Long-awaited brewery marks Guinness' second
location in the United
States
CHICAGO, Sept. 26,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- It's happening,
Chicago. For real this
time. The highly anticipated Guinness Open Gate Brewery will
officially open to the public on Thursday,
September 28.
The highly anticipated Guinness Open Gate
Brewery will officially open to the public on Thursday, September 28.
To commemorate the opening, this afternoon Guinness
brewers, adorers, employees, and Chicagoans gathered for a
celebratory ribbon-cutting at Guinness' newest home. Located at 901
West Kinzie St. in the vibrant West Loop neighborhood, the former
rail depot consists of a brewery, taproom, restaurant, and bakery
housed in a 15,000-square-foot newly transformed space.
Chicago marks Guinness' very first
bakery globally, and second brewery location in the U.S., with the
Guinness Open Gate Brewery Baltimore having opened in
2018. This site will combine more than 260 years of brewing
experience from Ireland, with
cutting edge American brewing innovation, for a uniquely
Chicago experience.
"This is an exciting step in the continuing evolution of the
Guinness brand in America. It's been a long journey, but we are so
thrilled to be opening our doors this week and to contribute to
Chicago's world class food and
beer scene," said Rodney Williams,
President of Diageo Beer Company. "As a Chicago native, I can confidently share that
we aim to celebrate and showcase this great city and make a
positive impact in the community, all while serving great
beer."
"I extend our warmest Illinois
welcome to Guinness as they join the Chicago brewing family, continuing centuries
of tradition right here in the heart of the West Loop," said
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. "Guinness' commitment to
community engagement and sustainability is admirable, and I'm
pleased that both locals and visitors alike will have access to yet
another unique cultural and culinary opportunity while in
Chicago — a city with a proud
history of both."
About the Beer
Guests can expect 12-16 rotating
experimental draughts, most of which will be brewed
on site and exclusively available in the taproom, alongside
signatures like Guinness Draught Stout, Guinness Extra
Stout, and Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, which will always
come straight from Dublin. Led by Brewer
Megan Schwarz, the Chicago
brewing team's 10-barrel brewhouse is hard at work with an initial
line-up including Corn Maize Cream Ale made from corn grown in
Illinois' Iroquois County, Kinzie Street Pale Ale, and a Mango Chile Ale.
Guinness 0 Non-Alcoholic Draught will also be available. All beer
sales are limited to guests 21 years of age and over, but the
restaurant is open to guests of all ages.
"Open Gate Brewery is the center of innovation and creativity
for Guinness, particularly when it comes to beer," said
Ryan Wagner, National Guinness
Ambassador and Head of Marketing, Guinness OGB Chicago. "Opening in
Chicago allows us to be a part of
one of the most storied and celebrated beer communities in
the United States – and we can't
wait to bring the unique flavors and heritage of Guinness brewing
to an exciting tap list that will appeal to every kind of beer
drinker. Our brewers Megan and Nate are among the best in the
industry, and we're stoked to share their beers with Chicago and beyond."
About the Food
The culinary program will be led by
Dream Team Hospitality, a joint venture by local industry veterans,
with chef Taylor Bischof at the
helm. The food menu draws inspiration from the brand's Irish roots
and global footprint, alongside reimagined Chicago classics. The site will offer morning
bakery and café service daily, with an all-day restaurant menu
available Wednesday through Sunday, as well as brunch on
weekends.
The bakery and café will feature offerings from Chicago's own Intelligentsia Coffee and Aya
Pastry, alongside bread and treats baked fresh daily in the
brewery. Guinness OGB Chicago will also be donating 10,000 loaves
of Brewers Bread per year to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
Other local culinary partners include Milky Milky Ice Cream and
Pour Souls.
About the Design
The design of the building marries
new and old, transforming a long vacant building into a
state-of-the-art facility, adorned with a patio with stairs
reminiscent of Chicago's Riverwalk
steps, and a contemporary door with weathered steel
finish. The space features a hand painted mural, complemented
by a bubbly amber sculptural light fixture – a nod to the iconic
foam atop a fresh pint of Guinness – which flows throughout the
brewery. A nearly 10,000-pound harp sculpture with layered ambient
lighting sits high above the main taproom bar.
About Sustainability
In keeping with Guinness parent
company Diageo's commitment to the environment, Guinness OGB
Chicago will:
- Source 100% renewable electricity from solar panels and
renewable energy credits
- Operate as a zero waste to landfill facility
- Utilize a 100% electric boiler, which generates steam used to
heat the mash and boil
- Commit that all spent grain from the brewing process will go to
compost
About the Community
Guinness OGB Chicago is committed
to serving the local community by:
- Donating 10,000 loaves of Brewers Bread to the Greater Chicago
Food Depository
- Partnering with Choose Chicago and the Choose Chicago
Foundation 501(c)(3) to support their Equity, Diversity &
Inclusion Apprenticeship Program, which offers on-the-job
experience to those from historically underrepresented BIPOC
communities.
- Serving as presenting sponsor for the Chicago Brewseum Beer
Culture Summit, which takes place October 18-21 with the
conference's closing night festivities happening at the
brewery.
- Taking part in Learning Skills for Life in partnership with
YWCA of Chicago. Learning Skills for Life is a complimentary global
program started by Diageo, which teaches business and hospitality
skills to those seeking employment in the hospitality industry, but
who may have faced barriers to education and employment in their
lives.
To keep up to date with the latest news from the Guinness Open
Gate Brewery Chicago, make sure to follow
@GuinnessBreweryChi on Facebook and Instagram or visit
www.guinnessbrewerychicago.com. Whether enjoying a pint at Guinness
Open Gate Brewery Chicago, at the Guinness Storehouse in Ireland or
anywhere in between, please do so responsibly.
Photography
A full library of images can be accessed
here.
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 every day around
the world. The most Guinness is sold in Great Britain, Ireland, USA,
Nigeria and Cameroon. More information can be found at
www.guinness.com.
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 our products are sold in more
than 180 countries around the world. For more information about
Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at
www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking
resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways
to share best practice.
Follow us on Twitter for news and information about Diageo North
America: @Diageo_NA.
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Kelly Pepe, DIAGEO
kelly.pepe@diageo.com
Jenna Liberman, Jack Morton
jenna_liberman@jackmorton.com
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