After eight years, more than two million visitors, hundreds of experimental beers and countless pints, the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Halethorpe is coming to an end.

Guinness has announced that its Open Gate Brewery in Halethorpe, Maryland, will close to the public on Sunday, November 1, 2026.

For Maryland beer drinkers, Baltimore-area beer fans and anyone who made the trip to 5001 Washington Boulevard over the past eight years, the news marks the closing of one of the most ambitious brewery projects to arrive in the region in decades.

Diageo, the parent company of Guinness, announced the closure October 1, saying the decision followed a review of its operations and long-term business priorities. The company cited increasing operating costs, changing consumer demand and broader economic pressures as factors that made the Baltimore operation increasingly difficult to sustain.

The brewery’s operations are expected to completely wind down by the end of 2026.

And just like that, the Guinness gate in Baltimore is about to close.

Guinness Halethorpe Location

Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Halethorpe

The Guinness Open Gate Brewery is located at 5001 Washington Blvd, Halethorpe, MD 21227, just about 10 miles southwest of downtown Baltimore and a quick drive from BWI Airport

Guinness Social Media Posts

The following is their post to Instagram announcing their upcoming closure:

Guinness Open Gate’s post on Instagram

That was posted on their Instagram at Guinness Open Gate.

An Eight-Year Experiment

When Guinness Open Gate opened in 2018, it was a pretty big deal.

The facility represented Guinness’ return to brewing on American soil for the first time since 1954. The roughly $80-$90 million project transformed the former Maryland brewery site into something considerably more ambitious than simply another taproom.

There was a brewery.

There was a restaurant.

There was a large beer garden.

There were tours, tastings, events and experimental beers.

And, of course, there was Guinness.

The idea behind Open Gate was particularly interesting because Guinness wasn’t simply trying to recreate St. James’s Gate in Maryland. The concept gave Guinness brewers an opportunity to experiment, producing beers that could be served fresh to visitors and giving the massive international brand something resembling a local brewery personality.

It worked.

At least for a while.

The brewery welcomed approximately 400,000 visitors during its first year, exceeding its original projection of 300,000.

Over its eight years, Guinness says more than two million people visited the Baltimore brewery.

The brewery also says its brewers produced more than 700 different beers during its time in Maryland.

That’s a lot of beer.

And a lot of people walking through those gates.

More Than Just Guinness Draught

One of the most interesting things about Open Gate was that you could walk into a Guinness brewery and discover that Guinness was capable of being considerably more than Guinness.

The Maryland brewery became a laboratory of sorts.

There were experimental ales, lagers, IPAs, stouts, fruited beers and limited releases. Some were tied to Maryland events and traditions, including beers associated with the Preakness Stakes.

The brewery also became known for Baltimore Blonde, a beer that became one of the more recognizable products associated with Guinness’ Maryland experiment.

That production, however, eventually moved elsewhere.

The Baltimore operation had already undergone a major transformation before this week’s closure announcement.

The Writing Was Already on the Wall

The November closure didn’t come completely out of nowhere.

In 2023, Diageo announced that it was ending the larger-scale manufacturing operation at the Halethorpe facility and laid off more than 100 employees.

The Baltimore Blonde was no longer being produced there, either.

What remained was essentially the destination brewery: the taproom, restaurant, beer garden and smaller innovation brewery.

In other words, the Guinness brewery had already gone through one significant contraction.

The brewing operation that once represented Guinness’ return to American manufacturing had become primarily an experience.

And now even that experience is going away.

Why Is Guinness Closing?

This is where the story gets considerably more interesting than simply “Guinness brewery closes.”

Diageo’s explanation is familiar to anyone paying attention to the beer business in 2026.

Operating costs are up. Consumer preferences have changed. Economic pressures are making it harder to operate large physical destinations.

That’s essentially the same cocktail of problems that has been hammering breweries across the country.

The Guinness operation had another challenge that many independent breweries don’t necessarily face: scale.

Open Gate was built as a destination.

That meant a large property, extensive facilities, hospitality operations, food service, events, employees and all the costs that come with maintaining a major brewery attraction.

A small neighborhood brewery can sometimes survive by keeping things relatively simple.

A major corporate brewery destination has a considerably larger financial machine to feed.

And apparently the numbers no longer worked.

Diageo said the decision was made after a “careful review” of operations and long-term priorities. The company also emphasized that the closure was not a reflection of the employees or the support Guinness received from Baltimore.

That’s corporate language, certainly.

But there’s an important reality underneath it.

