Some countries and beers are synonymous. Budweiser and America! (Oops.). Corona and Mexico! (Um…)
And, of course, Ireland and Guinness.
But now the legendary stout from Ireland (since 1759!) is buying a summer home on this side of the Atlantic.
The soon-to-open Guinness Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House in Baltimore County, Maryland, will be the first Guinness brewery in the U.S. in more than 60 years. Onsite, the brewhouse will feature a restaurant, taproom, merchandise shops and other amenities catering to visitors, and also serve as “a stateside hub for innovation and creativity.”
In other words, this isn’t a blow against authenticity. The brand is already brewed in 49 countries worldwide, and the original Guinness Draught and the brand’s other stouts will be still be brewed in Ireland. Open Gate, meanwhile, will simply continue the production of the relatively recent Guinness Blonde American Lager and experiment with “new beers influenced by both the American and Maryland brewing tradition.”
Open Gate opens to the public on August 3rd. In the meantime, you can learn how to pour a Guinness properly. And you can still visit Dublin to enjoy a pint, even though the city has quite a bit more to offer.
Lead photo: Wikimedia Commons. Inline courtesy of Taylor Global.
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