Guinness’s latest brewery will open in the US city of Chicago at the end of the month.
The alluring velvety taste of Guinness is undoubtedly one of Ireland’s most significant cultural and physical exports.
The universally loved drink is supped by millions across the world, from the Irish diaspora in the United Kingdom to the West African nation of Nigeria.
The United States is no exception, and following the success of a similar brewery on the country’s East Coast, Guinness will open a second stateside brewery in Chicago, Illinois, later this month.
Guinness in Chicago – September 2023
Guinness announced plans for the Open Gate Brewery (OGB) in Chicago following the success of a similar establishment in Baltimore, Maryland, the first stateside Guinness brewery in over 60 years.
The Chicago location was due to open over the summer, but the building process took longer than first anticipated. Thankfully for Illinois Guinness drinkers, however, its opening seems imminent.
Appropriating an age-old Guinness adage, the team behind the Chicago location suggested that “good things come to those who wait”, revealing that the city’s Open Gate Brewery would open on 28 September.
The aims of the Chicago OGB – proving that Guinness is more than a single beer
Guinness’s aim with the Chicago and Baltimore OGBs is to merge its 260-plus years of experience with the US beer industry, which it recognises as “arguably the most dynamic and exciting in the world”.
This merging will further prove that Guinness is more than just the single beer we all know and love and is “capable of producing some of the most unique, innovative, and high-quality beer in the world”.
That said, the company’s US ambassador and head of marketing Ryan Wagner bravely told Eater Chicago that “a Guinness Draught Stout poured in the US is going to taste every bit as good as a Guinness Draught Stout poured in Ireland”.
What to expect – mouthwatering plans for Chicago drinkers
The OGB in Chicago will feature a taproom with 12-16 rotating taps pouring onsite brews alongside the staple pint of the black stuff.
Among the beers, visitors will find Kinzie Street pale ale – named after the street on which the OGB stands – a corn maize cream ale, and a pineapple coconut stout. A selection of popular drinks from Dublin and the Baltimore OGB will also be available.
On top of the brewery and taproom, patrons can avail of a restaurant serving local and international dishes – including Irish favourites like Guinness stew – and the first-ever Guinness bakery with an extensive range of coffees, teas, and sweet treats.