A brewery can be incredibly popular and still not be profitable enough to justify continuing to operate.

Other Guinness Related Articles

• Beer Review: Guinness Draught (Guinness)
• Beer Review: Baltimore Blonde (Guinness Open Gate Brewery)
• Guinness Baltimore Blonde Beer Production Moving to New York
• Guinness Brewing is Closing Their Maryland Production Facility

The End of Guinness Brewing in Maryland

For Maryland beer history, this is a significant loss.

Guinness Open Gate wasn’t simply another brewery.

It was one of the largest and most recognizable brewery destinations in the state, backed by one of the most recognizable beer brands in the world.

Its arrival also represented a strange moment in American beer.

The craft beer boom had convinced consumers to seek out breweries as destinations. Breweries weren’t merely places where beer was made anymore.

They became restaurants.

Tourist attractions.

Event venues.

Social gathering places.

Weekend destinations.

Guinness essentially took that idea and applied it to a global beer brand.

For a while, it was an impressive combination.

But the fact that Guinness is now closing Open Gate is another reminder that the brewery-as-destination model isn’t immune to the economic realities affecting the rest of the industry.

Guinness Isn’t Going Away

It’s worth making an important distinction here.

Guinness isn’t leaving America.

You aren’t going to wake up November 2 and discover that Guinness Draught has disappeared from American bars.

The Guinness brand remains one of Diageo’s major global beer brands, and the company has made clear that it intends to continue investing in Guinness.

What’s disappearing is the Baltimore brewery experience.

Once the Halethorpe operation is gone, Guinness will have just one remaining Open Gate brewery in the United States: Chicago, which opened in 2023.

So if you wanted to visit an American Guinness brewery, the list is about to become considerably shorter.

A $250,000 Goodbye to Baltimore

Diageo says it understands that the brewery’s closure affects more than its own business.

The company plans to establish a $250,000 community fund supporting local organizations and initiatives focused on economic opportunity and the hospitality industry.

The company has also said that its immediate priority is supporting employees affected by the closure and providing resources and assistance during the transition.

The closure also affects hospitality workers at the site.

Aramark, which provided hospitality services at the brewery, said 174 of its employees supporting the location would be affected and that it was looking for opportunities elsewhere within the organization where possible.

Those numbers are worth remembering.

When a brewery closes, it’s easy to focus on the beer.

The people who brewed it, served it, cooked the food, gave the tours, cleaned the building and made the place function are the ones whose lives actually change.

Eight Years Is a Long Time in Beer

Eight years doesn’t sound like an eternity.

In the beer business, though, it can feel like a lifetime.

When Open Gate opened in 2018, the American craft beer landscape looked very different.

There were more breweries opening than closing.

Consumers were still aggressively chasing new releases.

The brewery taproom was one of the hottest concepts in the industry.

The idea that people would drive significant distances simply to spend an afternoon drinking beer at a brewery seemed almost unquestionably sound.

Then came the pandemic.

Inflation.

Higher labor costs.

Higher real estate and operating expenses.

Changing drinking habits.

The explosion of alternatives to traditional beer.

And a broader correction across the craft beer industry.

Guinness is obviously not an independent craft brewery.

But the closure demonstrates that even one of the world’s largest beer companies isn’t immune to the changing economics of the American beer market.

One Last Pint

There is something fitting about the fact that Guinness Open Gate will have one final month.

The brewery’s final day open to the public will be Sunday, November 1, 2026.

So there is still time.

Time for one more trip.

One more tour.

One more flight.

One more experimental beer.

One more walk through the beer garden.

One more Guinness.

And, for those of us who have spent years documenting the American beer scene, one more opportunity to visit a brewery that will soon become part of beer history rather than part of the current beer landscape.

Because eventually every brewery becomes one of two things:

A place you can still go.

Or a place you remember going.

Guinness Open Gate is about to become the second one.

And that’s a hell of a thing to say about a brewery that only opened eight years ago.

The Last Call

The Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Halethorpe will close to the public on November 1, 2026, with operations expected to wind down completely by the end of the year.

More than two million people walked through those gates.

More than 700 beers came out of the innovation brewery.

Thousands of memories were made.

For eight years, a little piece of Ireland sat just outside Baltimore and invited Maryland to come have a beer.

Now, it’s almost time to close the gate.

So if you’ve been putting off that last visit, you’ve got about a month.

Go have the beer.

Raise the glass.

And give Guinness Open Gate one final Sláinte.

