Guinness Closes Baltimore Brewery on November 1

Guinness will close its Open Gate Brewery in Halethorpe, Maryland, on November 1, ending an eight-year operation near Baltimore that attracted more than 2 million visitors and produced over 700 experimental beers. The shutdown, announced amid parent company Diageo's $1 billion restructuring plan, will affect 174 Aramark employees and leave the company's Chicago facility as its only remaining U.S. brewery.

According to a notice filed with the Maryland Department of Labor on October 1, 174 Aramark employees will be affected by the closure. Aramark partnered with Diageo in operating the Maryland destination, which combined brewing experiments, dining facilities, and visitor experiences.

Diageo cited operational priorities and changing business conditions in explaining the decision. The closure also comes amid shifting consumer preferences and broader pressures across the U.S. alcohol industry.

A Diageo spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the decision followed a review of the company's operations and long-term priorities.

"This decision follows a careful review of our operations and long-term business priorities," a Diageo spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "It is not a reflection of the passion, talent or dedication of our team, nor of the support we have received from consumers and the Baltimore community since we opened our doors in 2018."

The company said it would prioritize assistance for employees affected by the shutdown. The spokesperson also emphasized Guinness's continuing importance to Diageo's business and its plans for the brand's future.

"Our immediate focus is supporting affected colleagues through this transition," a Diageo spokesperson said. "We are committed to treating our team members with respect and providing resources and assistance to help them navigate the change."

The spokesperson added that the closure would not change the company's commitment to its flagship Irish beer brand.

"Guinness remains one of our most important brands, and we are committed to investing in its long-term growth and success. While our Baltimore brewery will close, our commitment to bringing Guinness to consumers around the world remains as strong as ever," the spokesperson said.

Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier also acknowledged the impact on local workers and their families. In a statement posted on social media, she said the county would help affected employees explore employment resources and new opportunities.

"We're disappointed to learn that Guinness plans to close its doors in Halethorpe and recognize the uncertainty this brings for its employees and their families," Klausmeier said.

Opened in 2018 on the former Calvert distillery property at 5001 Washington Blvd., the brewery became the first new Guinness brewing facility in the United States since the company's previous U.S. brewery closed in 1954. Diageo invested $90 million in the Maryland project, which drew on the company's brewing heritage while embracing American craft beer experimentation.

The location was designed to develop new recipes and introduce visitors to brewing techniques beyond Guinness's traditional stout. Its experimental program created more than 700 beers, many available only at the site, according to reports about the brewery's history.

However, the operation's role changed in 2023, when Guinness ended production of its Blonde lager in Maryland and moved it to New York. The facility subsequently focused on experimental brewing and visitor experiences rather than broader production.

Industry consultant Derek Brown of Washington, D.C.-based Drink Company said the closure was disappointing but pointed to the distinction between experimental brewing and the company's core business.

"It's obviously a shame to see the Guinness brewery close in Maryland," Brown said.

Brown noted that the brewery's experimental offerings were not necessarily central to Guinness's commercial priorities.

"However, I'm not surprised in the sense that their core product remains Guinness, and now Guinness Zero," Brown told Fox News Digital. "The brewery focused on experimental products, which are interesting in themselves, but not necessarily primary drivers of Guinness' business."

The closure coincides with a wider restructuring at Diageo, which is seeking to reduce costs by more than $1 billion. The company has also faced pressure across parts of its portfolio, even as Guinness recorded growth in its latest annual results.

Changes in alcohol consumption have added to the industry's challenges. Gallup reported that 54% of Americans said they drank alcohol, the lowest proportion recorded since 1939, according to reporting by Tasting Table. Industry observers have also pointed to consumers alternating between alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages as one factor affecting demand.

The Baltimore-area brewery's final day open to the public will be Sunday, November 1. After its closure, Guinness's Chicago brewery, which opened in 2023, will remain the brand's only U.S. brewing location.