Guinness Opening Brewery in Baltimore County

RELAY, MD — A Guinness brewery is setting up shop in southwestern Baltimore County. Global beverage company Diageo, which owns the Guinness brand, announced plans to invest $50 million into a new "innovation brewery" in Relay on the site that used to house the Seagram's and Calvert distilleries.

The Guinness operation will include a mid-sized brewery, taproom and retail store. Diageo plans to start construction in the spring and open the brewery by the fall, contingent upon approvals.

"We are thrilled that Diageo is reviving an historic building with the iconic Guinness brand," Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz said in a statement Tuesday.

The brewery in Baltimore County would offer Guinness beers created for the U.S. market, while Guinness stouts would continue to be produced out of the flagship facility at St. James's Gate in Dublin, Ireland.

This is the first Guinness brewery on U.S. soil since 1954, when the Long Island Brewery in New York closed after several years and unsuccessful attempts to brew and sell Guinness stout beer.

Guests at the Baltimore County brewery will be able to sample new and experimental beers at the taproom, take tours of the brewery and purchase Guinness merchandise at the on-site retail store. The brewery would be modeled after the Open Gate Brewery in Dublin, Ireland, which creates and showcases experimental brews.

Tasting room image via Diageo.

“Beer tourism is about to boom in Baltimore County," Kamenetz said. "This will be a world-class tourist destination that will bring new jobs and become the perfect complement to our Maryland craft breweries."

Other breweries in Baltimore County include DuClaw in Rosedale and Heavy Seas in Halethorpe. See a full list of Maryland breweries from the Brewers Association of Maryland.

The community of beer enthusiasts in the area was a draw, according to Diageo.

"Opening a Guinness brewery and visitor center in the U.S. will enable us to collaborate with fellow brewers and interact with the vibrant community of beer drinkers," Diageo President Tom Day said in a statement. "Given the success of our Open Gate Brewery in Dublin and the popularity of beer tourism in the U.S., we are confident that Americans will welcome the opportunity to come experience Guinness brewing in Baltimore County. We appreciate the support we have received so far from state and local officials and look forward to continuing to contribute to the local community."

The facility on Washington Boulevard in Relay could create up to 70 jobs, county officials said, including 40 in brewing, warehousing and packaging and 30 positions related to the visitor experience.

Taproom image via Diageo.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said the plan was "great news for job creating, manufacturing and tourism in our state."

Added Hogan: "Beer tourism attracts millions of visitors to towns and communities across the country every year, and I look forward to welcoming Guinness to the roster of excellent breweries we have here in Maryland."

Exterior of brewery rendering via Diageo.