Other Guinness Related Articles

• Beer Review: Guinness Draught (Guinness)
• Beer Review: Baltimore Blonde (Guinness Open Gate Brewery)
• Guinness Baltimore Blonde Beer Production Moving to New York
• Guinness Brewing is Closing Their Maryland Production Facility

Guinness Baltimore is Closing and Moving the Baltimore Blonde Production to New York

Its been no secret now that the Guinness Brewery in Baltimore (Guinness Baltimore Open Gate Brewery) is closing down. There was talks of trying to keep the Baltimore Blonde beer production still in Baltimore, but looks like that won’t be happening. The Baltimore Blonde will now be produced in New York.

Diageo, the beverage company that owns Guinness, one of the beer market’s most recognizable names and one of the top twenty producers world wide, announced in April that it would shut down its beer production plant in Relay this month. The plant, which closed Friday (June 9th), is on the site of Guinness Open Gate Brewery, where a taproom, a 270 – seat restaurant and a smaller innovation brewery — all of which employ about 100 people — will remain open.

F.X. Matt Brewing Company (Saranac Brewing) which recently acquired Flying Dog Brewery will be producing Baltimore Blonde in New York.

This will add to their already increased production level. The acquisition of Flying Dog Brewery will most likely see them be put into the top ten of beer production for next year, and adding Baltimore Blonde will only mean more of an increased in beer production.

F.X. Matt Brewing Lands Baltimore Blonde

Diageo, which also owns such liquor brands as Johnnie Walker, Tanqueray, Baileys and Smirnoff, said Wednesday that it selected FX Matt Brewing Co. in New York as its new supplier of Baltimore Blonde, with production to start in October. Diageo invited four brewers to submit proposals, including one in Maryland that the company did not identify. Only one brewer, FX Matt, submitted a bid and that proposal met Diageo’s needs.

Diageo invited four brewers to submit their proposals, including one in Maryland. Only one brewer submitted a bid: FX Matt Brewing Company, whose response aligned with the company’s business needs.

Guinness Baltimore Blonde beer production leaving Maryland for New York (PennLive)

F.X. Matt Brewing Company, known for its Saranac beer line and its Utica Club lager, which it claims was the first beer sold after Prohibition ended in 1933, said last month that it is acquiring Flying Dog Brewery (Flying Dog Brewery is based out of Frederick Maryland), and taking over Flying Dog beer production by August.

The Flying Dog Brewery announcement came amid continuing consolidation in the industry. This was also after the Cape May Brewing Company and Flying Fish Brewery merger – which has since been cancelled. Just over a week ago, Baltimore-based DuClaw Brewing Co. was acquired by River Horse Brewing Co. (based out of Ewing, New Jersey), becoming the latest Maryland craft brewery to be acquired by an out – of – state brewery.

There is certainly been a trend of consolidation, acquisitions, mergers, and closings. The craft beer “bubble” might not be bursting, but its certainly contracting.

After conducting a due diligence process, which also considered options to keep production of Baltimore Blonde in the state, the supplier that best met the business case and production timeline was FX Matt Brewing Company in New York.

A spokesperson for Diageo Beer

Diageo already has the market and distribution taken care of, as well as the production facility in Baltimore. They have stated that distribution should hold until the new production begins in New York and that the supply chain won’t break down and distributors won’t be lacking. They are also preparing for the closing of the production plant, announcing that up towards 97 employees will be laid off as their jobs become unneeded.

The Guinness Open Gate Brewery will remain open and will continue to brew a variety of experimental beers on their 10 – barrel innovation brewery on the ground floor of the visitor center.

The facility’s innovation brewing and hospitality operations are not changing in any capacity — we are open and continue to welcome visitors to our taproom.

A Diageo Spokesperson

The Relay plant had been Guinness’ first brewing operation in the United States since the 1950s. The facility on site of a former Seagram’s bottling plant was hailed as a key economic engine for the area.

Diageo opened Guinness Open Gate in August 2018, a $90 million project on a 62-acre property it had acquired in 2001 as part of its purchase of Seagram. Until 2015, Diageo had used the longtime manufacturing plant for bottling and aging Captain Morgan rum products.

The property previously had been home to Maryland Distilling Co. after Prohibition, then was used to produce several brands over the decades, including Lord Calvert Whisky.

Guinness Baltimore Blonde beer production leaving Maryland for New York (PennLive) [Lorraine Mirabella of the baltimoresun.com wrote this story. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.]

