.
Called the Guinness Open Gate Brewery, it will be located in Relay, Maryland. The company estimates that the $50 million dollar operation will bring about 40 jobs to the area.
For the last 63 years, Guinness has not been produced in America. This new Maryland location will finally bring everyone’s favorite stout stateside again. Construction is set to start soon, and Diageo hopes the project will be complete by fall 2017—just in time for the 200th anniversary of Guinness imports being brought to the United States.
“Opening a Guinness brewery and visitor center in the U.S. will enable us to collaborate with fellow brewers and interact with the vibrant community of beer drinkers,” Tom Day, president of Diageo Beer Company, USA, said in statement. “Given the success of our Open Gate Brewery in Dublin and the popularity of beer tourism in the U.S., 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.”
Guinness’ popular stout will continue to be brewed in Ireland. But, the Maryland brewery will feature experimental beers that are brewed on-site, as well as tours of the working brewery, a tasting room and a retail store to stock up on all of that Guinness swag. Fortune reports that the existing Diageo location will be remodeled to include a “Guinness brewery, packaging and warehouse operations, and an innovation microbrewery.”
Beer tourism is on the rise in America. According to Brewers Association, more than 10 million people toured small and independent craft breweries in 2014, and 47 percent of people say they’ve taken a “beercation” (aka, visited a brewery while traveling) in 2016. And, why not? It’s always fun to enjoy some beer while seeing the sights!
The Guinness Brewery was originally founded by Arthur Guinness in 1759. Since then, it has grown massively, becoming one of the most recognizable beer labels in the world. It is brewed in nearly 50 countries, and available for purchase in over 120 countries.
And here is something else you may not know: Some research suggests that Guinness could actually be good for your health! A study from the University of Wisconsin in Madison found that drinking the stout can reduce your risk of developing blood clots, and it is also rich in antioxidants. Just another good reason to drink up.
Sláinte!
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