Diageo, the owners of Seagrams and Guinness, opened the Guinness Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House this Friday, August 3rd at 3 pm. After a 15-minute drive from Columbia, MD, we arrived at the Guinness Brewery about 3:45 pm. At the gate entrance, we were given wristbands (free admission) proving our worthiness to drink Irish beer. We entered the “Open Gate”, a little stunned by the enormous, amusement park feel.

It is a huge place, nearly 62 acres. There is a large beer garden with food trucks, a band playing and garden beds of barley, wheat, hops, and vegetables. There’s even a very cool antique Guinness beer truck with taps providing self-service water.

Inside is a store selling merch and you can do a self-guided brewery tour. A full-scale 270-seat restaurant is planned, but right now there’s a limited menu pub. Also, don’t expect any bathrooms or restrooms in this brewery with Irish roots. Instead, head to the washrooms.

I tried their Guinness Blonde American Lager, which will be brewed in this Baltimore 100 hectoliter (whatever that is) brewhouse. It’s a hoppy lager; good, but definitely not in same league as the made-in-Ireland beers, Guinness Draught Stout or the Guinness Extra Stout. Despite the general assumption that the stouts will be brewed in Baltimore, they will still be imported from Ireland.

You may remember my last cornhole experience where Mrs. Adventures gave me a lesson in humility at OC Brewing. Well, I redeemed myself, trouncing John in a friendly game of cornhole. (Secretly, I believe John let me win).

Just think about it. Suddenly Baltimore has become a beer destination, with the Union Collective, Guinness Open Gate, and Heavy Seas’ upcoming expansion. Way to go, Hon!

I imagine the Guinness Open Gate would be a great place to have a get-together for a company or even just a few friends (Wednesday Pint Night anyone?) for drinks and a meal. I’ll definitely be back, if nothing more than to continue my cornhole winning streak!

The where and when

Address: 5001 Washington Blvd, Halethorpe, MD 21227 (technically it’s in the town of Relay but the GPS and the US Post Office like Halethorpe )

Hours:
Weekdays: 3pm – 9pm
Weekends: 12 noon – 9pm

Cheers!

Warren