Guinness Brewing is Shutting Down Halethorpe Maryland’s Production Facility

(The following comes from our previous article here – Guinness Brewing is Shutting Down Halethorpe Maryland’s Production Facility).

Guinness owner Diageo will be closing the Guinness production facility in Halethorpe, Maryland. They opened the facility just three years ago in 2020.

The closure will not impact the Guinness Open Gate Brewery tap room and restaurant, also in Halethorpe. It will continue brewing beers to serve at the tap room in its. They are maintaining their 10-barrel innovation brewery on the ground floor of the visitor center that they use for ‘experimental ales’.

This all coming after announcements of Guinness Brewing opening a Chicago facility and brewery. (Read more here: Guinness Brewing Planning on Opening a Chicago Brewery.)

The closing of the facility in Baltimore will result in around 100 employee lay – offs. Diageo stated the reasoning for the closure is that the Halethorpe / Baltimore facility is “underutilized and unnecessary”.

……

For many in Baltimore this comes as… not so shocking news. Stating the tap room’s decline in quality, issues with staffing, slow wait times, and differences in ordering and receiving drinks due to COVID – 19 protocols.

Guinness Brewing is Closing Their Maryland Production Facility (The Beer Thrillers)

Acquisitions, Consolidations, Closings, Mergers and More

In recent months (weeks really) there has been considerable news in the craft beer industry about how its consolidating and constricting. No one is quite willing to say the bubble is bursting yet, but that it is definitely contracting in on itself.

In recent weeks, here along the East Coast, there’s been quite the shake up in mergers and acquisitions and such. First with Cape May Acquiring Flying Fish Brewery – which they then later cancelled.

Then, in a very big announcement F.X. Matt Brewing (Saranac Brewing) announced that they had acquired Flying Dog Brewery. This combined the 14th (F.X. Matt Brewing) and the 34th (Flying Dog Brewery) craft breweries of 2022 into one organization. (See: Top 50 Craft Breweries.) Flying Dog Brewery is based out of Frederick, Maryland.

Next up was River Horse Brewing acquiring DuClaw Brewing Company. River Horse Brewing is out of Ewing New Jersey, and DuClaw Brewing is out of the Baltimore / greater Maryland area.

And of course, this is all after the announcement of the Guinness Baltimore Brewery closing.

So its certainly been a time of consolidation and constriction, especially for the Maryland area breweries. But, yet, still some breweries are expanding. Black Flag is opening a second location in the Frederick area, and Cushwa Brewing is expanding as well – into the Columbia Maryland area.

So there is hope that the craft beer community is still growing, but I do fear it is certainly tightening and that things might be a bit rougher for a while before they get better.

Brewery News

Interested in finding out about many other brewery openings, new locations, closings, movings, and in general brewery news? You can check out our links below:

