Guinness Open Gate Brewery (OGB) Chicago is opening its doors to the public this coming summer, bringing locally-inspired brews and community collaborations to Chicago’s vibrant West Loop neighborhood. This is Guinness’ second brewing facility and taproom in the United States, the first of which is the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Baltimore, Md.
“Chicago and Guinness have been part of each other’s stories for more than a century, and OGB Chicago has been a dream throughout – we are thrilled to open our doors to the West Loop community this summer,” said Ryan Wagner, national ambassador of Guinness. “As we grow closer to the opening date, we are looking forward to the brewery becoming a part of our new neighborhood with a lively food and beverage program, unique retail offerings and impactful community partnerships.”
Located in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood at 901 W. Kinzie St., the Guinness Open Gate Brewery Chicago will deliver an American craft beer experience that is authentically Guinness and distinctly local. The taproom will showcase local collaborations that highlight the rich history and flavors of Chicago, bringing the style of each of Chicago’s 77 unique neighborhoods to life within the taproom walls.
“Guinness has a long history of hospitality, communion and bringing people together from all walks of life, and that fits so well with the spirit of Chicago,” said Rodney Williams, president, Diageo Beer Company. “This is a great moment in time for Guinness in America, and we can’t wait to tap into all the different flavors and variety of heritages represented in this great city.”
The brewery’s name takes inspiration from the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Dublin – the brand’s original location, where it has innovated and experimented in beer for more than a century. And since the first barrels of its famous Extra Stout rolled into the Windy City in 1910, Guinness’ story has also been a part of Chicago’s rich history. Arthur Shand, Guinness World Traveller, remarked in 1911 that Chicago has and will always be an important point for Guinness Stout. Over a century later, the iconic brand is proud to further that statement as it extends its reach in the United States.
Community Engagement
“At the Guinness Open Gate Brewery, we are engaging with the community through a number of local Chicago partnerships, and we’re just getting started,” said Wagner. “It is extremely important that we highlight the diversity of our new home and continue to lead in sustainability initiatives that work towards the greater good.”
The Open Gate Brewery Chicago is committed to working with diverse business owners, leading in energy and environmental design, and empowering the next generation of hospitality professionals. The brewery will feature solar panel arrays and will pursue Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Platinum certification for the site. The brewery is also strengthening an existing relationship with Open Water, a Chicago-based bottled water company committed to reducing single-use plastic and carbon emissions. The company’s products have been featured at the OGB Baltimore for the last several years.
The OGB Chicago also plans to work with Chicago-based coffee company Intelligentsia on developing and implementing its coffee program and will continue its partnership with Baltimore’s Cane Collective on the development of both beer cocktails and non-alcoholic cocktails.
Additionally, Guinness will bring parent company Diageo’s Learning Skills for Life program to Chicago. The program, which provides unemployed and underemployed individuals with free hospitality and employability skills training, is currently running in five locations across North America, and will launch in Chicago this spring.
For more information on the Guinness Open Gate Brewery Chicago, visit www.guinnessbrewerychicago.co and follow @GuinnessBreweryChi on social media channels to keep up to date with the latest news ahead of the summer opening.
About Guinness
The Guinness brand was established in 1759, when Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000 year lease on St. James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin. Brewed using four main ingredients, water, barley (malted & roasted), hops and yeast, Guinness is the world’s most popular stout brand. The iconic beer is brewed in 49 countries worldwide and sold in over 150 with almost 9 million glasses of Guinness beers enjoyed everyday around the world. The most Guinness is sold in Great Britain, Ireland, USA, Nigeria and Cameroon. More information can be found at http://www.guinness.com.
About Diageo Beer Company
Diageo Beer Company USA (formerly Diageo-Guinness USA) is the U.S. beer and flavored malt beverage business of Diageo. Brands within Diageo Beer Company include the iconic Guinness, Harp, Smithwick’s and Smirnoff ICE.
About Diageo
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan’s whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness. Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE), and products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about Diageo, its people, brands and performance, visit www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives and ways to share best practice.