• Other Half Brewing Company Opening Friday 2.18.22 in Philadelphia
• Midwest Coast Brewery Opening
• Boulevard Presidents Steps Down Amidst Allegations
• Brewery Opening: Howling Henry’s (Hummelstown)
• Brewery Opening: Highway Manor (Camp Hill)
• Brewery Opening: Rotunda Brew Pub (Hershey)
• Is JB LoveDraft’s Opening a Brewery?
• Tattered Flag at Hollywood Casino – Grantville – Opening Their 5th Location
• JB LoveDraft’s Grand Opening (Mechanicsburg)
• ZeroDay Opens Their New Tap Room (Harrisburg)
• Victory Brewery Fire and Explosion (Kennett Square)
• Sign of the Horse Brewery is Expanding in Hanover (Taking Over the Old Miscreation Brewery)
• Brewery Tour: Couch Brewery (Pittsburgh)
• Brewery Visit: Mellow Mink (Mechanicsburg)
• A Sneak Peak at the new Rubber Soul Brewery (Hummelstown)
• Rubber Soul Grand Opening (Hummelstown)
• VooDoo Lancaster Closing
• River Bend Hop Farm and Brewery Closes
• Homaide Brewing Says Goodbye To Their First Home
• Grand Opening of Hemauer Brewing (Mechanicsburg)
• Rally Point Tap Room Opening – Cox Brewing Company – Elizabethtown
• Spigot Brewing Closes
• Full Pint Brewing Closes
• Night Shift Brewing Cancels Expansion
• Mikkeller Brewing NYC Closes Permanently
• Pilger Ruh Brewing Needs Your Help (Pottsville)
• Official BBQ (Pizza Boy Secondary Location) (Rutherford)
• Aslin Beer Co. Now Ships to Pennsylvania
• Boneshire Brew Works to Open Second Taproom in Harrisburg (Harrisburg)
• Aslin Beer Company Confirms Expanding to Pittsburgh
• Rural City Beer Company Coming to Beamstown PA
• Grand Opening of Forest and Main’s New Brewpub
• New Bells-gium – New Belgium Owned Company Buys Bell’s Brewery
• Human Robot Expanding to Jenkintown
• High Road Brewing Company Coming to Camp Hill, Pennsylvania in Summer 2022
• YAH Brewing’s First Can Drop
• RAR Brewing’s Star Wars Can Drop
• Arboretum Trail Brewing Company Opens Their Doors Tomorrow
• Macklin Brewing Company in Development
• Michaux Brewing Company Grand Opening
• Shy Bear Brewing Announces Two New Locations
• Newfangled Brew Works Announces Closure
• Fourscore Beer Company Celebrates Their 3rd Anniversary
• Penn Brewery Announces Sale and Owner’s Retirement
• Voodoo Brewing Company To Open Brewpub on North Shore of Pittsburgh – August 27th
• Truth Beer Company’s Grand Opening
• Sobel’s Obscure Brewery’s Grand New Location and Opening
• AleCraft Brewing Company Expands Into Pennsylvania
• Boneshire Brew Works Celebrates 6th Anniversary
• Funk Brewing Company – Elizabethtown Brewery – Fire
• Funk Brewing Company – Elizabethtown Brewery – Fire Update
• Victory Taproom in Kennett Square Re – Opens
• Pour Man’s Brewery Is Moving Their Tap Room
• Qatar Bans Alcohol Sales at World Cup 2022
• Second Sin Brewery Company Celebrates Third Anniversary
• Round Guys Brewing Company’s Brewpub in Lansdale is Getting a Revamp
• VK Brewing Officially Opens at Historic Ship Inn
• Rocket Frog Brewing Company Announces Closure on December 11th
• Where to Watch the USA vs Netherlands World Cup Game – in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia
• Liquid Noise Brewing Company Announces the Show is Ending (Brewery Closure)
• Looks Like Homaide Brewing Company Might Be Done (January 2023)
• Old Soul Brewing Starting up in Waynesboro Pennsylvania
• Cox Brewing Company Returning to Their Roots
• Helping the Hemauer Family
• Cellar Works Brewing Closing Cooper Station
• Imprint Beer Company Unveils The GNARCADIUM
• Blueprint Brewing Company Announces Their Closing on March 31st
• Pilger Ruh Brewing is Expanding into Gettysburg
• Back Porch Brewing Grand Opening
• Jigsy’s Old Forge Pizza and Brewpub is Expanding into Hershey
• LoveDraft’s Brewery Sabotaged
• Homaide Brewing Company Resurfaces
• Sign of the Horse Brewery Announces Closure of Zeichen des Pferdes and Re – Branding
• Mount Gretna Craft Brewery in Palmyra Announces Closing Immediately
• The Englewood Announces Re – Opening
• AB InBev Closes Cleveland’s Platform Brewing Company
• Full Tit Brewing Closing
• Camp Hill Brewery – High Road Brewing – Plans Scrapped
• YAH Brew is Coming to Hershey in Spring 2023
• Bespoke Brewing Moving and Expanding
• BrewDog Pittsburgh Has Closed
• Isle of Que Brewing – The Que Brew Crew – Has Announced Their Closing
• Fermentery Form Announces Temporary Closure
• Separatist Beer Project Announces Temporary Closing of Both Locations
• Fermentery Form Cited for Failing Health Inspections
• Guinness Brewing is Closing Their Maryland Production Facility
• Cox Brewing Company Celebrates 8th Anniversary
• Human Robot Expands into the Schuylkill
• Despite Being Closed – Fermentery Form Selling Bottles Tomorrow
• Cape May Brewing Company Acquires Flying Fish Brewing Company
• Our Town Brewery Expanding into Philly
• Smoketown Creekside – Brewery Operations For Sale
• Founders Announce Closure of their Detroit Taproom
• The Bruery Store D.C. Is Closed
• Founders Brewing Company Sued for Racial Discrimination (Again) Just Before Detroit Taproom Shut Down
• Liquid Noise Brewing Company – New Ownership, New Beer, New Friends
• YAH Brew Grand Opening
• FX Matt Brewing Company Acquires Flying Dog Brewery
• The Beerded Goat Brewing Company Taking over the old NewFangled Brewery
• River Horse Brewing Company Acquires DuClaw Brewing Company
• Carbon Copy Brewing will be taking over Separatist Beer Project’s East Passyunk Location for the Summer
• Anchor Brewing Will No Longer Be Sold Nationally
• The First Hershey Beer and Music Festival Announced
• Cushwa Brewing Company Opening Second Location in Columbia Maryland
• Guinness Baltimore Blonde Beer Production Moving to New York
• Brewery Closings – Archives
• Brewery Openings – Archives

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Guinness Brewing is Shutting Down Halethorpe Maryland’s Production Facility

Guinness owner Diageo will be closing the Guinness production facility in Halethorpe, Maryland. They opened the facility just three years ago in 2020.

The closure will not impact the Guinness Open Gate Brewery tap room and restaurant, also in Halethorpe. It will continue brewing beers to serve at the tap room in its. They are maintaining their 10-barrel innovation brewery on the ground floor of the visitor center that they use for ‘experimental ales’.

This all coming after announcements of Guinness Brewing opening a Chicago facility and brewery. (Read more here: Guinness Brewing Planning on Opening a Chicago Brewery.)

The closing of the facility in Baltimore will result in around 100 employee lay – offs. Diageo stated the reasoning for the closure is that the Halethorpe / Baltimore facility is “underutilized and unnecessary”.

“This decision will not impact our hospitality operations at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery taproom and restaurant. We have been part of the Baltimore community for many years and will continue to be active member through our work at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery, contributing to local tourism and the economy, and supporting local charitable organizations.”

Diageo About the Closing

The Production Facility’s Closing

The company said the closure will not impact its popular Guinness Open Gate Brewery taproom and restaurant also located in Halethorpe.  

The London based parent company, Diageo, released a statement on the closure. “After careful consideration and analysis of our supply footprint, we have made the difficult decision to permanently close our manufacturing facility in Relay, Maryland,”  Diageo said.  

Customers who frequent the company’s taproom and restaurant in Baltimore have not to worry, as Diageo says the closure of the manufacturing plant will not impact operations at the Open Gate Brewery.  

Owner of Guinness Open Gate Brewery closing manufacturing facility in Baltimore County

For many in Baltimore this comes as… not so shocking news. Stating the tap room’s decline in quality, issues with staffing, slow wait times, and differences in ordering and receiving drinks due to COVID – 19 protocols.

A taproom, a 270-seat restaurant and a smaller innovation brewery, which employ about 100 people, will remain open, according to a statement from Diageo, the beverage company that owns Guinness, one of the beer market’s most recognizable names, and liquor brands such as Johnnie Walker, Tanqueray, Baileys and Smirnoff.

The Relay plant was Guinness’ first brewing operation in the United States since the 1950s. The facility on the site of a former Seagram’s bottling plant was hailed as a key economic engine for the area, opening five years ago with the taproom and restaurant. The taproom has served more than 1.3 million visitors since opening, the company said.

The manufacturing plant is expected to close by June, the company said. After that, the brewery’s flagship Baltimore Blonde will be brewed at other locations. A company spokeswoman said Diageo is evaluating options to continue production of the beer.

Guinness beer brewing plant will shut down at site of Open Gate Brewery in Baltimore County

Baltimore Blonde

The biggest questions (and concerns) about the closure is what will become of the Baltimore Blonde Ale that Guinness has been making since opening the facility.

(Some online have been joking that it will become the Chicago Blonde Ale.)

Left in doubt is the future of Baltimore Blonde, the lager whose logo includes a Maryland flag, that Guinness began brewing in Relay in 2017 and has since become a popular offering everywhere from Camden Yards to local stores. It was originally called Guinness Blonde American Lager before the name was switched to represent Charm City.

Baltimore County officials say they want to keep the brew’s production local, and have reached out to area breweries to see if there’s a way to have them take it over.

The goal is to keep Baltimore Blonde from going the way of Natty Boh, which has long been symbolic of the region despite being manufactured elsewhere since the 1990s. “We’d hate for that to be the situation here,” said Sameer Sidh, deputy administrative officer of economic development and infrastructure for Baltimore County. “We’re exploring all options to keep Baltimore Blonde here. We’re going to turn over every stone that we can to keep Baltimore Blonde in Baltimore County.”

As Guinness manufacturing plant closes, officials scramble to keep Baltimore Blonde local

Guinness Brewing hasn’t declared a word yet on the eventual fate of the Guinness Baltimore Blonde Ale.

The closure is due to happen in June, so an answer should be provided by then.

For More News on the Closure

For more news on the closure from news outlets, you can read the following news articles:

• As Guinness manufacturing plant closes, officials scramble to keep Baltimore Blonde local
• Guinness beer brewing plant will shut down at site of Open Gate Brewery in Baltimore County
• Guinness is closing Maryland production facility (but not its taproom and restaurant)
• Owner of Guinness Open Gate Brewery closing manufacturing facility in Baltimore County

Guinness Baltimore

The following information comes from Untappd. Guinness Open Gate Brewery is a macro brewery and a Subsidiary of Guinness, in Halethorpe, MD United States. They have 319 unique beers and over 174,000 ratings with a global average rating of 3.73 (as of 4.5.23). Their Untappd description reads: “The first Guinness brewery on American soil for over 60 years, the Guinness Open Gate Brewery is the home of Guinness Blonde Lager and the birthplace of new Guinness beers. Proudly brewing in Maryland.” Untappd – Guinness Open Gate Brewery.

You can follow them on their social media pages here:

• Guinness Open Gate Brewery – Baltimore – Official Website
• Guinness Open Gate Brewery – Baltimore – Instagram
• Guinness Open Gate Brewery – Baltimore – Facebook

Brewery News

Interested in finding out about many other brewery openings, new locations, closings, movings, and in general brewery news? You can check out our links below:

• Other Half Brewing Company Opening Friday 2.18.22 in Philadelphia
• Midwest Coast Brewery Opening
• Boulevard Presidents Steps Down Amidst Allegations
• Brewery Opening: Howling Henry’s (Hummelstown)
• Brewery Opening: Highway Manor (Camp Hill)
• Brewery Opening: Rotunda Brew Pub (Hershey)
• Is JB LoveDraft’s Opening a Brewery?
• Tattered Flag at Hollywood Casino – Grantville – Opening Their 5th Location
• JB LoveDraft’s Grand Opening (Mechanicsburg)
• ZeroDay Opens Their New Tap Room (Harrisburg)
• Victory Brewery Fire and Explosion (Kennett Square)
• Sign of the Horse Brewery is Expanding in Hanover (Taking Over the Old Miscreation Brewery)
• Brewery Tour: Couch Brewery (Pittsburgh)
• Brewery Visit: Mellow Mink (Mechanicsburg)
• A Sneak Peak at the new Rubber Soul Brewery (Hummelstown)
• Rubber Soul Grand Opening (Hummelstown)
• VooDoo Lancaster Closing
• River Bend Hop Farm and Brewery Closes
• Homaide Brewing Says Goodbye To Their First Home
• Grand Opening of Hemauer Brewing (Mechanicsburg)
• Rally Point Tap Room Opening – Cox Brewing Company – Elizabethtown
• Spigot Brewing Closes
• Full Pint Brewing Closes
• Night Shift Brewing Cancels Expansion
• Mikkeller Brewing NYC Closes Permanently
• Pilger Ruh Brewing Needs Your Help (Pottsville)
• Official BBQ (Pizza Boy Secondary Location) (Rutherford)
• Aslin Beer Co. Now Ships to Pennsylvania
• Boneshire Brew Works to Open Second Taproom in Harrisburg (Harrisburg)
• Aslin Beer Company Confirms Expanding to Pittsburgh
• Rural City Beer Company Coming to Beamstown PA
• Grand Opening of Forest and Main’s New Brewpub
• New Bells-gium – New Belgium Owned Company Buys Bell’s Brewery
• Human Robot Expanding to Jenkintown
• High Road Brewing Company Coming to Camp Hill, Pennsylvania in Summer 2022
• YAH Brewing’s First Can Drop
• RAR Brewing’s Star Wars Can Drop
• Arboretum Trail Brewing Company Opens Their Doors Tomorrow
• Macklin Brewing Company in Development
• Michaux Brewing Company Grand Opening
• Shy Bear Brewing Announces Two New Locations
• Newfangled Brew Works Announces Closure
• Fourscore Beer Company Celebrates Their 3rd Anniversary
• Penn Brewery Announces Sale and Owner’s Retirement
• Voodoo Brewing Company To Open Brewpub on North Shore of Pittsburgh – August 27th
• Truth Beer Company’s Grand Opening
• Sobel’s Obscure Brewery’s Grand New Location and Opening
• AleCraft Brewing Company Expands Into Pennsylvania
• Boneshire Brew Works Celebrates 6th Anniversary
• Funk Brewing Company – Elizabethtown Brewery – Fire
• Funk Brewing Company – Elizabethtown Brewery – Fire Update
• Victory Taproom in Kennett Square Re – Opens
• Pour Man’s Brewery Is Moving Their Tap Room
• Qatar Bans Alcohol Sales at World Cup 2022
• Second Sin Brewery Company Celebrates Third Anniversary
• Round Guys Brewing Company’s Brewpub in Lansdale is Getting a Revamp
• VK Brewing Officially Opens at Historic Ship Inn
• Rocket Frog Brewing Company Announces Closure on December 11th
• Where to Watch the USA vs Netherlands World Cup Game – in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia
• Liquid Noise Brewing Company Announces the Show is Ending (Brewery Closure)
• Looks Like Homaide Brewing Company Might Be Done (January 2023)
• Old Soul Brewing Starting up in Waynesboro Pennsylvania
• Cox Brewing Company Returning to Their Roots
• Helping the Hemauer Family
• Cellar Works Brewing Closing Cooper Station
• Imprint Beer Company Unveils The GNARCADIUM
• Blueprint Brewing Company Announces Their Closing on March 31st
• Pilger Ruh Brewing is Expanding into Gettysburg
• Back Porch Brewing Grand Opening
• Jigsy’s Old Forge Pizza and Brewpub is Expanding into Hershey
• LoveDraft’s Brewery Sabotaged
• Homaide Brewing Company Resurfaces
• Sign of the Horse Brewery Announces Closure of Zeichen des Pferdes and Re – Branding
• Mount Gretna Craft Brewery in Palmyra Announces Closing Immediately
• The Englewood Announces Re – Opening
• AB InBev Closes Cleveland’s Platform Brewing Company
• Full Tit Brewing Closing
• Camp Hill Brewery – High Road Brewing – Plans Scrapped
• YAH Brew is Coming to Hershey in Spring 2023
• Bespoke Brewing Moving and Expanding
• BrewDog Pittsburgh Has Closed
• Isle of Que Brewing – The Que Brew Crew – Has Announced Their Closing
• Fermentery Form Announces Temporary Closure
• Separatist Beer Project Announces Temporary Closing of Both Locations
• Fermentery Form Cited for Failing Health Inspections
• Guinness Brewing is Closing Their Maryland Production Facility
• Brewery Closings – Archives
• Brewery Openings – Archives

Thanks For Reading

This makes several recent closing articles on the blog (even if some are ‘temporary’). Do I think the craft beer market bubble is about to burst? No. But I do think 2023 is going to be a rougher year for many breweries, and we’ll see who all will stand the test of time.

It is a very competitive market, with lots of great breweries making lots of great beer, as well as good food, and fun environments. So its taking more and more for breweries to stand out, and with the economy, consumers have less and less money as well.

There’s a lot of interesting forces at play right now affecting the craft beer market. I don’t think its all gloom and doom however.

hank you for everyone who read the article and made it to our blog. We pride ourselves on writing good content and to helping people learn about craft beer, breweries, non-alcoholic craft beer, and all things brewing related.

If you enjoyed this article please like, subscribe, and follow us. Share the content if you find it relevant and want to show it off. Leave a comment if you have any questions, concerns, comments, suggestions, or anything to say. We love hearing from our readers. Let us know what your favorite non-alcoholic beers are in the comments!

Currently right now we are in the Finals of our Battle of the Breweries (2023). You can check out the final four breweries left in the Finals Fatal Four Way here and vote:

• The Battle of the Breweries (2023) – Finals Fatal Four Way (Voting Page)
• The Battle of the Breweries (2023) – Conference Finals (Results Page)

In the upcoming two weeks I am going to do a more thorough look at the full tournament, breaking down the votes and how well each conference winner did. I will also do a full write up on each of the breweries in the Finals Fatal Four Way too, where I will list what articles we’ve done about them, and my visits to each of those places.

We are currently starting to work on creating maps of all the breweries in each state, starting geographically with Maine. So be on the lookout for these great resources to soon be popping up on the blog. Hoping to get a state done every 2 – 4 days. (Some will be quicker and easier than others, but 50 states, plus Washington D.C., will certainly take some time!)

I am nearly complete with the Maine map, that might get done Thursday (4.6.23) or Friday (4.7.23). Fingers crossed.

Thank you everyone for reading and please like, share, follow, subscribe, all that good stuff you see at the end of every YouTube video.

Cheers All!

-B. Kline

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

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The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

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